No facility should ever compromise patient or staff safety simply because they don’t know where to turn for assistance. While we couldn’t list every vendor of MR-safe equipment, we have chosen several crucial vendors that every MRI facility should be aware of.

If you know of a vendor of MRI suite safety products or services, we invite you to contact us so that we might add them to our list.

The new Joint Commission Alert recommends ferromagnetic detection in their February, 2008 MRI Sentinel Event Alert.

We also want to make our readers aware of two particular quotes directly from the new ACR Guidance Document on Safe MR Practices: 2007 regarding safety equipment and vendors:

"Ferromagnetic detection systems have been demonstrated to be highly effective as a quality assurance tool, verifying the successful screening and identifying ferromagnetic objects which were not discovered by conventional screening methods. It is recommended that new facility construction anticipate the use of ferromagnetic detection screening in Zone II and provide for installation of the devices in a location which facilitates use and throughput."

MRI-Planning is proud to provide you with links (to the left) to all three vendors of these ferromagnetic detection tools, specifically designed for MRI safety.

"Particularly with regard to nonclinical and incidental equipment, current products marketed with ill-defined terminology such as “non-magnetic,” or outdated classifications such as “MR-compatible,” should not be presumed to conform to a particular current ASTM classification."

MRI Planning is also working with each of our linked vendors to make sure that the marketing of products for the MRI suite use consistant terminology. We recommend that all buyers of equipment for the MRI suite ask for the current ASTM designation for every piece of equipment purchased.

If you are researching or purchasing equipment, furnishings or devices for use in or around your MR, please make certain that it is tested and labeled under the current ASTM / FDA criteria. These products should be labeled with the new icons and all MR Conditional products have both the triangular label as well as the specific conditions under which it may be safely used.

Insist on contemporary test and labeling for all purchased MRI products. Any product or device that has any metal components (even non-magnetic metals) can no longer qualify as MR Safe. The term MR Compatible is no longer accepted. Other terms, such as "non-magnetic" or "safe for MR" have no standard definition and should not be the basis for your product selections.