Making MRI Safer with Early-Warning Metal Detector

A novel metal detection system designed for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning suites is saving money and lives across the United Kingdom and in the United States.

The central magnet in an MRI scanner has such a powerful attraction to ferrous metals, that it can fling a medical cart through a room, or rip a device from the body of a patient. According to a recent US study, incidents occur in every 1,000 scans, so by immediately alerting clinicians to any trace of ferrous metal entering the MRI scanning suite, the new Metrasens Ferroguard system can have a dramatic effect on improving patient safety.

A nine-year-old girl has already benefited at Russell's Hall Hospital (Dudley, UK), where she was taken into an MRI room for a head scan. The child was screened with the Ferroguard system and a strong ferrous signal was detected. It was later confirmed by X-ray that the child had two small toy magnets stuck in her nose, which may have ripped through her skin had the MRI scan continued.

A worldwide first, the new alert system was invented by Metrasens, Ltd. (Malvern, UK), a spinoff from a defense technology and security company, QinetiQ, and designed by product innovators Smallfry (Coventry, UK).

Metrasens' CEO, Dr. Simon Goodyear, commented, "The dangers of using MRI scanners can be significantly reduced by using the Ferroguard system. The American College of Radiologists is already recommending that all US MRI facilities have a warning system such as Ferroguard in each of their facilities.”

Smallfry's CEO, Steve May-Russell, added, "the commercial opportunity for this system is very exciting. Our understanding of manufacturing processes and assembly techniques has helped Metrasens enhance their product and styling, as well as reducing assembly time significantly. The need for an effective detection system is clear, and Metrasens has used Smallfry's design and intuitive warning beacon display to help realize the full market potential of their technology.”

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