Center for Advanced Brain Imaging
Georgia State University and Georgia Institute of Technology
831 Marietta St, Atlanta GA 30332, USA
phone (404) 385-8619 :: fax (404) 385-8620
www.cabiatl.com
Screening form decision tree.
The screening form is designed to identify whether items may be a hazard or cause artifacts in a 3T
scanner (this is referred to as being MRI safe and MRI compatible, respectively). Therefore, the list
below outlines our standard operating procedure for interpreting items on the checklist. For more
details, refer to www.mrisafety.com
Metal fragments in your eyes
-Exclusion
Are you a metal worker or have you worked with metal lathes?
-Check history
Cardiac pacemaker
-Exclusion
Aneurysm clip
-Exclusion unless surgeons note is available specifying a make and model listed as 3T safe on
mrisafety website. Note that modern clips are typically MRI safe, but we wish to exercise extreme
caution.
Any type of internal electrode(s) Pacing wires, Cochlear Implant, etc...
-Exclusion
Implanted insulin pump
-Exclusion
Swan-Ganz catheter
-Exclusion
Halo vest or metallic cervical fixation device
-Exclusion
Hearing aid
-Exclusion if not removable, if removable, technologist and scientist should ensure that residual
hearing is sufficient for task, and whether the participant is comfortable without normal auditory
communication during scan (e.g. they might not be able to hear technoligist between scans)
Any type of intravascular coil, filter or stent
-Exclusion unless surgeons note is available specifying a make and model listed as 3T safe on
mrisafety website.
Implanted drug injection device
-Exclusion unless surgeons note is available specifying a make and model listed as 3T safe on
mrisafety website.
Any type of foreign body, shrapnel or bullet
-Unknown metals will be exclusion
Heart valve prosthesis
-Exclusion unless surgeons note is available specifying a make and model listed as 3T safe on
mrisafety website.
Any type of ear Implant
-Exclusion
Penile prosthesis
-Exclusion unless surgeons note is available specifying a make and model listed as 3T safe on
mrisafety website.
Any type of surgical clip or staple
-Exclusion unless surgeons note is available specifying a make and model listed as 3T safe on
mrisafety website.
Vascular access port
1
-Exclusion unless surgeons note is available specifying a make and model listed as 3T safe on
mrisafety website.
Intraventricular shunt
-Exclusion unless surgeons note is available specifying a make and model listed as 3T safe on
mrisafety website.
Artificial limb or joint
-Exclusion unless removable or surgeons note is available specifying a make and model listed as 3T
safe on mrisafety website.
Dentures
-Typically MRI safe but not MRI compatible: nonferrous, but can cause substantial image artefacts.
Ask participants to not wear their dentures.
Diaphragm (in place), IUD
-Exclusion if in pace. Typically MRI safe, but not all varieties have been tested
(http://www.mrisafety.com/safety_article.asp?subject=35).
Latex allergies
-Inform participant that panic button uses latex, wrap panic button with cloth.
Neurostimulator
-Exclusion
Wire mesh
-Exclusion unless removable or surgeons note is available specifying a make and model listed as 3T
safe on mrisafety website.
Any type of electronic,mechanical or magnetic implant
-Exclusion
Any type of implant held in place by a magnet
-Exclusion
Any implanted orthopedic items (e.g. pins,rods, screws, nails, clips, plates, wire, etc...)
-MRI technician records detailed information about model and location of implant.
Implanted cardiac defibrillator
-Exclusion
Tattoo or tattooed eyeliner
-Tattoosmay cause artifacts and have very low risk of irritation and warming. Participants with large
tattoos on the head will be excluded, people with tatttoos at other locations will be warned of
potential heating...
Amateur or prison tattoo
-Exclusion
Pregnancy or suspected pregnancy:
-Exclusion
Surgery with implant:
-Collect verbal history and determine if any exclusion checkboxes described above were incorrectly
marks
Injured by foreign object
-Collect verbal history – exclude if even remote chance of metal fragment
Injury to eyes
-Collect verbal history – exclude if even remote chance of metal fragment
2