MR-compatibility of CIs
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Cochlear implants and magnetic resonance for the advancement of technological compatibility
IRAS ID
266987
Contact name
Padraig Kitterick
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the preferred, gold-standard diagnostic imaging technique for addressing a multitude of clinical questions.
A cochlear implant (CI) partially restores hearing to deaf individuals. As CIs are used for a lifetime, recipients of these devices are highly likely to need to undergo MRI at some point.
The presence of an implanted magnet and ferromagnetic material within the CI raises safety concerns around MRI of CI users. This is principally due to the risk of displacement of the implant magnet while in proximity to the MRI scanner, but also due to the potential for heating within the coil and metallic components of the implant. The result is that MRI is often avoided altogether, and other imaging techniques that are suboptimal (more invasive, harmful, less diagnostically powerful) are instead used. When scanning is performed, patients often experience significant discomfort, resulting in patient distress, dislocation of the implant administration of local anaesthetic or failure to complete all necessary imaging protocols.
Some CIs currently on the market are termed MR-Conditional, in that they can be scanned in an MR scanner as long as certain conditions are met. These conditions may include the use of an implant magnet retaining device.
We aim to characterise the challenges of performing MR scans in patients who have a CI and to maximise the feasibility and acceptability of scanning these patients using two online surveys of: (1) clinical professionals and (2) CI users.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1724
Date of REC Opinion
31 Oct 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion