User manual

SPrint User Manual ◆ 73
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is
contraindicated except under the circumstances
described below. Do not allow patients with a
cochlear implant to be in the room where an MRI
scanner is located except under the following
special circumstances.
The Nucleus 24 cochlear implant has a removable
magnet and specific design characteristics to enable
it to withstand MRI up to 1.5 tesla, but not higher.
If the cochlear implant’s magnet is in place, it must
be removed surgically before the patient undergoes
an MRI procedure. The patient must take off the
speech processor and headset before entering a
room where an MRI scanner is located.
If the implant’s magnet is still in place, tissue
damage may occur if the recipient is exposed to
MRI. Once the magnet is surgically removed, the
quality of the MRI will be affected by the metal in
the cochlear implant. Image shadowing may extend
as far as ~ 2 3 in. (6 cm) from the implant,
thereby, resulting in loss of diagnostic information
in the vicinity of the implant.
If the physician is unsure that the patient has a
Nucleus 24 cochlear implant with a removable
magnet, the physician should use an X-ray
to check the radiopaque lettering on the implant.
There are three platinum letters printed on each
implant. If the middle letter is a ‘C’, ‘H’, ‘J’, ‘L’ or
‘T’, the implant has a removable magnet. Once the
magnet has been removed, MRI can be performed.
If you require additional information about
removal of the magnet, please contact Cochlear.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
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