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Invited Talk

MRI Compatibility of Pacemakers

Dr. Roger Lüchinger
 Oberassistent at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering
University and ETH Zürich

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a widely accepted diagnostic procedure. However, due to safety concerns the presence of an implanted cardiac pacemaker is considered to be a contraindication to MRI in most medical centers. The research in this area has helped to understand the risks of an MRI scan in patients with conventional pacemakers and has also stimulated pacemaker manufacturers to improve their devices with the goal to have MR conditional devices. Since 2008 the first approved MR conditional pacemakers are on the market and other devices were following this trend. Beside of an overview on the potential risks of MRI on pacemakers also the research in this area leading to the new MRI conditional produces will be showed in the talk.

Biography

Roger Luechinger is Oberassistent at the Institute for Biomedical Engineering of the University and ETH Zürich. He received his M.Sc. degree in medical physics in 1997 and his Ph.D. degree in 2002, both from ETH Zurich. The topic of the PhD thesis was "Safety Aspects of Cardiac Pacemakers in Magnetic Resonance Imaging". After one year of post-doc he became coordinator of a strategic excellence project at the ETH for medical imaging (MRI). Beside his work at the IBT he is since 2004 Co-founder and part time employee of a Spin-off company GyroTools GmbH.             

Volker Koch, 03/2011