MRI scanners are marvels of modern medicine, non-invasive, widely used, and indispensable for diagnosis. However, they can also serve as a developer’s stress test. Magnetic field intensities of 1.5 to 3 Tesla leave no room for error; one misplaced conductive material can cause heating, displacement, or interference that jeopardizes both your device and your reputation. AltaSim Technologies helps you avoid these pitfalls by using advanced simulation to ensure your device is MRI-ready before it ever enters a scanner.
Regulatory Requirements
If your device might be used in, on, or near a patient undergoing an MRI, the FDA and ISO require proof that it won’t move (magnetic displacement), heat (RF-induced heating), or interfere (electromagnetic noise affecting imaging).
The Cost of Physical Testing
Physical MRI testing is expensive, limited, and difficult to repeat. One misstep can cost thousands in equipment and lab time. This is where AltaSim Technologies’ simulation expertise fills the gap, delivering validated, repeatable results virtually.
What Simulation Can Tell You About MRI Compatibility
- Magnetically Induced Displacement Force
Predict whether your device will be pulled or twisted by the magnetic field, based on shape, material, and mass.
- RF-Induced Heating
Assess local tissue heating risks in implants using multiphysics modeling.
- Image Artifact Interference
Identify and minimize distortion or artifacts that could compromise image quality.
- Safety Margin Validation
Model worst-case scenarios to design for safety, not just compliance.
How to Leverage Simulation for MRI Testing
Designing for MRI compatibility starts on day one, with simulation used early to screen materials and refine geometry. By running iterations virtually, developers can narrow down the strongest designs before stepping into the lab, ensuring that physical tests only validate the best candidates. This approach reduces the need for multiple prototypes, shortens redesign cycles, and avoids costly repeat MRI bookings. Pairing these simulation results with a well-structured testing plan not only streamlines development but also builds regulatory confidence, providing reviewers with clear and compelling evidence of safety and performance.
How AltaSim Technologies Helps You Prepare for MRI Compatibility
AltaSim Technologies partners with developers of wearables, implantables, and other medical devices to model and validate performance in MRI environments with precision and efficiency. Using COMSOL Multiphysics® and other advanced tools, our multiphysics modeling simulates RF-induced heating, displacement forces, and EMI risks, long before a single scan is performed. We provide targeted modeling that focuses on MRI-critical design aspects, enabling issues to be identified and resolved efficiently. Our regulatory-ready reporting is formatted for FDA and ISO 10993-1 submissions, helping to prevent review delays and ensure compliance. With cost-saving design feedback, we ensure that if a material or geometry fails simulation, you can iterate efficiently without wasting time or budget.
Safe, Compatible, and Simulation-Validated
MRI compatibility is non-negotiable. AltaSim Technologies helps you anticipate risk, reduce redesign cycles, and achieve compliance with confidence. We design devices that work seamlessly in MRI environments, passing with flying colors and zero artifacts, because when patient safety is on the line, there’s no room for magnetic mayhem.