System, apparatus and method for achieving scanning safety for a magnetic resonance conditionally safe implant

An apparatus for achieving scanning safety for a magnetic resonance (MR) conditionally safe implant, said apparatus comprising:

• a power signal processing processor configured to convert an RF power signal, received from an RF power sensor in an MR scanner into an RF power parameter, and to convert a gradient power signal, received from a gradient power sensor in said MR scanner, into a gradient power parameter;
• a digital control processor in communication with said power signal processing processor, said digital control processor being configured to receive the RF power parameter and gradient power parameter from said power signal processing processor and to detect whether said RF power parameter exceeds an RF power limit value and whether said gradient power parameter exceeds a gradient power limit value;
• said digital control processor being configured, when said RF power parameter exceeds said RF power limit value, to emit an shutdown signal that discontinues operation of an RF power amplifier that produces RF power represented by said RF power signal;
• and
• said digital control processor being configured, when said gradient power parameter exceeds said gradient power limit value, to emit a shutdown signal that discontinues operation of a gradient power amplifier that produces gradient fields having a gradient power represented by said gradient power signal.

A method for achieving scanning safety for a magnetic resonance (MR) conditionally safe implant, during an MR scan conducted by an MR scanner comprising a radio-frequency (RF) power amplifier and an RF sensor that generates an RF power signal representing RF power emitted by said RF power amplifier, and a gradient power amplifier and a gradient power sensor that emits a gradient power sensor signal representing gradient power emitted by said gradient amplifier, said method comprising:

• with a fixed parameter option (FPO) processor, operating the MR scanner in an FPO mode in said scan in order to comply with requirements for safely scanning a subject having a conditionally safe implant therein;
• providing said RF power signal and said gradient power signal to said FPO processor and, in said FPO processor, converting said RF power signal into an RF power parameter and converting said gradient power signal into a gradient power parameter;
• in said FPO processor, determining when at least one of said RF power parameter exceeds an RF power limit value or said gradient power parameter exceeds a gradient power limit value;
• when said FPO processor determines that said RF power parameter exceeds said RF power limit value, emitting a shutdown signal from the FBO processor that causes operation of RF power amplifier to be discontinued;
• and
• when said FPO processor determines that said gradient power parameter exceeds said gradient power limit value, emitting a shutdown signal from said FPO processor that causes operation of said gradient power amplifier to be discontinued.