# US 7,609,061 B2 · Demagnetized implant for magnetic resonance imaging

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- Number: US 7,609,061 B2
- Document ID: US7609061B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/171,441
- Filed: 2008-07-11
- Published: 2009-01-15
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2007-07-13
- Assignees: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbH
- Inventors: Ingeborg Hochmair
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609061B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/02: Prostheses implantable into the body
- A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
- A61N 1/086: {Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] compatible leads}
- A61N 1/3718: {Monitoring of or protection against external electromagnetic fields or currents}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)

## Abstract

A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is described. A magnetic element in an implanted medical device is demagnetized by exposing it to an external demagnetizing magnetic field. Magnetic resonance imaging of the patient is performed. Then the magnetic element is remagnetized without removing it from the implanted medical device by exposing the magnetic element to an external remagnetizing magnetic field.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the method comprising:
a. demagnetizing a magnetic element in an implanted medical device by exposing it to an external demagnetizing magnetic field;
b. performing magnetic resonance imaging of the patient while or after exposing the magnetic element to the demagnetizing field; and
c. remagnetizing the magnetic element without removing it from the implanted medical device by exposing the magnetic element to an external remagnetizing magnetic field.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the MRI system is a high field MRI system.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method according to claim 2, wherein the high field MRI system is at least a 3T MRI system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A method according to claim 2, wherein the high field MRI system is at least a 6T MRI system.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method according to claim 1, wherein the implanted medical device is a cochlear implant system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

An implanted medical device processed by a method according to any of claims 1 or 2-5.