Explaining RF induced current patterns on implantable medical devices during MRI using the transfer matrix

PURPOSE: In this work a simulation study is performed to gain insights in the patterns of induced radiofrequency (RF) currents for various implant‐like structures at 1.5 T. The previously introduced transfer matrix (TM) is used to determine why certain current patterns have a tendency to naturally occur. This can benefit current safety assessment techniques and may enable the identification of critical exposure conditions. THEORY AND METHODS: The induced current on an elongated implant can be determined by multiplication of the incident electric field along the implant with its TM. The eigenmode spectrum of the TMs for various lengths and various types of implants are determined. The eigenvector with the highest eigenvalue describes the incident electric field pattern that induces the highest current which in turn will lead to highest heating. Subsequently, a statistical probability analysis is performed using a wide range of potential incident electric field distributions in a representative human subject model during a 1.5 T MR exam which are determined by means of electromagnetic FDTD simulations. These incident electric field distributions and the resulting induced current patterns are projected onto eigenvectors of the TM to determine which eigenmodes of the implant dominate the current patterns. RESULTS: The eigenvectors of the TM of bare and insulated wires resemble sinusoidal harmonics of a string fixed at both ends similar to the natural‐current distribution on thin antennas(1). The currents on implants shorter than 20 cm are generally dominated by the first harmonic (similar to half a sine wave). This is firstly because for these implant lengths (relative to the RF wavelength), the first eigenvalue is more than three times bigger than the second showing the ability of an implant to accommodate one eigenmode better than another. Secondly, the incident electric fields have a high likelihood (≳95,7%) to project predominantly on this first eigenmode. CONCLUSION: The eigenmode spectrum of the TM of an implant provides insight into the expected shape of induced current distributions and worst‐case exposure conditions. For short implants, the first eigenvector is dominant. In addition, realistic incident electric field distributions project more heavily on this eigenvector. Both effects together cause significant currents to always resemble the dominant eigenmode of the TM for short implants at 1.5 T.