> Among the 133 projectile events were 35 reports (26%) involving patient walkers, wheelchairs, stretchers, and chairs, 13 incidents (10%) with gas cylinders, 13 cases (10%) of magnet components exposed during servicing, 10 events (8%) with workmen's tools.
Yeah, but a gas cylinder or a hammer flying across the room is way cooler.
Somebody told me that they knew of a case where a hospital porter decided to push a gas cyclinder through the MRI room while the machine was on (shortcut?). The gas cyclinder went through a wall.
"Gas cylinders are a particular risk in the MRI environment. Such cylinders can weigh from 30lb to 150lb when full. Ferromagnetic gas cylinders are especially dangerous in a magnetic environment, where they can be uncontrollably accelerated. Potential hazards include gas-propulsive missile impaction, explosion and fire. If the cylinder regulator valve is damaged on initial impact, the cylinder may propel away from the magnet, only to return for a second impact."
> Somebody told me that they knew of a case where a hospital porter decided to push a gas cyclinder through the MRI room while the machine was on (shortcut?).
The trap is that they are pretty much never ‘off’, they are magnetic when not scanning.
This issue may be reduced with technology such as the Philips Blue Seal thing where you can remove (reduce?) the field at the flick of a switch. However things like this where the danger goes from being ‘always’ to ‘sometimes’ can actually increase accidents. It’ll be an interesting space to watch.
Most are superconducting electromagnets, so.. sort of? They have shipped full of liquid helium then get ramped up (or at least, this is how Siemens do it). With any luck they stay up for many years.
When a crisis occurs in the MRI department (a collapse, arrest, drug reaction etc) someone better man the door, or even better, lock it.
Every emergency seemingly has someone helpfully attempt to take something into the magnet. A wheelchair, oxygen cylinder, defibrillator, stethoscope, or most often, scissors.
Yeah, but a gas cylinder or a hammer flying across the room is way cooler.