From Benchtop to In Silico: Factors Influencing Radiofrequency-Induced Heating of Bone

Motivation: The current state-of-the-art for assessing RF-induced heating of orthopedic devices is limited. Goal(s): Validate modified ASTM F2182 computational models to identify key factors affecting heating of devices implanted in bone, enhancing predictive capabilities compared to experimental techniques. Approach: A titanium rod was assessed for RF-induced heating in gelled saline with and without surrounding bone both experimentally and computationally. Varying bone geometries and material distributions were utilized in the simulations. Results: High-fidelity geometry models with both cortical bone and bone marrow best predicted temperature rise, demonstrating the importance of appropriate geometry and material properties for accurate predictions of heating. Impact: This study enhances MR safety assessments, showing that high-fidelity computational models can accurately predict RF-induced heating surrounding implants in bone while underscoring the dependence of temperature rise on the geometry and material properties of the media adjacent to the devices.