Evaluating the RF Heating of Titanium Craniofacial Mesh Implants at 7T

Motivation: The RF safety risks associated with titanium mesh head implants are not well assessed for 7T MRI preventing patients undergoing craniofacial surgery from being scanned. Goal(s): To evaluate the RF heating caused by titanium mesh head implants at 7T MRI. Approach: A titanium mesh implant was 3D scanned to generate a CAD model. Electromagnetic and thermal simulations were conducted in phantoms and anatomical human models. Simulation models were validated with experimental measurements. Results: The introduction of titanium mesh implants may increase the local 1g-average SAR and temperatures near the mesh edges. The maximum absolute temperature in the head remained the same. Impact: Imaging titanium mesh head implants for skull reconstruction procedures may be safe for MR scan at 7T following the IEC guidelines.