COCIR Position on EU directive 2004/40/EC Umeå, 7 October 2009 Hans Baartman, Toshiba Medical Systems Europe and chair of COCIR EMF-TaskForce

page 2 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 What is COCIR? COCIR is the European Trade Association representing European Leading companies and national trade associations in the field of Radiology, Electromedical equipment & Healthcare IT solutions « The European Committee for the Radiological, Electromedical and Healthcare IT Industry »

page 3 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 Range of products & services covered by the COCIR members Medical Imaging equipment such as –Computed Tomography –Magnetic Resonance Imaging –Diagnostic Ultrasound –Radiotherapy Electromedical equipment such as –Patient Monitoring –Intensive Care equipment –Electro Surgery Healthcare IT solutions such as –Electronic Archives, e.g. PACS –Hospital Information Systems –E-Health solutions

page 4 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 COCIR Members Today

page 5 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 Directive 2004/40/EC Is developed to safeguard workers from adverse effects from EMF radiation generated by the use of electric and electronic equipment. COCIR supports such initiative. BUT: limits in present directive hamper the use and further development of MR equipment and its application.

page 6 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 Exposure levels Directive versus MRI exposure levels

Basics on MRI Technology

page 8 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 Basics of MRI MR scanners belong to the group of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) equipment Use the same principle: Tissue is seen as dipole magnet that spins (rotate) around its axis and once such a dipole is energized it emits EMF radiation when returning to its stable state. With human tissue mainly containing water, MR imaging equipment concentrates itself to measure the response of hydrogen protons. Based on the difference in response throughout the body, tissue characterization can be performed.

page 9 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 MRI uses 3 sections of EMF spectrum –Static field, to align all protons –Low frequency EMF, through switching gradients, to define position and receive multiple signals from one energizing pulse –High frequency EMF, RF, to energize protons Major difference between MR equipment and other equipment affected by the directive: MR equipment intentionally uses EMF radiation Basics of MRI

page 10 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 Basics of MRI Coil arrangements ｚ ｙ ｘ Static field coil (Superconducting coil) Gz coil Gy coil Gx coil Gy coil Transmit coil Receive coil Static field B0B0B0B0

page 11 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 MRI is located in a controlled environment –MRI is placed in Faraday cage to avoid disturbance from external sources like Radio, TV & GSM signals Basics of MRI

page 12 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 MRI is located in a controlled environment –MRI is placed in Faraday cage to avoid disturbance from external sources like Radio, TV & GSM signals –MRI uses strong magnetic field, consequently steel objects becomes projectiles –MRI magnet field has a stray field with restricted access to public, because of metal implants. Basics of MRI

page 13 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 MRI is located in a controlled environment –MRI is placed in Faraday cage to avoid disturbance from external sources like Radio, TV & GSM signals –MRI uses strong magnetic field, consequently steel objects becomes projectiles –MRI magnet field has a stray field with restricted access to public, because of metal implants. –MRI magnet is a pressure vessel filled with about 1500 Litre liquid Helium Basics of MRI

Regulatory Framework

page 15 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 Experience combined with regulatory framework Over a period of 30 years, the MR community has collected a vast experience with this technology imaging over 500 million patients without evidence of harm to workers due to EMF exposure. MR equipment is regulated in Europe by the Medical Devices Directive 93/42/EC. The international IEC/EN standard is addressing the protection of patients and workers by establishing limit values for time-varying electromagnetic fields.

page 16 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 Training & work instructions MR equipment in hospitals, medical clinics and research facilities is always installed in a controlled environment. Professionals operating these installations are highly educated and received dedicated training courses on the physics behind MR imaging. Most of these workers are subject to a Continuous Medical Education system and therefore up to date knowledge through training and work instructions is always in place.

page 17 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 Risk assessment Within the various system development stages appropriate risk assessment is vital. Such process is monitored by notified bodies as a part of the good manufacturing practice. Prior to every patient examination and/or system test a risk benefit analysis is performed.

Trends in MR versus minimizing exposure by design

page 19 of total Umeå conference, 7 October MRI innovations over 30 years 0.2 T1.5 T3 T7 T

page 20 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 Static magnetic fieldstrength consideration signal to noise ratio of the image is proportional to the static magnet field strength: S/N ~ Bo or (for same S/N) scan time ~ 1 / (B 0 ) 2 Example: 3 T= 1.5T (i.e. twice image quality, better diagnosis) or scan 1.5T (i.e. 4 x faster -> new applications) or 512x512 3T instead of 1.5T (i.e. better diagnosis)

page 21 of total Umeå conference, 7 October I max [A] > 500 U max [v] > 2000 kVA peak > 1000 Grad. Strength [mT/m] > 40 rise time [ms] < 0.2 Slew rate [T/m/s] > 200 Increase of gradient performance over time

page 22 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 Theoretical options to reduce EMF exposure to MR-workers Options to minimize exposure to MR-worker: –reduce stray field distribution  –reduce field strength  opposite trend –reduce system size  opposite trend improve openness –increase distance to field source by design  disables certain applications intervention, therapy, fMRI…  opposite trend to improve patient comfort

page 23 of total Umeå conference, 7 October NRI’s 7.0T Human In-vivo Ultra High Resolution Image Cellebellum 4th Ventricle Substantia Nigra Medial Lemniscus Nucleus Solitary Tr. Corticospinal Tracts Cerebral Peduncle Optic Chiasm Olivary Nucleus Red Nucleues Superior Cerebella Peduncle Anterior Commissure Subthalamic Nucleus Ventral Tegmental Area Z. H. Cho, NRI – Neuroscience Research Institute, Gachon University of Medicine & Science, Korea, 2006

COCIR View on EMF Directive

page 25 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 Applications at risk MRI examinations per year in the EU hampered by current limit values : –Emergency cases (e.g. coma patients…) –Special populations (e.g. babies…) –Interventional applications Research and innovation like molecular imaging at manufacturing sites in Europe penalised, compared to rest of the world. If currents induced by movement in the static field are inside the scope of the directive, operating MR in Europe will become illegal.

page 26 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 MR technology (existing since 1979) is responding to clinicians needs and has compiled proven benefits to citizens and patients (no evidence-based data about incidents) EMF generated by an MRI device is intentional, it is not a side-effect MR equipment is used in a controlled environment All MR workers are trained on the possible health effects of the exposure to EMF and equipment is designed as per IEC standard IEC standard is considered the “state of art” regarding safety and performance of MR equipment for patients and workers (amendment on safety of workers published in JOCE in 2008) Reasons why MRI workers need a conditionnal Exemption

page 27 of total Umeå conference, 7 October 2009 COCIR Recommendation Pre-requisite: –It is essential that MR (major advance in health care technology) is not threatened by legislation when concerns can be addressed through appropriate guidance to medical and service personnel (Guidance docoments have been developed by radiologists together with other healthcare workers) In view of the scientific evidence available, In view of the specificities of the MR sector, In view of the existing safeguards specifically developed by IEC and CENELEC for the safety of MR equipment, COCIR calls for a conditional exemption of MR workers considering that appropriate training and work instructions are in place.

Thank you for your attention More information can be found on: