GaussAlert™ is designed to help keep MR Conditional equipment outside of the MRI exclusion zone. GaussAlert™ is programmed to alarm when the preset magnetic field strength is exceeded. It produces an attention-getting audio alarm when MR Conditional equipment is too close to the MRI magnet.

Medical equipment that is used in the MRI room, such as infusion pumps, contrast injectors, patient monitors, anesthesia machines and others may malfunction and potentially injure the patient if not kept outside of a specific magnetic field strength. In addition, MR Conditional equipment can degrade the image quality of a scan if brought too close to the MRI magnet. With GaussAlert™, the possibility of equipment malfunction and image degradation is dramatically reduced.

 

GaussAlert™ can also be useful as an alert for MR Unsafe equipment, such as a crash cart or an emergency resuscitator, which can be kept near, but not taken into a MRI magnet room.

 

The GaussAlert™ is available in three factory preset gauss thresholds: 10, 30 and 100 gauss, based on the equipment manufacturer’s specifications. GaussAlert™ easily and quickly attaches to any piece of equipment and requires no periodic maintenance for up to five (5) years. It is internally-powered and continuously monitors the ambient magnetic field strength.

GaussAlert™ compliments the function of our FerrAlert™ HALO ENTRY detector by monitoring equipment that has passed through the portal but still must be monitored inside the magnet room.

“The normal or safe operation of many medical devices designed for use in the MR environment may be disrupted by exposure to conditions exceeding the device’s conditional rating threshold. It is advisable for MR facilities to identify the maximum conditional rating for static field and spatial gradient exposure for each MR Conditional device that may be brought into Zone IV.”

                                                                                                                ACR Guidance Document for Safe MR Practices: 2007, Page 23

 

“Injury or complication… can and have occurred… related to equipment or device malfunction or failure caused by the magnetic field. For example, battery-powered devices (laryngoscopes, microinfusion pumps, monitors, etc.) can suddenly fail to operate; some programmable infusion pumps may perform erratically; (3)…”

                                                                       JCAHO Sentinel Event Alert #38 (Preventing Accidents and Injuries in the MRI Suite): 2008