During the last decade many efforts have been undertaken to advance the field of  magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Excellent soft tissue contrast, the ability to perform vessel wall imaging, more biocompatible contrast agents, and the lack of radiation for patient and physician are some of the many advantages for using MRI instead of X-ray technology in the interventional suite. However the biggest hurdle for MRI based interventions is the shortage of MR-compatible devices. Magnets and metal device not match, and therefore there is a need for devices made of synthetic materials that are made visible in MRI.

MagnaFy is a specially designed technology to facilitate the use of medical devices in magnetic resonance imaging. By use of a chemical process and a specific coating we are able to modify most existing guide wires, catheters and (micro)drains with small markers that become visible in a normal 1.5 Tesla MRI. The first studies of MagnaFy on a PEEK-guide wire have been performed in pre-clinical studies in collaboration with the University of Basel, leading to a series of publications (Kos S et al. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2009 May;32(3):514-21. Kos et al. Minim Invasive Ther Allied Technol. 2009 Jan 1:181-188., Kos et al. Invest Radiol. 2009 Apr;44(4):234-41.

ISMRM is the world biggest interdisciplinary meeting on MRI and an annual event for clinicians, physicists, engineers, biochemists, and technologists active in the field of MRI. MagnaMedics was able to successfully present MagnaFy at the study section on interventional MRI and show the results of our pre-clinical studies. Besides the presentation, MagnaMedics had meetings with several key opinion leaders and development partners, active in the field of interventional MRI, which resulted in their willingness to provide support, opening the way for the further developments and clinical applications of MRI-compatible tools for interventional procedures under complete MRI guidance.

Stenting of Renal Arteries in Swine with MagnaFy markers on PEEK-guide wire.