RF HEATING DUE to a DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION ELECTRODE at 9.4 T (400.2 MHz) in PORCINE HEADS

Devashish Shrivastava¹, Timothy Hanson, Aviva Abosch, J. Thomas Vaughan

Deep brain stimulation electrode (3389, Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN) did not cause any statistically significant heating at 9.4 T (400.2 MHz) in ex vivo, non-perfused porcine heads. RF heating was measured in the head-skin, brain, and air next to the head using fluoroptic probes with and without the electrode. A continuous wave RF power was delivered to the head using a tuned and matched, four loop, transmit and receive volume head coil for 1.5 hours. The whole head average SAR was close to 3 W/kg.