The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has published a revised standard to measure radiofrequency (RF) coil surface temperature increases due to RF fields in MRI scanners.
Information in NEMA MS 14-2019, "Characterization of Radiofrequency (RF) Coil Heating in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems," includes testing methods for detachable RF receive coils, detachable transmit and receive coils, and integrated body coils.
The standard is designed to provide MRI-specific methodology for surface temperature measurements to ensure patient safety, added Michael Steckner, PhD, chair of the MR technical committee and senior manager at Canon Medical Research. The guidelines should also be useful for research groups who build their own coils.
