Lawrence K Forbes and Stuart Crozier 2001 Phys. Med. Biol. 46 591 doi:10.1088/0031-9155/46/2/323
Lawrence K Forbes1 and Stuart Crozier2
Show affiliationsWhen patients undergo a magnetic resonance imaging scan, they are subject to both strong static and temporal magnetic fields. The temporal fields are designed to vary at each point in the region being imaged. This is achieved by the use of gradient coils. However, when the gradient coils are switched very rapidly, the strongly time-varying magnetic fields produced can be responsible for stimulating nerves in the peripheral regions of the body. This paper gives a somewhat novel explanation for this phenomenon. The physical mechanism suggested is supported by an illustrative theoretical calculation.
87.61.Tg Clinical applications
87.10.-e General theory and mathematical aspects
87.50.C- Static and low-frequency electric and magnetic fields effects
Issue 2 (February 2001)
Received 5 January 2000, in final form 9 October 2000
Lawrence K Forbes and Stuart Crozier 2001 Phys. Med. Biol. 46 591
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