This will play a video. - Patient lying in MRI machine with healthcare professional standing to the side

Getting an MRI

When you have an implanted spinal cord stimulation device

The most full-body MRI access^†

An MRI is a non-invasive imaging procedure used to view soft tissue to diagnose medical conditions.

Medtronic spinal cord stimulation (SCS) systems give you the most comprehensive access to MRI scans.^†

When you have an implanted device, you have to be careful during MRI scans. The good news is that patients with a Medtronic neurostimulation system may have an MRI scan when proper safeguards are in place.

98%

of patients are expected to need an MRI within 10 years post implant¹

Before your MRI

If your system features Medtronic SureScan™ MRI technology, you may be able to have an MRI on any part of your body. Your pain specialist can easily determine if you can safely undergo the type of MRI scan prescribed.^†

Tell the doctor who prescribed your MRI scan that you have an implanted Medtronic neurostimulation system.
Contact your pain specialist to discuss your upcoming MRI scan. Your pain specialist may also provide a copy of the MRI patient eligibility form to you or your radiologist, which will help your radiologist confirm your ability to have the prescribed MRI scan.
When you schedule your MRI appointment, give the office staff the model number of your implanted neurostimulation system and contact information for your pain specialist. This information is listed on your Medtronic patient ID card and on the MRI patient eligibility form.

Note: Be sure to recharge your neurostimulator before your MRI appointment (if needed). This will help avoid any unnecessary delays. Bring your patient programmer/handset with you in case it is needed.

Downloadable MRI instructions

Check your MRI eligibility using your therapy programmer or controller by accessing MRI mode. Find instructions in the guides below.

pdf Inceptiv MRI Patient Eligibility Form (.pdf)

Once your pain management specialist has completed this form, take the form and your patient programmer to your MRI appointment.

410KB

pdf Vanta MRI Patient Eligibility Form (.pdf)

Once your pain management specialist has completed this form, take the form and your patient programmer to your MRI appointment.

477KB

Activating MRI mode

Before you enter the room with the MRI scanner, put your neurostimulation system in MRI mode. This turns off the stimulation. You will see In MRI mode on your therapy programmer screen. Show this screen to the MRI clinician.

To activate MRI mode, refer to the user guide that corresponds to your implanted neurostimulation system. These guides also provide instructions for turning stimulation back on after the MRI scan.

Downloadable user guides

pdf Using Your Inceptiv™ implantable SCS system (.pdf)

3.9MB

pdf Using your Vanta™ SCS guide (.pdf)

1.1MB

pdf Using Your Intellis™ implantable SCS system (.pdf)

1.1MB

Safety resources for your healthcare team

If your doctor or MRI department is unsure if your Medtronic neurostimulation system is MRI safe, show them your Medtronic patient ID card. It includes the model number of your neurostimulator as well as a website that provides guidelines for safely conducting an MRI with that type of system.

There are many factors that determine whether you may safely undergo an MRI. Some examples are:

Area of the body to be scanned
The type of neurostimulator implanted
Lead model(s)
Lead placement in the body
If you have multiple medical implants
Type of MRI machine

Your eligibility for an MRI cannot be determined by calling Medtronic, rather a collaborative effort is required between your doctor, the MRI department and Medtronic.

MRI eligibility icons

The patient programmer will display one of the icons below, which indicate MRI eligibility based on the type of SCS system you have.

Eligibility icon	Description
	Full body scan eligible The implanted neurostimulation system allows the patient to be eligible to have MRI scans of any part of the body under specific conditions. The MRI clinician must consult the MRI guidelines for those conditions.
	Head scan eligible with transmit/receive head coil The implanted neurostimulation system allows the patient to be eligible for MRI scans of the head only using an RF transmit/receive head coil and under other specific conditions. The MRI clinician must consult the MRI guidelines for those conditions.
	MRI scan eligibility cannot be determined The MRI clinician must consult the MRI guidelines to determine how to proceed or contact Medtronic Technical Support at +44 (0) 1923 205101
	MR unsafe The implanted neurostimulation system contains a component of which safety in the MR (magnetic resonance) environment is unknown.

Your Medtronic patient ID Card

Keep your ID card with you at all times and make sure the information on it is accurate.

Your ID card:

Identifies you as having an implanted medical device — critical information for health professionals and security personnel.

Present your ID card when you have any medical or dental procedures, or when you need to go through a security screening system at an airport or elsewhere. Otherwise, your device may set off an alarm.

Medtronic Patient Technical Support +44 (0)1923 205101 Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm.

^†Under specific conditions. Talk to your doctor and refer to product labeling for full list of conditions. Patients with non-Medtronic leads and an EMBSNV20 adaptor extension are not eligible for an MRI.

Desai MJ, Hargens LM, Breitenfeldt MD, et al. The rate of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with spinal cord stimulation. Spine. 2015;40(9):E531–537.

Medical Disclaimer

Information contained herein is not medical advice and should not be used as an alternative to speaking with your doctor. Discuss indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse events and any further information with your health care professional.

Getting an MRI

The most full-body MRI access†

Medtronic spinal cord stimulation (SCS) systems give you the most comprehensive access to MRI scans.†