The temperature increase induced by MRI gradient fields switched according to EPI sequences in a metallic hip implant is evaluated with an accurate numerical model. The role of the body position within the scanner, of the frequency encoding direction and of the thermoregulation is studied and discussed. The results show that the eddy currents generated by the gradient coils in the implant are sufficient to induce a temperature increase of some kelvin (without accounting for the RF power deposition); moreover, it results that the biological effect can be controlled by choosing properly the frequency encoding direction.
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