MRI: Cochlear™ Nucleus® System

Select your country in the Product Manuals Portal below to view applicable information on MRI.


Cochlear was the first manufacturer to introduce cochlear implants with removable magnets in 1997. Our removable magnet means that recipients implanted more than 20 years ago can still access today’s MRI technology.

Cochlear™ Nucleus® Implants: designed for MRI compatibility at 1.5T and 3T

We designed the Nucleus® Nexa™ Series and Profile™ Plus Series Implants so you can have a routine 1.5T MRI or a high-definition 3T MRI without removing the magnet.^,# This means no additional surgery, no need to wear a bandage in the MRI machine, no delay in having your scan done and, most importantly, no unnecessary time without sound.

For a complete set of instructions on performing an MRI scan safely, refer to the MRI Guidelines for your country* on the Product Manual Portal.

MRI compatibility of previous generations of Nucleus Implants

Most of our other Nucleus Implants are designed to be compatible for MRI at 3T with the magnet removed and at 1.5T with the magnet in place#. To help prevent discomfort or dislodgement of the implant magnet during an MRI scan, which some people may experience, we have also made available the Cochlear MRI Kit.

The video below offers an overview of the Cochlear MRI Kit for Nucleus Implants. Please note that the videos below – Blue Splint version and Yellow Splint version – are intended for demonstration and informational purposes only and should not be considered as a complete instruction for performing the MRI scan.

For a complete set of instructions on performing an MRI scan safely, refer to the MRI Guidelines for your country* on the Product Manual Portal.

Blue Splint


Yellow Splint

Please consult with your hearing care professional on the type of MRI Kit used in your country

Refer to the MRI information for your country

Product Manual Portal

Disclaimer

Please seek advice from your health professional about treatments for hearing loss. Outcomes may vary, and your health professional will advise you about the factors which could affect your outcome. Always follow the directions for use. Not all products are available in all countries. Please contact your local Cochlear representative for product information.

For a full list of Cochlear’s trademarks, please visit our Terms of Use page.


Cochlear Nucleus Implants are MR Conditional, meaning they have demonstrated safety in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) environment within defined conditions. Always read the instructions for use and discuss with your doctor before undertaking any MRI procedure.

^Unless magnet removal is necessary to reduce image artefact. If you need an MRI scan of your head, your cochlear implant magnet may need to be removed because it will distort the scan image at any MRI strength.

# The following implants are designed to be compatible for MRI at 1.5 T and at 3.0 T with magnet in place:

  • Nucleus Nexa / C1000 Series: Cl1012, Cl1022, Cl1024 and CI1032
  • Nucleus Profile Plus / CI600 Series: Cl612, Cl622, Cl624 and CI632

The following implants are designed to be compatible for MRI at 3.0 T with the magnet removed (should your doctor specifically recommend this procedure) and 1.5 T with magnet in place with use of a Cochlear MRI Kit:

  • Nucleus Profile / CI500 Series: CI512, CI522, CI532 and ABI541
  • CI24RE Series: CI422, CI24REH (Hybrid L24), CI24RE (CA), CI24RE (CS) and CI24RE (ST)
  • CI24R Series: CI24R (CA), CI24R (CS) and CI24R (ST)
  • CI24M Series: CI24M, CI 11+11+2M (at 1.5 T only, 3.0 T is contraindicated) and ABI24M
  • CI22M Series: CI22M with removable magnet (at 1.5 T only, 3.0 T is contraindicated). Implant magnet removal may be required to reduce image artefact

* MRI guidelines may differ from country to country due to local regulations. Please ensure you refer to the MRI Guidelines intended for your country.