MRI and medical considerations
Learn how Cochlear™ implants are designed for MRI compatibility.
What you'll find on this page
- Information about getting an MRI with a Nucleus® implant.
- Information about getting an MRI with a Baha® implant.
- How Cochlear designs implants that are compatible with MRIs.
MRIs can range in strength from 0.2 T to 7.0 T, with 1.5 T being the most common.1
Cochlear Nucleus Implants: designed for MRI compatibility
If you or your child needs an MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, you want to know that the procedure is safe.
We design Nucleus and CI24RE/Freedom® implants to be compatible for MRI up to 3.0 Tesla (T) with the magnet removed and 1.5 T with the magnet in place.1
Many people never need to have an MRI scan, and if you have a cochlear implant, there may be other diagnostic tools available to use. In fact, 85% of radiology professionals agree that they have an alternative diagnostic tool for those who cannot undergo an MRI due to having a device or implant with a magnet.2
Removing the magnet for improved MRI head and neck scans
If you need an MRI scan of your head, the presence of a cochlear implant magnet will distort the scan image at any MRI strength. Regardless of which implant brand you have, MRI scans of the brain usually require magnet removal.
Cochlear Nucleus implant magnets can be removed before your MRI scan for a better image outcome, and for compatibility with stronger MRI technology being developed for the future.
You can remove and replace the implant magnet with a medical procedure if needed. In the rare case that you or your child will need ongoing MRIs, a no-magnet option is available.
MRI-compatible implants
Cochlear was the first manufacturer to introduce cochlear implants with removable magnets in 1997. Our removable magnet means that if you were implanted more than 20 years ago you can still access today's MRI technology, as well as future advances.
Committed to helping you
MRI compatibility is just one of many considerations when choosing a cochlear implant system. Combined with our exceptional reliability record and industry-leading electrode technology, everything about our implant design supports our commitment to help our recipients.
The Nucleus MRI Kit is available in the following countries:
Blurred MRI with magnet in place. Image courtesy of The Hannover Medical School Department of Neuroradiology, Hannover, Germany
MRI for Cochlear Baha systems
For the Baha Connect system, as long as the sound processor is removed, you can be scanned by MRI. There will be some slight shadow effects caused by the implant and the abutment.
For the Baha Attract system, as there is an implanted magnet, the system is conditionally approved to 1.5 Tesla and there will be a large area of shadow.
For any additional strength MRI or to reduce shadow area, the magnet can be temporarily removed by a medical procedure. The sound processor must be removed for all MRI.
Prior to receiving an MRI, please consult with your clinician about proper precautions.