abstract |
A leadwire harness system is used for recording an electrocardiogram (ECG) during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The system includes a set of leadwires each having a nichrome wire helically wound on a bundle of glass or other high strength fibers and surrounded by an insulating jacket to provide for uniformly distributing the high resistance within each leadwire so that the eddy currents generated by the rapidly changing magnetic field are greatly reduced. The set of leadwires are twisted within a surrounding tube of foam insulation. The reduction of the eddy currents dramatically reduces MRI image distortion as well as the potential for localized heating and skin burns under the ECG electrodes used with the harness system. |