MRI compatibility of several early transition metal based alloys and its influencing factors

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compatibility of three early transition metal (ETM) based alloys was assessed in vitro with agarose gel as a phantom, including Zr-20Nb, near-equiatomic (TiZrNbTa)90 Mo10 and Nb-60Ta-2Zr, together with pure tantalum and L605 Co-Cr alloy for comparison. The artifact extent in the MR image was quantitatively characterized according to the maximum area of 2D images and the total volume in reconstructed 3D images with a series of slices under acquisition by fast spin echo (FSE) sequence and gradient echo (GRE) sequence. It was indicated that the artifacts extent of L605 Co-Cr alloy with a higher magnetic susceptibility (χv ) was approximately 3-fold greater than that of the ETM-based alloys with χv in the range of 160-250 ppm. In the ETM group, the MRI compatibility of the materials can be ranked in a sequence of Zr-20Nb, pure tantalum, (TiZrNbTa)90 Mo10 and Nb-60Ta-2Zr. In addition, using a rabbit cadaver with the implanted tube specimens as a model for ex vivo assessment, it was confirmed that the artifact severity of Nb-60Ta-2Zr alloy is significantly reduced in comparison with the L605 alloy. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 377-385, 2018.