Lead Insulation and Wavelength Effects on Active Implantable Medical Device Heating under MRI at 1.5T and 3T using Transfer Function (TF) Modeling

The influence of the thickness, loss tangent value of the lead insulation material along with lead length effects on the heating of an active implantable medical device (AIMD) lead electrode is analyzed using full-wave EM simulations. Decreasing the thickness of the insulation decreases heating of the electrode significantly when lead lengths are less than or equal to wavelengths in the medium. Increasing the loss tangent of the insulation material has a moderate effect in reducing heating at the electrode. Standing wave distortions affect lead electrode heating at lead lengths greater than wavelengths in the medium.