Cardiac response to pulsed magnetic fields with regard to safety in NMR imaging

The magnetic fields of the study reported were applied either as approximately homogeneous exposures to the whole body of the rats or as inhomogeneous local exposures in the region of the chest. The signal detection system was designed to remain unaffected by the large signals induced in the electrode leads and enabled a quantitative analysis of the physiologically important ECG intervals. It is concluded that NMR imaging as presently implemented is unlikely to affect the normal functioning of the heart.