title: MRI evaluation of metal acupuncture needles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the MR compatibility of three metal acupuncture needles (a standard stainless steel needle, a gold needle and an austenitic stainless steel needle) by comparing their imaging artefacts, radiofrequency heating effects and ease of operation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MRI artefacts of the three metal needles were first evaluated by placing them in an agar gel phantom and performing MRI of the phantom. The increase in temperature during MRI was recorded using an MR-compatible fibreoptic thermometer. MRI of acupuncture at SP6 was performed using the MR-compatible gold needle and the austenitic stainless steel needle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The standard stainless steel acupuncture needle produced large imaging artefacts on MRI. The gold needle was superior for MRI but not rigid enough for some clinical applications such as scalp acupuncture. The austenitic stainless steel needle is non-ferromagnetic and compatible with MRI. None of these acupuncture needles introduced radiofrequency heating during MRI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evaluation of MR compatibility showed that gold and austenitic stainless steel needles are MR-compatible and therefore can be used for MRI of acupuncture.
authors: Paul C Lauterbur Research Centers for Biomedical Imaging, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, , Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Mei
authors: Xiaojing
authors: X
authors: Long
authors: Yanjun
authors: Y
authors: Diao
authors: Haibo
authors: H
authors: Yu
authors: Wanzhang
authors: W
authors: Yang
authors: Leanna J
authors: LJ
authors: Standish
authors: Bensheng
authors: B
authors: Qiu
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009339:Needles / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control