Can you have an MRI with your Cochlear Hearing Implant? Read on to learn more.

Question: Can I have an MRI with my Cochlear™ Hearing Implant? Answer: Yes! We are here to help you by providing Cochlear Hearing Implant MRI guidelines in the event you need to get a scan done.

Having an MRI scan with your Cochlear Hearing Implant is an option,¹ but there are a few things that you need to know. Get the answers to some common questions about having an MRI scan with your Cochlear Hearing Implant.

Can I have an MRI with my Cochlear Hearing Implant?

The answer is yes! But there are a few things that you need to know before you have an MRI with your Cochlear Hearing Implant.

What is an MRI?

MRI stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a scan used by doctors to see inside the body. MRIs are a useful tool for diagnosing conditions, checking your progress after surgery or seeing the damage after an accident.²

MRIs are available in different strengths, measured in Tesla units. The routine MRI type is a 1.5T scan. This refers to 1.5 Tesla units, which is the unit that measures the magnetic strength of the machine.

A high-definition MRI is a 3.0T, which has twice the strength of a 1.5T scanner, therefore offering more detail.

Why could an MRI affect my hearing implant?

MRI machines contain strong magnets that interact with the magnet inside cochlear implants. While it’s safe to have an MRI, precautions need to be taken to avoid pain or discomfort or damage to the implant. Implants from Cochlear are designed with MRI in mind. Please review our website and the table below, for details on implant compatibility.

What are the guidelines for getting an MRI with my implant?

Cochlear™ Nucleus® Implants have been designed with MRI access in mind since 1997, so most recipients can access an MRI. The specific conditions may differ, depending on what implant you have and the strength of the MRI machine. If you’re not sure which implant you have, check with your clinician.

Our latest generation implants (The Nucleus Profile™ Plus Series Implants) can be used with MRI at both 1.5T and 3.0T with no need for a head wrap or magnet removal beyond taking off your sound processor before entering the MRI room. Please refer to implant specific conditions for the specific implant type.

The table below lists the guidelines for Nucleus Implants.

What is the Cochlear Nucleus MRI Kit?

Cochlear™ Nucleus® Implant recipients can use the Cochlear Nucleus MRI Kit which is designed to prevent the implant magnet from dislodging during routine 1.5T MRI scans. The kit contains magnetic splints to cover the implant site and a self-adherent compression bandage to hold the magnet in place.

Each kit has two splints so it can be used with bilateral cochlear implants.

If you’re not sure about your specific implant, check with your clinician or contact Cochlear. You can also log in to your Cochlear account and visit the “Equipment” section where you will find all the devices that you have registered to you, including the implant type.

Contraindicated: Contraindication is defined as “suggesting or indicating that a product should not be used in the specific case/situation in question”. In this instance, a contraindication for MRI means the procedure should not be performed, and an alternative form of imaging should be considered.

What if I need to have the magnet removed from my cochlear implant? What’s involved?

If this is the case, it’s a procedure that’s usually done under a local anesthetic before your MRI and reinserted after. Your hearing health professional can answer all your questions and provide further guidance to your radiologist.

Can I wear my Cochlear sound processor during the scan?

All external components of the Cochlear implant system (e.g. sound processors, remote assistants and related accessories) are MR Unsafe. You must remove all external components of your Cochlear Hearing Implant System before entering a room where an MRI scanner is located before the procedure. The processor can be placed back on as soon as the procedure is over and you have left the MRI room; we expect no impact to the device. If you notice any sound quality issues afterwards, please speak with your radiologist or your clinician.

It’s understandable if you feel overwhelmed when navigating an MRI with a hearing implant for the first time. We can provide more information to help if you’re not sure of what you need to do before you have an MRI.

Find more information on MRI considerations here.

1. Cochlear Nucleus implants are MR Conditional, meaning they have demonstrated safety in the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) environment within defined conditions. Always read the instructions for use and discuss with your doctor before undertaking any MRI procedure.
2. MRI indications will vary in some markets.
3. The following implants are designed to be compatible for MRI at 1.5 T and at 3.0 T with magnet in place:
   Nucleus Profile Plus / CI600 Series: Cl612, Cl622, Cl624 and CI632.
   The following implants are designed to be compatible for MRI at 3.0 T with the magnet removed (should your doctor specifically recommend this procedure) and 1.5 T with magnet in place with use of a Cochlear MRI Kit:
   Nucleus Profile / CI500 Series: CI512, CI522, CI532 and ABI541.
   CI24RE Series: CI422, CI24REH (Hybrid L24), CI24RE (CA), CI24RE (CS) and CI24RE (ST).
   CI24R Series: CI24R (CA), CI24R (CS) and CI24R (ST).
   CI24M Series: CI24M, CI 11+11+2M (at 1.5 T only, 3.0 T is contraindicated) and ABI24M.
   CI22M Series: CI22M with removable magnet (at 1.5 T only, 3.0 T is contraindicated). Implant magnet removal may be required to reduce image artefact.

• Cochlear implants

Jen Schulz

Jen Schulz is an Associate Marketing Manager and has worked for Cochlear since 2016. She is responsible for creating and publishing recipient services content and communications. Jen was born and raised in New York but now calls Colorado home. She enjoys baking in her spare time and spending time with her husband and 2 dogs.