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  • Proportionality Constant -
    Specific Absorption Rate
 
 
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Proportionality Constant 
Two quantities (x, y) are called proportional if they vary in such a way that one of the quantities is a constant multiple of the other, or equivalently if they have a constant ratio (k = y/x). This constant ratio (k) is called the proportionality constant or constant of proportionality of the proportionality relation.
Radio Frequency 
(RF) Radio frequency refers to that portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in which electromagnetic waves can be generated by alternating current fed to an antenna.
The RF pulses used in MRI are commonly in the 1-100 megahertz range, and their effect upon a body is potential heating of tissues and foreign bodies, such as metallic implants, mainly at the surface.
This is a principal area of concern for MRI safety limits caused by absorption (see specific absorption rate) of the applied pulses of RF energy.
mri safety guidance
Image Guidance
The higher the frequency, the larger will be the amount of heat developed.
The more ionic the biochemical environment in the tissue, the more energy that will be deposited as heat.
This effect is well known for homogeneous model systems, but the complex structure of various human tissues makes detailed theoretical calculations very difficult, if not impossible. By scanning problems, it is important to verify the transmission frequency. If the RF transmitted into the patient was, e.g. 5000 Hz lower than the resonance frequency of the protons, no protons was excited, and no signal returns.
 
Further Reading:
  Basics:
Radio frequency
   by en.wikipedia.org    
  News & More:
On the estimation of the worst-case implant-induced RF-heating in multi-channel MRI.
Thursday, 2 March 2017   by www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov    
Safety and reliability of Radio Frequency Identification Devices in Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography
Thursday, 4 February 2010   by 7thspace.com    
Radiologists Offer Non-surgical Treatment For Early-stage Liver Cancer
Saturday, 5 March 2005   by www.sciencedaily.com    
Specific Absorption Rate 
(SAR) The Specific Absorption Rate is defined as the RF power absorbed per unit of mass of an object, and is measured in watts per kilogram (W/kg).
The SAR describes the potential for heating of the patient's tissue due to the application of the RF energy necessary to produce the MR signal. Inhomogeneity of the RF field leads to a local exposure where most of the absorbed energy is applied to one body region rather than the entire person, leading to the concept of a local SAR. Hot spots may occur in the exposed tissue, to avoid or at least minimize effects of such theoretical complications, the frequency and the power of the radio frequency irradiation should be kept at the lowest possible level. Averaging over the whole body leads to the global SAR.
It increases with field strength, radio frequency power and duty cycle, transmitter-coil type and body size. The doubling of the field strength from 1.5 Tesla (1.5T) to 3 Tesla (3T) leads to a quadrupling of SAR. In high and ultrahigh fields, some of the multiple echo, multiple-slice pulse sequences may create a higher SAR than recommended by the agencies. SAR can be reduced by lower flip angle and longer repetition times, which could potentially affect image contrast.
Normally no threatening increase in temperature could be shown. Even in high magnetic fields, the local temperature increases not more than 1°C. 2.1°C is the highest measured increase in skin temperature. Eddy currents may heat up implants and thus may cause local heating.

FDA SAR limits:
Whole body: 4W/kg/15-minute exposure averaged;
Head: 3W/kg/10-minute exposure averaged;
Head or torso: 8W/kg/5 minute exposure per gram of tissue;
Extremities: 12W/kg/5 minute exposure per gram of tissue.

IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) SAR limits of some European countries:
All limits are averaged over 6 minutes.
Level 0 (normal operating mode): Whole body 2W/kg; Head 3.2W/kg; Head or Torso (local) 10W/kg; Extremities (local) 20W/kg;
Level I (first level controlled operating mode): Whole body 4W/kg; Head 3.2W/kg; Head or Torso (local) 10W/kg; Extremities (local) 20W/kg;
Level II (second level controlled operating mode): All values are over Level I values.
(For more details: IEC 60601-2-33 (2002))

In most countries standard MRI systems are limited to a maximum SAR of 4 W/kg, so most scanning in level II is impossible.
For Level I, in addition to routine monitoring, particular caution must be exercised for patients who are sensitive to temperature increases or to RF energy.
For Japan different SAR limits are valid.
 
Further Reading:
  Basics:
SED Guidance
Saturday, 1 January 2022   by www.mriphysics.scot.nhs.uk    
On the estimation of the worst-case implant-induced RF-heating in multi-channel MRI.
Thursday, 2 March 2017   by www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov    
What MRI Sequences Produce the Highest Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), and Is There Something We Should Be Doing to Reduce the SAR During Standard Examinations?
Thursday, 16 April 2015   by www.ajronline.org    
Evaluation of Specific Absorption Rate as a Dosimeter of MRI-Related Implant Heating
2004   by www.imrser.org    
  News & More:
Specific Absorption Rate and Specific Energy Dose: Comparison of 1.5-T versus 3.0-T Fetal MRI
Tuesday, 7 April 2020   by pubs.rsna.org    
MRI in Patients with Implanted Devices: Current Controversies
Monday, 1 August 2016   by www.acc.org    
Commission delays electromagnetic fields legislation
Monday, 29 October 2007   by cordis.europa.eu:80    
Accounting for biological aggregation in heating and imaging of magnetic nanoparticles
Tuesday, 2 September 2014   by www.ecnmag.com    
Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff, Criteria for Significant Risk Investigations of Magnetic Resonance Diagnostic Devices
Monday, 14 July 2003   by www.fda.gov    
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