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Medtronic 780/Guardian 4 and MRI

T

Tomsy11

Newbie
Hi,

I’m reaching out for your help and advices.

My partner is diabetic type 1, and currently with the Medtronic 780 insulin pump and the Guardian 4 CGM.
She is a vet surgeon and currently undertaking a specialisation to become a specialist in Imagery (which include X-ray, scanner, ultrasound and mri technology).This year will be « hands on » training and will require her to be in the MRI room to install patient in the MRI). She will only be in the room to instal patients, then will go to the control room to operate the MRI.

We have received conflicting information from Medtronic and her doctor if being in the MRI room to just install the patients (not when the MRI is imaging) would cause issue to her pump, the CGM or injection site). As we know even when not active the MRI magnets are still effective and could damage or pull out her materials, or damage the CGM in a way that it does not measure or tramsits accurate info.

We want to be 100% about what to do and the best way forward. She doesn’t want to give up on her dream job but if that means removing all her pump materiel and captors each time she has to give an mri, it’s impossible.

Any suggestions is welcome :)

Thanks a lot for your help and guidance.
 
As per the user guide for the 780g and Guardian 4 (Page 52 on Exposure to magnetic fields and radiation - https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/s...-system-user-guide-with-Guardian-4-sensor.pdf) it says as follows;

"Remove the pump, sensor, transmitter, and meter before entering a room with x-ray, MRI, diathermy, or CT scan equipment. The magnetic fields and radiation in the immediate vicinity of this equipment can make the devices nonfunctional or damage the part of the pump that regulates insulin delivery, possibly resulting in over-delivery and severe hypoglycemia."

To me that clearly says you shouldn't wear any of the devices in the room even if you are only just installing the patients. I have also though worn my Guardian 4 and Insulin pump during an x-ray (for my foot) and my Insulin pump was still connected when I had a CT scan on my abdomen although I did remove my Guardian 4 but those were only brief periods of time with them in the room and with your partner potentially having to be in them regularly it could do more harm than good with the devices constantly being in the same room as magnetic fields/radiation. Personally I wouldn't want to risk it.
 
Tomsy11 said:
Hi,

I’m reaching out for your help and advices.

My partner is diabetic type 1, and currently with the Medtronic 780 insulin pump and the Guardian 4 CGM.
She is a vet surgeon and currently undertaking a specialisation to become a specialist in Imagery (which include X-ray, scanner, ultrasound and mri technology).This year will be « hands on » training and will require her to be in the MRI room to install patient in the MRI). She will only be in the room to instal patients, then will go to the control room to operate the MRI.

We have received conflicting information from Medtronic and her doctor if being in the MRI room to just install the patients (not when the MRI is imaging) would cause issue to her pump, the CGM or injection site). As we know even when not active the MRI magnets are still effective and could damage or pull out her materials, or damage the CGM in a way that it does not measure or tramsits accurate info.

We want to be 100% about what to do and the best way forward. She doesn’t want to give up on her dream job but if that means removing all her pump materiel and captors each time she has to give an mri, it’s impossible.

Any suggestions is welcome :)

Thanks a lot for your help and guidance.
Click to expand...
Has she decided what to do? I came here searching for some input in wearing my cgm during head CT scan. I definitely would leave my pump in another room. But, thought my cgm left on would be ok. I found some links that say it’s advisable to remove pump and cgm but that there were no reported problems if someone didn’t remove it. I was shocked. So no reports of it ever causing problems, yet this advisement is still in effect. Hmmm….okay. I wonder what they base their position on. Anyway, since my device is under warranty, I’ll follow their recommendations.

Has your partner considered researching if there is really a basis for concern? I’m no expert, but how real is this warning about damage when no equipment is actually in use?
 
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