Michel Lefranc, Julie Yeung Lam Ko, Johann Peltier, Anthony Fichten, Christine Desenclos, Jean-Michel Macron, Patrick Toussaint, Daniel Le Gars, Michel Petitjean
BACKGROUND: Exposure to powerful magnetic fields may alter the settings of programmable ventriculoperitoneal shunt valves or even cause permanent damage to these devices. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magnetic resonance imaging both generate a high-intensity, focal magnetic field. To the best of our knowledge, there is no literature data on the compatibility of TMS with neurosurgical implants. The aim of the present in vitro study was to investigate the effects of TMS on four types of pressure-programmable valves (the Strata 2 from Medtronic, the Polaris from Sophysa, the ProGAV from Miethke, and a cylindrical valve from Codman-Hakim)...
April 2010: Acta Neurochirurgica