Ferromagnetic Detectors

The use of a stationary Ferromagnetic Detection System (FMDS) significantly enhances the safety level of MRI facilities. Ferromagnetic detection systems selectively detect ferromagnetic objects, ignoring non-ferromagnetic items. Because only ferromagnetic objects pose a missile-related hazard, a ferromagnetic detector detects threats and works by monitoring the ambient magnetic field using magnetic sensors. The ambient field is a combination of the fringe field of the magnet and the Earth’s magnetic field plus the contribution from architectural steel and any other stationary steel objects in the vicinity. A ferromagnetic object distorts the ambient field in its vicinity. If it is brought close to an Ferromagnetic Detection System, the distortion is detected as a changing magnetic field and an alert is triggered.