What goes in, what stays out
| Component | MR status | In the MR suite |
|---|---|---|
| Base frame and rails | MRConditional per labeling | Goes in |
| Head rest | MRConditional per labeling | Goes in |
| Compression arch — black | MRMR Safe | Goes in |
| Compression arch — blue | MRMR Unsafe | Stays out · CT and treatment only |
| Coordinate arch | MRMR Unsafe | Stays out · removed before imaging |
| Alignment laser box (LBV2) | MRMR Unsafe | Stays out · removed with the arch |
"MR-compatible" is the phrase people search for; the labeling terms are MR Safe, MR Conditional and MR Unsafe. AerFrame as a system is MR Conditional per labeling: the conditions under which it may be used in the MR environment are stated in the Instructions for Use, and the components above that are MR Unsafe must not enter the MR suite. Request the labeling and IFU →
Why the same frame matters
MR simulation and MR-guided treatment put the patient through the same positioning problem as CT simulation and the linac: hold the body, settle the diaphragm, reproduce it next time. With AerFrame the frame is the reference in every room. The patient is registered to the frame once, with the coordinate arch and laser box, and the two alignment dots are the only marks the patient carries.
In the MR suite the frame and head rest go in with the MR Safe black compression arch in place of the blue one. The compression arch position and screw depth are the same numbers from the worksheet, so the compression seen on the MR images is the compression delivered at treatment.
Photon beams, negligible hardware
MR-guided linacs deliver photon beams through whatever surrounds the patient, and adaptive plans computed on the day's images never see the hardware. AerFrame measures under 2% single-beam attenuation at 6, 10 and 15 MV away from the side rails, with a mean target D95 loss of 1.1% across eleven patients and three separately manufactured units. It is FDA 510(k) cleared for photon-based immobilization. The attenuation measurements →
Data on file, Stabilix. Available on request.
Three configurations, one worksheet
Coordinate arch and laser box on. Patient to the frame, frame to the room, then both come off.
Frame and blue compression arch. Nothing above the patient but the plate.
The MR Safe black arch replaces the blue one. Nothing else goes through the door.
Questions
Is AerFrame MR safe?
The system is MR Conditional per labeling. One component, the black compression arch, is MR Safe. The blue compression arch, the coordinate arch and the alignment laser box are MR Unsafe and must not enter the MR environment. The conditions of use are in the Instructions for Use.
Can it be used with an MR-linac?
AerFrame is a patient immobilization frame cleared for photon-based immobilization and labeled MR Conditional. Whether it is used on a given MR-guided system, and under what conditions, is determined by the IFU and your physics team; we do not name specific platforms. Request the labeling and we will walk through it with your physicist.
What field strengths is it labeled for?
The MR conditions, including field strength, are stated in the cleared labeling. Request the IFU for the current conditions rather than relying on this page.
Is the frame visible on MR images?
The frame is a low-density composite with no metal in the MR configuration. The MR Safe black arch is used so that compression can be applied during MR simulation. Image appearance depends on the sequence; your physicist can evaluate it during a demonstration.
Does the laser box have to come off?
Yes. The alignment laser box (LBV2) and the coordinate arch are used only to register the patient and the frame; both are MR Unsafe and are removed before imaging of any kind.