One embodiment of the present invention relates to a telemetry device
which is in communication with an MRI system, and which is operable to
communicate with an implantable medical device (IMD). The telemetry
device includes a controller and telemetry circuitry. In one embodiment,
the telemetry device is operable to automatically detect the presence of
an IMD, and determine if the IMD is in an MRI-safe mode. If the IMD is
not in an MRI-safe mode, the telemetry device can initiate processing to
prevent the MRI system from conducting an MRI scan while the IMD in not
in an MRI-safe mode.