TY - GEN A1 - Lindel, Tomasz Dawid A1 - Greiser, Andreas A1 - Waxman, Patrick A1 - Dietterle, Martin A1 - Seifert, Frank A1 - Fontius, Ulrich A1 - Renz, Wolfgang A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A. A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Schulz-Menger, Jeanette A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf A1 - Ittermann, Bernd T1 - Cardiac CINE MRI at 7 T using a transmit array T2 - 2012 ISMRM Annual Meeting Proceedings N2 - With its need for high SNR and short acquisition times, Cardiac MRI (CMR) is an intriguing target application for ultrahigh field MRI. Due to the sheer size of the upper torso, however, the known RF issues of 7T MRI are also most prominent in CMR. Recent years brought substantial progress but the full potential of the ultrahigh field for CMR is yet to be exploited. Parallel transmission (pTx) is a promising approach in this context and several groups have already reported B1 shimming for 7T CMR. In such a static pTx application amplitudes and phases of all Tx channels are adjusted individually but otherwise imaging techniques established in current clinical practice 1.5 T and 3 T are applied. More advanced forms of pTx as spatially selective excitation (SSE) using Transmit SENSE promise additional benefits like faster imaging with reduced fields of view or improved SAR control. SSE requires the full dynamic capabilities of pTx, however, and for the majority of today's implemented pTx hardware the internal synchronization of the Tx array does not easily permit external triggering as needed for CMR. Here we report a software solution to this problem and demonstrate the feasibility of CINE CMR at 7 T using a Tx array. Y1 - 2012 SN - 1545-4428 N1 - ISMRM 20th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, 5-11 May 2012, Melbourne, Australia ER - TY - GEN A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Pfeiffer, Harald A1 - Hezel, Fabian A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A. A1 - Winter, Lukas A1 - Gräßl, Andreas A1 - Santoro, Davide A1 - Özerdem, Celal A1 - Renz, Wolfgang A1 - Greiser, Andreas A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf T1 - Lessons learned from cardiac MRI at 7.0 T: LV function assessment at 3.0 T using local multi-channel transceiver coil arrays T2 - 2012 ISMRM Annual Meeting Proceedings N2 - Cardiac MR (CMR) is of proven clinical value but also an area of vigorous ongoing research since image quality is not always exclusively defined by signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Recent developments of CMR at 7.0 T have been driven by pioneering explorations into novel multichannel transmit and receive coil array technology to tackle the challenges B1+-field inhomogeneities, to offset specific-absorption rate (SAR) constraints and to reduce banding artifacts in SSFP imaging. For this study, recognition of the benefits and performance of local surface Tx/Rx-array structures recently established at 7.0 T inspired migration to 3.0 T, where RF inhomogeneities and SAR limitations encountered in routine clinical CMR, though somewhat reduced versus the 7.0 T situation, remain significant. For all these reasons, this study was designed to build and examine the feasibility of a local four channel Tx/Rx cardiac coil array for anatomical and functional cardiac imaging at 3.0 T. For comparison, a homebuilt 4 channel Rx cardiac coil array exhibiting the same geometry as the Tx/Rx coil and a Rx surface coil array were used. Y1 - 2012 SN - 1545-4428 N1 - ISMRM 20th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, 5-11 May 2012, Melbourne, Australia ER - TY - GEN A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Fuchs, Katharina A1 - Hezel, Fabian A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A. A1 - Rieger, Jan A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf T1 - Improved cardiac triggering by combining multiple physiological signals: a cardiac MR feasibility study at 7.0 T T2 - 2012 ISMRM Annual Meeting Proceedings N2 - In current clinical cardiovascular MR (CMR) practice cardiac motion is commonly dealt with using ECG based synchronization. However, ECG is corrupted by magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) effects in magnetic fields. This leads to artifacts in the ECG trace and evokes severe T-wave elevations, which might be misinterpreted as R-waves resulting in erroneous triggering. At (ultra)high field strengths, the propensity of ECG recordings to MHD effects is further pronounced. Pulse oximetry (POX) being inherently sensitive to blood oxygenation provides an alternative approach for cardiac gating. However, due to the travel time of the blood the peak of maximum oxygenation and hence the trigger is delayed by approx. 300 ms with respect to the ECG's R-wave. Also the peak of maximum oxygenation shows a jitter of up to 65 ms. Alternative triggering approaches include acoustic cardiac triggering (ACT). In current clinical practice cardiac gating / triggering commonly relies on using single physiological signals only. Realizing this limitation this study proposes a combined triggering approach which exploits multiple physiological signals including ECG, POX or ACT to track cardiac activity. The feasibility of the coupled approach is examined for LV function assessment at 7.0 T. For this purpose, breath-held 2D-CINE imaging in conjunction with cardiac synchronization was performed paralleled by real time logging of physiological waveforms to track (mis)synchronization between the cardiac cycle and data acquisition. Combinations of the ECG, POX and ACT signals were evaluated and processed in real time to facilitate reliable trigger information. Y1 - 2012 SN - 1545-4428 N1 - ISMRM 20th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, 5-11 May 2012, Melbourne, Australia ER - TY - GEN A1 - Tkachenko, Valeriy A1 - von Knobelsdorff-Brenkenhoff, Florian A1 - Kleindienst, Denise A1 - Winter, Lukas A1 - Rieger, Jan A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A. A1 - Santoro, Davide A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf A1 - Schulz-Menger, Jeanette T1 - Cardiovasular MR at 7Tesla: assessment of the right ventricle T2 - 2012 ISMRM Annual Meeting Proceedings N2 - The assessment of the right ventricle (RV) is a challenge in today's cardiology, but of growing clinical impact regarding patient prognosis in different cardiac diseases. The detection and differentiation of small wall motion abnormalities may help to enhance the differentiation of cardiomyopathies including Arrhythmogenic Rightventricular Cardiomyopathy. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) at 1.5T is the accepted gold standard for RV quantification. The higher spatial resolution achievable at ultrahigh field strength (UHF) offers the potential to gain new insights into the structure and function of the RV. To approach this goal accurate RV chamber quantification at 7T has to be proven. Consequently this study examines the feasibility of assessment of RV dimensions and function at 7T using improved spatial resolution enabled by the intrinsic sensitivity gain of UHF CMR. For this purpose, a dedicated 16 channel TX/RX RF coil array is used together with 2D CINE fast gradient echo (FGRE) imaging. For comparison RV chamber quantification is conducted at 1.5T using a SSFP based state of the art clinical protocol. Y1 - 2012 SN - 1545-4428 N1 - ISMRM 20th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, 5-11 May 2012, Melbourne, Australia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gräßl, Andreas A1 - Renz, Wolfgang A1 - Hezel, Fabian A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A. A1 - Winter, Lukas A1 - Özerdem, Celal A1 - Rieger, Jan A1 - Kellmann, Peter A1 - Santoro, Davide A1 - Lindel, Tomasz D. A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Pfeiffer, Harald A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf T1 - Modular 32-channel transceiver coil array for cardiac MRI at 7.0T JF - Magnetic Resonance in Medicine N2 - Purpose To design and evaluate a modular transceiver coil array with 32 independent channels for cardiac MRI at 7.0T. Methods The modular coil array comprises eight independent building blocks, each containing four transceiver loop elements. Numerical simulations were used for B1+ field homogenization and radiofrequency (RF) safety validation. RF characteristics were examined in a phantom study. The array's suitability for accelerated high spatial resolution two-dimensional (2D) FLASH CINE imaging of the heart was examined in a volunteer study. Results Transmission field adjustments and RF characteristics were found to be suitable for the volunteer study. The signal-to-noise intrinsic to 7.0T together with the coil performance afforded a spatial resolution of 1.1 × 1.1 × 2.5 mm3 for 2D CINE FLASH MRI, which is by a factor of 6 superior to standardized CINE protocols used in clinical practice at 1.5T. The 32-channel transceiver array supports one-dimensional acceleration factors of up to R = 4 without impairing image quality significantly. Conclusion The modular 32-channel transceiver cardiac array supports accelerated and high spatial resolution cardiac MRI. The array is compatible with multichannel transmission and provides a technological basis for future clinical assessment of parallel transmission techniques at 7.0T. Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/mrm.24903 SN - 1522-2594 VL - 72 IS - 1 SP - 276 EP - 290 PB - Wiley-Liss CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Fuchs, Katharina A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A. A1 - Özerdem, Celal A1 - Patel, Nishan A1 - Renz, Wolfgang A1 - Greiser, Andreas A1 - Elgeti, Thomas A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf T1 - Detailing the use of magnetohydrodynamic effects for synchronization of MRI with the cardiac cycle: A feasibility study JF - Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging N2 - Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effects for synchronization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the cardiac cycle. Materials and Methods: The MHD effect was scrutinized using a pulsatile flow phantom at B0 = 7.0 T. MHD effects were examined in vivo in healthy volunteers (n = 10) for B0 ranging from 0.05–7.0 T. Noncontrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) of the carotids was performed using a gated steady-state free-precession (SSFP) imaging technique in conjunction with electrocardiogram (ECG) and MHD synchronization. Results: The MHD potential correlates with flow velocities derived from phase contrast MRI. MHD voltages depend on the orientation between B0 and the flow of a conductive fluid. An increase in the interelectrode spacing along the flow increases the MHD potential. In vivo measurement of the MHD effect provides peak voltages of 1.5 mV for surface areas close to the common carotid artery at B0 = 7.0 T. Synchronization of MRI with the cardiac cycle using MHD triggering is feasible. MHD triggered MRA of the carotids at 3.0 T showed an overall image quality and richness of anatomic detail, which is comparable to ECG-triggered MRAs. Conclusion: This feasibility study demonstrates the use of MHD effects for synchronization of MR acquisitions with the cardiac cycle. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:364–372. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.23634 SN - 1522-2586 VL - 36 IS - 2 SP - 364 EP - 372 PB - Wiley-Liss CY - New York ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A. A1 - Renz, Wolfgang A1 - Lindel, Tomasz D. A1 - Seifert, Frank A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - von Knobelsdorf-Brenkenhoff, Florian A1 - Waiczies, Helmar A1 - Hoffmann, Werner A1 - Rieger, Jan A1 - Pfeiffer, Harald A1 - Ittermann, Bernd A1 - Schulz-Menger, Jeanette A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf T1 - Design and application of a four-channel transmit/receive surface coil for functional cardiac imaging at 7T JF - Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging N2 - Purpose To design and evaluate a four-channel cardiac transceiver coil array for functional cardiac imaging at 7T. Materials and Methods A four-element cardiac transceiver surface coil array was developed with two rectangular loops mounted on an anterior former and two rectangular loops on a posterior former. specific absorption rate (SAR) simulations were performed and a Burn:x-wiley:10531807:media:JMRI22451:tex2gif-stack-1 calibration method was applied prior to obtain 2D FLASH CINE (mSENSE, R = 2) images from nine healthy volunteers with a spatial resolution of up to 1 × 1 × 2.5 mm3. Results Tuning and matching was found to be better than 10 dB for all subjects. The decoupling (S21) was measured to be >18 dB between neighboring loops, >20 dB for opposite loops, and >30 dB for other loop combinations. SAR values were well within the limits provided by the IEC. Imaging provided clinically acceptable signal homogeneity with an excellent blood-myocardium contrast applying the Burn:x-wiley:10531807:media:JMRI22451:tex2gif-stack-2 calibration approach. Conclusion A four-channel cardiac transceiver coil array for 7T was built, allowing for cardiac imaging with clinically acceptable signal homogeneity and an excellent blood-myocardium contrast. Minor anatomic structures, such as pericardium, mitral, and tricuspid valves and their apparatus, as well as trabeculae, were accurately delineated. Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1002/jmri.22451 SN - 1522-2586 VL - 33 IS - 3 SP - 736 EP - 741 PB - Wiley-Liss CY - New York ER - TY - GEN A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A. A1 - Renz, Wolfgang A1 - Lindel, Tomasz A1 - Seifert, Frank A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Waiczies, Helmar A1 - von Knobelsdorff-Brenkhoff, Florian A1 - Santoro, Davide A1 - Hoffmann, Werner A1 - Ittermann, Bernd A1 - Schulz-Menger, Jeanette A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf T1 - 4CH TX/RX Surface Coil for 7T: Design, Optimization and Application for Cardiac Function Imaging T2 - 2010 ISMRM-ESMRMB joint annual meeting N2 - Practical impediments of ultra high field cardiovascular MR (CVMR) can be catalogued in exacerbated magnetic field and radio frequency (RF) inhomogeneities, susceptibility and off-resonance effects, conductive and dielectric effects in tissue, and RF power deposition constraints, which all bear the potential to spoil the benefit of CVMR at 7T. Therefore, a four element cardiac transceive surface coil array was developed. Cardiac imaging provided clinically acceptable signal homogeneity with an excellent blood myocardium contrast. Subtle anatomic structures, such as pericardium, mitral and tricuspid valves and their apparatus, papillary muscles, and trabecles were accurately delineated. Y1 - 2010 SN - 1545-4428 N1 - ISMRM-ESMRMB joint annual meeting, 1 - 7 May 2010, Stockholm, Sweden ER - TY - JOUR A1 - von Knobelsdorf-Brenkenhoff, Florian A1 - Frauenrath, Tobias A1 - Prothmann, Marcel A1 - Dieringer, Matthias A. A1 - Hezel, Fabian A1 - Renz, Wolfgang A1 - Kretschel, Kerstin A1 - Niendorf, Thoralf A1 - Schulz-Menger, Jeanette T1 - Cardiac chamber quantification using magnetic resonance imaging at 7 Tesla—a pilot study N2 - Objectives Interest in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) at 7 T is motivated by the expected increase in spatial and temporal resolution, but the method is technically challenging. We examined the feasibility of cardiac chamber quantification at 7 T. Methods A stack of short axes covering the left ventricle was obtained in nine healthy male volunteers. At 1.5 T, steady-state free precession (SSFP) and fast gradient echo (FGRE) cine imaging with 7 mm slice thickness (STH) were used. At 7 T, FGRE with 7 mm and 4 mm STH were applied. End-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, ejection fraction and mass were calculated. Results All 7 T examinations provided excellent blood/myocardium contrast for all slice directions. No significant difference was found regarding ejection fraction and cardiac volumes between SSFP at 1.5 T and FGRE at 7 T, while volumes obtained from FGRE at 1.5 T were underestimated. Cardiac mass derived from FGRE at 1.5 and 7 T was larger than obtained from SSFP at 1.5 T. Agreement of volumes and mass between SSFP at 1.5 T and FGRE improved for FGRE at 7 T when combined with an STH reduction to 4 mm. Conclusions This pilot study demonstrates that cardiac chamber quantification at 7 T using FGRE is feasible and agrees closely with SSFP at 1.5 T. Y1 - 2010 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-010-1888-2 SN - 0938-7994 VL - 20 SP - 2844 EP - 2852 PB - Springer CY - Berlin, Heidelberg ER -