Open Access

As ultrahigh field cardiac MRI becomes more widespread in the (pre)clinical research arena the propensity of ECG recordings to interference from electromagnetic fields and magneto-hydrodynamic effects increases and with it the motivation for a practical gating/triggering alternative. This study compares the feasibility, efficacy and reliability phonocardiogram (ACT), vector electrocardiogram (VCG) and traditional pulse oximetry (pO2) triggered MRI for left ventricular function assessment at 7.0T. ACTs intrinsic insensitivity to interference from electro-magnetic fields and magneto-hydrodynamic effects results in an excellent trigger reliability and renders it suitable for global cardiac function assessment at ultrahigh magnetic field strengths.

Objective: As high-field cardiac MRI (CMR) becomes more widespread the propensity of ECG to interference from electromagnetic fields (EMF) and to magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) effects increases and with it the motivation for a CMR triggering alternative. This study explores the suitability of acoustic cardiac triggering (ACT) for left ventricular (LV) function assessment in healthy subjects (n=14). Methods: Quantitative analysis of 2D CINE steady-state free precession (SSFP) images was conducted to compare ACT’s performance with vector ECG (VCG). Endocardial border sharpness (EBS) was examined paralleled by quantitative LV function assessment. Results: Unlike VCG, ACT provided signal traces free of interference from EMF or MHD effects. In the case of correct Rwave recognition, VCG-triggered 2D CINE SSFP was immune to cardiac motion effects—even at 3.0 T. However, VCG-triggered 2D SSFP CINE imaging was prone to cardiac motion and EBS degradation if R-wave misregistration occurred. ACT-triggered acquisitions yielded LV parameters (end-diastolic volume (EDV), endsystolic volume (ESV), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF) and left ventricular mass (LVM)) comparable with those derived fromVCG-triggered acquisitions (1.5 T: ESVVCG=(56± 17) ml, EDVVCG=(151±32)ml, LVMVCG=(97±27) g, SVVCG=(94± 19)ml, EFVCG=(63±5)% cf. ESVACT= (56±18) ml, EDVACT=(147±36) ml, LVMACT=(102±29) g, SVACT=(91± 22) ml, EFACT=(62±6)%; 3.0 T: ESVVCG=(55±21) ml, EDVVCG=(151±32) ml, LVMVCG=(101±27) g, SVVCG=(96±15) ml, EFVCG=(65±7)% cf. ESVACT=(54±20) ml, EDVACT=(146±35) ml, LVMACT= (101±30) g, SVACT=(92±17) ml, EFACT=(64±6)%). Conclusions: ACT’s intrinsic insensitivity to interference from electromagnetic fields renders

As high-field cardiac MRI (CMR) becomes more widespread the propensity of ECG to distortions and mistriggering increases and with it the motivation for a cardiac triggering alternative. Hence, this study explores the suitability of acoustic cardiac triggering (ACT) for left ventricular (LV) function assessment in healthy subjects at 1.5T and 3.0T.

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.

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.