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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
ECG is corrupted by magneto-hydrodynamic effects at higher magnetic field strength. Artifacts in the ECG trace and severe T-wave elevation might be mis-interpreted as R-waves. MHD being inherently sensitive to blood flow and blood velocity provides an alternative approach for cardiac gating, even in peripheral target areas far away from the commonly used upper torso positions of ECG electrodes. This feature would be very beneficial to address traveling time induced motion artifacts and trigger latency related issues raised by ECG-gated peripheral MR angiography. For all those reasons, this work proposes the use of MHD-trigger for cardiac gated MR.
At (ultra)high magnetic fields the artifact sensitivity of ECG recordings increases. This bears the risk of R-wave mis-registration which has been consistently reported for ECG triggered CMR at 7.0T. Realizing the constraints of conventional ECG, acoustic cardiac triggering (ACT) has been proposed. The clinical ACT has not been carefully examined yet. For this reason, this work scrutinizes the suitability, accuracy and reproducibility of ACT for CMR at 7.0T. For this purpose, the trigger reliability and trigger detection variance are examined together with an qualitative and quantitative assessment of image quality of the heart at 7.0T.
The magnetic forces of fringe magnetic fields of MR systems on ferromagnetic components can impose a severe patient, occupational health and safety hazard. MRI accidents are listed as number 9 of the top 10 risks in modern medicine. With the advent of ultrahigh field MR systems including passively shielded magnet versions, this risk, commonly known as the missile or projectile effect is even more pronounced. A strategy employing magnetic field sensors which can be attached to ferromagnetic objects that are commonly used in a clinical environment is conceptually appealing for the pursuit of reducing the risk of ferromagnetic projectile accidents.
High Spatial Resolution 3D MRI of the Larynx Using a Dedicated TX/RX Phased Array Coil at 7.0T
(2010)
MRI holds great potential for elucidating laryngeal and vocal fold anatomy together with the assessment of physiological processes associated in human phonation. However, MRI of human phonation remains very challenging due to the small size of the targeted structures, interfering signal from fat, air between the vocal folds and surrounding muscles and physiological motion. These anatomical/physiological constraints translate into stringent technical requirements in balancing, scan time, image contrast, immunity to physiological motion, temporal resolution and spatial resolution. Motivated by these challenges and limitations this study is aiming at translating the sensitivity gain at ultra-high magnetic fields for enhanced high spatial resolution 3D imaging of the larynx and vocal tract. To approach this goal a dedicated two channel TX/RX larynx coil is being proposed.