The 20 most recently published documents
This study is designed to demonstrate the promise of navigator gated, susceptibility weighted fast spin-echo imaging in conjunction with ventricular blood suppression for anatomically accurate T2*-mapping of the heart. First results of phantom and volunteer studies demonstrate the geometrical integrity and high image quality obtained with UFLARE - even for strong T2*-weighting at 1.5T and 3.0T. T2*-mapping using UFLARE yielded mean T2* values for the inferoseptal myocardium of 29.96.6 ms at 1.5T and 22.34.8 ms at 3.0T. The results derived with susceptibility weighted UFLARE promise to extend the capabilities of CVMR including mapping and quantification of myocardial iron content.
While MR is a diagnostic imaging tool which saves lives, magnetic forces of fringe magnetic field components of MR systems on ferromagnetic components can impose a severe occupational health and safety hazard. With the advent of ultrahigh field MR Systems including passively shielded magnet versions this risk - commonly known as missile effect /1/ - is pronounced. Numerous accidents have been reported ranging from mechanical damage to patient death. These casualties are probably most widely known through television documentaries and printed media but still present the tip of the iceberg of safety violations (/2/ /3/ /4/). Various policies have been implemented around the world to safeguard healthcare workers, volunteers and patients with the ultimate goal of avoiding unforeseen disasters and injuries.
As high-field cardiac MRI becomes more widespread the propensity of ECG recordings to interference from electromagnetic fields increases and with it the motivation for a practical gating/triggering alternative. This study explores the feasibility, efficacy and reliability of acoustic cardiac triggering (ACT) for 2D CINE SSFP imaging at 1.5 T and 3.0 T including left ventricular function and endocardial border sharpness assessment. The MR stethoscopes intrinsic insensitivity to interference with electro-magnetic fields and hydro-dynamic effects renders it suitable for assessment of global cardiac function due to its excellent trigger reliability even at high magnetic field strengths.
The simultaneous assessment of the status of the glottis opening and the position of the larynx can be beneficial for the diagnosis of disorders of voice production and swallowing. The method presented here makes use of a time-multiplex algorithm for the measurement of space-resolved transfer impedances through the larynx. The fast sequence of measurements allows a quasi simultaneous assessment of both larynx position and EGG signal in 32 channels. First results indicate a high potential of the method for use as a non-invasive tool in the diagnosis of voice dysfunction, ventricular fold phonation and swallowing disorders.
