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Poster — Wed Eve—14: Real‐Time MR Imaging for Angioplasty
Author(s) -
MacDonald ME,
Stafford RB,
Frayne R
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1118/1.3244118
Subject(s) - frame rate , angioplasty , magnetic resonance imaging , porting , stenosis , computer science , medical imaging , medicine , catheter , image quality , radiology , computer vision , medical physics , artificial intelligence , software , image (mathematics) , programming language
Angioplasty has been demonstrated as an effective treatment for cardiovascular diseases such as carotid stenosis, having similar patient outcomes to the once dominant endarectomy technique. Angioplasty is an attractive choice, as it is much less invasive. However, angioplasty procedures are hinged on the guidance of catheters through the vascular system, and imaging is required for this process. X‐ray is almost always used for these types of interventions, but has several noted drawbacks, including the exposure of ionizing radiation to both patients and staff. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been used in previous experiments at different centres and overcomes some of the problems associated with X‐ray imaging. Here, we propose a real‐time imaging system, for use in catheter guiding applications, and look at parameters and techniques that will increase the overall frame rate displayed to an in‐room monitor. By modifying a fast gradient recalled echo (FGRE) sequence, and ported data directly to an image reconstruction station, implemented on an iMac computer, images are reconstructed and display in real time. By using algorithms such as variable rate k ‐space acquisition (varking), multi‐phase array coils, reducing the number of phase‐encode lines, and reducing the analog to digital converter (ADC) sampling rate, frame rate was improved from ∼1 Hz to ∼5Hz. Analysis of images, pre‐ and post‐optimization, yield comparable quality by inspection, and an improved SNR from 45 to 160. This system has been designed to perform MR angioplasty procedures, which will the next step in our research project using animal models.