MRI cardiovascular catheterization technology development

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During the past year we continued human cardiovascular MRI using a novel low-field and high-performance MRI system at 0.55T. The system preserves imaging with reduced SAR which allows MRI catheterization using conductive metallic cardiovascular guidewires. These allow using fundamental metallic catheter tools without dangerous heating. In collaboration with the laboratory of Adrienne Campbell-Washburn we are helping to characterize fundamental MR properties of tissues of interest at low field. We have investigated the value of low-field high-performance MRI to image iron susceptibility markers for guidewire tracking and navigation. We have investigated the impact of low-field high-performance MRI to mitigate the magnetohydrodynamic effect that irrevocably distorts ECG repolarization, in human research subjects. We are working closely with industry, through a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement, system for safe patient hemodynamic monitoring and recording during interventional MRI experiments and during transfer between X-ray and MRI. We are working closely with industry to transfer our developments into commercial tools that can be used widely in medical care throughout the world. Specifically we are working on ways to assure safety of conductive metallic catheter devices during real-time MRI.