Development of high-performance low field MRI technology

National Heart, Lung, And Blood Institute

Investigators

Linked publications & trials

Abstract

In FY23, we have focused on improvements to our 3D imaging. Specifically, we have further developed our 3D free-breathing stack-of-spirals imaging for higher resolution lung MRI, including the deployment of a rapid inline image reconstruction pipeline with integrated artifact correction, and applied similar methods for cardiac imaging. In parallel, we have developed techniques to track and compensate for motion and developed methods to compensate for artifacts in 0.55T images. We have also developed a prototype to integrate adaptive feedback into a pulse sequence. We have optimized a free-breathing oxygen enhanced imaging technique and deployed this method on the commercial Siemens 0.55T system. We have developed a method to dynamically assess the transient accumulation of lung edema during exercise, which may be an early marker of heart failure, and we have initiated collaborations with two large cardiac hospitals to test these methods in larger cohorts. Finally, we have developed methods to measure pressure-volume loops in the MRI environment, and to assess the heart following structural heart interventions. We have translated several of our techniques to the commercial Siemens variant of the 0.55T MRI system, and developed new methods specifically for this system configuration. This project includes close collaboration with industry to translate our developments and make them accessible to other institutions