Cardiac MR imaging with external respirator: synchronizing cardiac and respiratory motion--feasibility study

The feasibility of electrocardiography (ECG)-synchronized respiration with an external cuirass-type respirator in cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was evaluated. Cardiac MR imaging was performed in 10 nonsedated healthy volunteers with an ECG-triggered external respirator that was modified for use in the MR environment. Coronary MR angiograms and multiphase gradient-echo cine images were acquired with one respiratory cycle performed per cardiac cycle. The technique was feasible and in this group of volunteers resulted in equivalent image quality but shorter acquisition times than those of conventional free-breathing and breath-holding techniques.