Five-dimensional MRI incorporating simultaneous resolution of cardiac and respiratory phases for volumetric imaging

To develop a new volumetric imaging method resolved over both the cardiac and respiratory cycles, to enable future physiological and pathophysiological studies of respiratory-related cardiac motion.

An acquisition scheme is proposed whereby the k-space acquisition order is controlled in real-time by the current cardiac and respiratory phases. To reduce eddy-current effects induced by sudden jumps in k-space, the acquisition order is further optimized by the use of a Hilbert curve trajectory in the k(y)-k(z) plane. A complete three-dimensional (3D) k-space is acquired for all combinations of cardiac and respiratory phases, yielding a five-dimensional (5D) data set after retrospective reconstruction.

Left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) wall excursion was measured in a healthy volunteer. Diastolic LV diameter was shown to increase during expiration and decrease during inspiration, as expected from previous echocardiography studies. The LV volume was estimated for all cardiac and respiratory phases with the use of a fully 3D segmentation tool. The results confirmed that the diastolic LV volume increased during expiration and decreased during inspiration.

With its ability to measure motion anywhere in the heart, the described technique provides a promising approach for in-depth description of interventricular coupling, including 3D ventricular volumes, during both the cardiac and respiratory cycles.