Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
Ferric Chloride-induced Canine Carotid Artery Thrombosis: A Large Animal Model of Vascular Injury
Published on: September 7, 2018
Accelerated passive MR catheter tracking into the carotid artery of canines
Matthew Ethan Macdonald1, Randall B Stafford, Jérôme Yerly
1Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. memacdon@ucalgary.ca
Background:
Using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for navigating catheters has several advantages when compared with the current "gold standard" modality of X-ray imaging. A significant drawback to interventional MR is inferior temporal and spatial resolutions, as high spatial resolution images cannot be collected and displayed at rates equal to X-ray imaging. In particular, passive MR catheter tracking experiments that use positive contrast mechanisms have poor temporal imaging rates and signal-to-noise ratio. As a result, with passive methods, it is often difficult to reconstruct motion artifact-free tracking images from areas with motion, such as the thoracic cavity.
Methods:
In this study, several accelerated MR acquisition strategies, including parallel imaging and compressed sensing (CS), were evaluated to determine which method is most effective at improving the frame rate and passive detection of catheters in regions of physiological motion. Device navigation was performed both in vitro, through the aortic arch of an anthropomorphic chest phantom, and in vivo from the femoral artery, up the descending aorta into the supra-aortic branching vessels in canines.
Results And Discussion:
The different parallel imaging methods produced images of low quality. CS with a two-fold acceleration was found to be the most effective method for generating tracking images, improving the image frame rate to 5.2 Hz, while maintaining a relatively high in-plane resolution. Using CS, motion artifact was decreased and the catheters were visualized with good conspicuity near the heart.
Conclusions:
The improvement in the imaging frame rate by image acceleration was sufficient to overcome motion artifacts and to better visualize catheters in the thoracic cavity with passive tracking. CS preformed best at tracking. Navigation with passive MR catheter tracking was demonstrated from the femoral artery to the carotid artery in canines.
Insights
Compressed sensing (CS) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging significantly improves catheter tracking in the body. This accelerated MR technique enhances frame rates, reducing motion artifacts for better visualization during navigation.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Interventional Radiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging offers advantages over X-ray for catheter navigation.
- Current MR imaging suffers from poor temporal and spatial resolution, hindering real-time applications.
- Passive MR catheter tracking methods exhibit low frame rates and signal-to-noise ratios, complicating motion-prone imaging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate accelerated MR acquisition strategies for improved catheter tracking.
- To determine the most effective method for enhancing frame rate and passive catheter detection in physiological motion.
- To assess the feasibility of MR-guided catheter navigation in challenging anatomical regions.
Main Methods:
- Investigated parallel imaging and compressed sensing (CS) MR acquisition strategies.
- Evaluated methods in vitro using an anthropomorphic chest phantom and in vivo in canines.
- Focused on improving frame rate and passive detection of catheters during navigation.
Main Results:
- Parallel imaging methods yielded low-quality images.
- Compressed sensing (CS) with two-fold acceleration proved most effective for tracking images.
- CS improved image frame rate to 5.2 Hz, reducing motion artifacts and enhancing catheter conspicuity.
Conclusions:
- Accelerated MR imaging, particularly CS, overcomes motion artifacts for better catheter visualization.
- CS demonstrated superior performance in passive MR catheter tracking.
- Successful navigation from the femoral to the carotid artery in canines was achieved using passive MR catheter tracking.
