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Voltage-based device tracking in a 1.5 Tesla MRI during imaging: initial validation in swine models
Ehud J Schmidt1, Zion T H Tse, Tobias R Reichlin
1Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
|April 13, 2013
Summary
An MRI-compatible voltage-based device-tracking (VDT) system was developed for cardiac electrophysiology. This system enables accurate catheter navigation both inside and outside the MRI scanner, improving procedural efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Electrophysiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Voltage-based device-tracking (VDT) systems are crucial for guiding invasive devices in cardiac electrophysiology.
- Current electroanatomic mapping integrates VDT with various imaging modalities, but multimodality interventions necessitate patient transfers, risking motion artifacts.
- No existing system allows continuous device tracking both inside and outside MRI scanners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate an MRI-compatible VDT system for seamless catheter navigation.
- To enhance efficiency in multimodality electrophysiological procedures by eliminating patient transfers between imaging suites.
- To provide a single method for tracking devices within and outside the MRI environment.
Main Methods:
- A commercial VDT system was modified with added hardware to mitigate MRI interference (gradient-ramp, RF unblanking pulses).
- VDT patches and cables were redesigned to minimize radiofrequency-induced heating.
- Five swine cardiac VDT electroanatomic mapping interventions were conducted, involving navigation both inside and outside the MRI scanner.
Main Results:
- The MRI-compatible VDT system achieved >12 frames per second tracking with <3 mm error, both inside and outside the MRI.
- Simultaneous VDT and MRI were feasible with repetition times >32 ms, showing <0.5 mm error and minimal signal-to-noise ratio loss (<5%).
- Radiofrequency heating remained below 1.5°C, and intracardiac electrocardiogram provided reliable data at shorter repetition times.
Conclusions:
- An MRI-compatible voltage-based device-tracking system is technically feasible.
- This development holds promise for improving efficiency and accuracy in complex electrophysiological procedures involving MRI.
- The system facilitates continuous catheter tracking, potentially reducing complications associated with patient repositioning.
