Fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) gated MRI

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Fetal cardiac and flow imaging using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is limited by motion artifacts.
• Current MRI gating techniques do not reliably synchronize with fetal heartbeats.
• A need exists for advanced fetal monitoring during MRI to improve image quality and enable new diagnostic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an MRI-compatible system for gating MRI scanners to fetal heartbeats.
• To enable high-resolution imaging of fetal cardiac function and umbilical cord blood flow.
• To assess the safety and feasibility of fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) gating in MRI.

Main Methods:

• Modification of a fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) monitoring device to provide an external TTL trigger signal.
• Integration of the fECG trigger with a standard 1.5 T MRI gating system.
• Radiofrequency safety testing and imaging studies in pregnant volunteers (n=3) using the fECG-gated MRI system.

Main Results:

• Successful simultaneous detection of maternal and fetal electrocardiograms (mECG and fECG).
• Reliable triggering of the MRI scanner using the fECG signal at typical fetal heart rates.
• Acquisition of gated MR images, including cardiac and Central Nervous System (CNS) examinations, with no adverse safety effects reported.

Conclusions:

• This is the first demonstration of fECG gating in MRI, representing a significant advancement in fetal imaging technology.
• The developed system is safe and effective for improving fetal MRI quality and opens new avenues for studying fetal development.
• fECG-gated MRI holds promise for enhanced diagnosis of congenital heart disease and other fetal conditions.