Real time blood flow imaging by spiral scan phase velocity mapping

The work describes the development of a novel sequence that uses rapid spiral k-space sampling, combined with phase velocity mapping, for real time flow velocity imaging. The performance of the technique is assessed on phantoms for both through-plane and in-plane flows. The flow measurements compared well with those measured using a bucket and stopwatch. One advantage of the technique is that flow related signal loss is minimal due to the early acquisition of the center of k-space data. Flow artifacts were observed for in-plane flow and these were understood with the aid of computer simulations. In vivo studies involved cine velocity mapping in normal volunteers; aortic blood flow waveforms acquired by spiral scanning in two cardiac cycles compared well with data from a conventional gradient-echo sequence. Potential applications of the method are demonstrated by studying the response of aortic flow to physical exercise and the real time monitoring of aortic flow during a valsalver maneuver.