Vascular interventions guided by ultrafast MR imaging: evaluation of different materials

The ability of MRI to acquire not only anatomical but also functional information makes MRI guided vascular interventions an interesting goal. Recent developments in ultrafast MR imaging sequences such as fast gradient echo or echo planar (EPI) mean that not only real time MRI but also MRI guided vascular interventions are real possibilities for the not too distant future. However, currently available guide wires and catheters are potentially unusable in MRI because they are either ferromagnetic or MRI invisible. In order to find different materials suitable for real time MRI, various devices were examined with fast gradient echo and interleaved EPI pulse sequences. The measurements were performed using a continuously running, pseudo real time MRI system to investigate the dynamic imaging behavior under guide wire insertion. Suggestions are made as how to construct guide wires and catheters, which can be visualized with ultrafast imaging sequences, while not causing prohibitive artifacts or image distortions.