Volume 42, Issue 1 pp. 82-86
Full Paper

Prospective MR signal-based cardiac triggering

Shreyas S. Vasanawala

Corresponding Author

Shreyas S. Vasanawala

Magnetic Resonance Systems Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California.

120 Durand Building, Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford, CA 94305-9510.===Search for more papers by this author
Todd S. Sachs

Todd S. Sachs

Magnetic Resonance Systems Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California.

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Jean H. Brittain

Jean H. Brittain

Magnetic Resonance Systems Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California.

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Craig H. Meyer

Craig H. Meyer

Magnetic Resonance Systems Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California.

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Dwight G. Nishimura

Dwight G. Nishimura

Magnetic Resonance Systems Research Laboratory, Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California.

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Abstract

A cardiac motion compensation method using magnetic resonance signal-based triggering is presented. The method interlaces a triggering pulse sequence with an imaging sequence. The triggering sequence is designed to measure aortic blood velocity, from which cardiac phase can be inferred. The triggering sequence is executed repeatedly and the acquired data processed after each sequence iteration. When the desired phase of the cardiac cycle is detected, data are acquired using the imaging sequence. A signal-processing unit of a conventional scanner is used to process the triggering data in real time and issue triggering commands. Alternatively, a workstation, with a bus adaptor, can access data as they are acquired, process and display the data, and issue triggering commands. With a graphical user interface, the triggering pulse sequence and data-processing techniques can be modified instantaneously to optimize triggering. The technique is demonstrated with coronary artery imaging using both conventional two-dimensional Fourier transform scans and spiral trajectories. Magn Reson Med 42:82–86, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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