Abstract #2530

Visualizing Acute RF Ablation Lesions in the Heart Using Non-Contrast MRI at 3T

Sathya Vijayakumar¹, Eugene G. Kholmovski¹, Rob S. MacLeod^2,3, Josh Blauer⁴, Jayne Davis², J. Rock Hadley¹, Edward DiBella^1,4, Kamal Vij⁵, Dennis L. Parker¹, Nassir F. Marrouche⁶

¹UCAIR, Dept. of Radiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; ²CVRTI, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; ³Dept. of BioEngineering , University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; ⁴Dept. of BioEngineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; ⁵SurgiVision Inc., CA, USA; ⁶Cardiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

This work presents the use of non-contrast MRI sequences to detect and identify acute lesions caused by RF ablation in the heart. Canine experiments were performed to investigate how soon after delivery of RF power MRI can visualize lesion and whether it is observable in the atrium of the heart. Preliminary results indicate that acute lesion in the atrium of the heart can be visualized within a minute of delivering RF energy.