Abstract #4419

Dual MRI-Tracking/SJM NavX Electro-Physiology Catheters for Navigation Inside an MRI: Initial Experience

Ehud Schmidt¹, Jeremy D. Dando², Robert D. Darrow³, Daniel Kacher¹, Laurence M. Epstein⁴, Ferenc Jolesz¹, Charles L. Dumoulin⁵, Vivek Y. Reddy⁶

¹Radiology, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; ²Atrial Fibrillation Division, St. Jude Medical, Minnetonka, MA, USA; ³GE Global Research, Niskayuna, NY, USA; ⁴Cardiology, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; ⁵Radiology, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA; ⁶Cardiology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA

An MRI-compatible Electro-Physiology catheter was constructed with positional tracking elements using both MRI Tracking micro-coils and St Jude NavX non-MRI, Voltage based, tracking. The catheter was tested in a Left Atrial Phantom inside an MRI. Simultaneous low-receiver bandwidth (+16 and +32 KHz) MR Tracking at 20 fps and Navx Tracking at 12 fps was possible. High Bandwidth (+128 KHz) Real-time MR Imaging disturbed the NavX tracking, but intermittent use of imaging and NavX tracking was possible, since the Navx system returned to the same position after each MRI scan.