Christina Elena Saikus1, Kanishka Ratnakaya1, Anthony Z. Faranesh1, Robert J. Lederman1, Ozgur Kocaturk1
1Translational Medicine Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
MRI is increasingly used to guide percutaneous procedures but passive needle artifacts can often be non-specific and difficult to locate and follow under MRI. We have developed an active profiling needle that incorporates a loop antenna to provide distinct device appearance displayed on simultaneously acquired real-time images. The needle visibility and handling were evaluated during in vitro phantom imaging and in vivo real-time MRI-guided vascular access experiments in swine. Incorporating active visualization in the needle design provided clear information on needle location, insertion depth, and shaft positioning which can help safely conduct a variety of percutaneous interventional MRI procedures.