Two-Station Time-Resolved 3D Contrast-Enhanced MRA with Real-Time Station Switching

Casey Peter Johnson¹, Clifton R. Haider¹, Eric A. Borisch¹, Roger C. Grimm¹, Phillip J. Rossman¹, Thomas C. Hulshizer¹, Jake C. Snell¹, James F. Glockner¹, Stephen J. Riederer¹

The purpose of this work was to improve bolus-chase MRA techniques by imaging multiple stations with both high spatial and temporal resolution. A highly-accelerated (14x) CAPR acquisition, previously demonstrated for single-station MRA of the calves, was adapted for this purpose. As part of the implementation, a system was developed to reconstruct the CAPR images in real time and allow for visually-guided station switching. Vasculature of the thighs and calves of volunteers was imaged with 1.0 mm isotropic resolution and frame times as low as 2.5 seconds. High-quality arterial frames were consistently acquired in both stations while avoiding venous contamination.