Feasibility of Real-Time MR Based Path Planning for Off-Pump Cardiac Interventions

Erol Yeniaras¹, Jason R. Stafford¹, John D. Hazle¹, Nikolaos V. Tsekos²

In this work we evaluate the viability of our computational methodology for MR guidance in minimally invasive cardio-thoracic interventions, particularly transapical aortic valve replacement in beating heart. Our system includes the dedicated software modules that operate synergistically for both processing real-time MR images and adjusting on-the-fly the acquisition parameters of scanner to better suit the particular conditions of interventions as they evolve. To verify the efficacy of the approach, safe access to aortic valve annulus via a small incision at the apex of the heart was simulated for 15 subjects.