Abstract #1421

MR Compatible Doppler-Ultrasound Device to Trigger the Heart Frequency in Cardiac MRI: Comparison to ECG

Fabian Kording¹, Bjoern Schoennagel¹, Chressen K. Much¹, Friedrich Ueberle², Hendrik Kooijman³, Jin Yamamura¹, Gerhard Adam¹, Ulrike Wedegaertner²

¹Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Germany; ²Fakulty of Life Sciences, University of Appljed Sciences Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany, Germany; ³Philips Medical Systems, Hamburg, Germany, Germany

In this study the feasibility of a novel Doppler-ultrasound device to trigger the heart frequency in cardiac MRI was assessed and compared to conventional ECG triggering. A commercially available ultrasound transducer was modified and the timing of the generated trigger signal was adapted to the physiologic time delay between the ultrasound signal and the electrocardiogram of the human heart to ensure the acquisition of a complete cardiac cycle. There was no difference between both methods in the evaluation of anatomical structures and functional information. The MR compatible Doppler-ultrasound device might be faster and easier in the application compared to ECG.