Projective Imaging of Pulsatile Flow with Magnetic Resonance

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 230; no. 4728; pp. 946 - 948
• Main Authors: Wedeen, Van J., Meuli, Reto A., Edelman, Robert R., Geller, Stuart C., Frank, Lawrence R., Brady, Thomas J., Rosen, Bruce R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC The American Association for the Advancement of Science 22.11.1985; American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Angiography; Angiography - instrumentation; Arteriosclerosis - diagnosis; Biological and medical sciences; Blood; Diastole; Flow velocity; Humans; Image contrast; Imaging; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Magnetic resonance; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Medical imaging equipment; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous. Technology; Phase contrast imaging; Phase shift; Protons; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Radiology; Systole; Image subtraction; Blood vessel; Hemodynamics; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Algorithm; Image reconstruction; Pulsating flow
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.4059917

Noninvasive angiography with magnetic resonance is demonstrated. Signal arising in all structures except vessels that carry pulsatile flow is eliminated by means of velocity-dependent phase contrast, electrocardiographic gating, and image subtraction. Background structures become in effect transparent, enabling the three-dimensional vascular tree to be imaged by projection to a two-dimensional image plane. Image acquisition and processing are accomplished with entirely conventional two-dimensional Fourier transform magnetic resonance imaging techniques. When imaged at 0.6 tesla, vessels 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter are routinely detected in a 50-centimeter field of view with data acquisition times less than 15 minutes. Studies of normal and pathologic anatomy are illustrated in human subjects.