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Abstract #3845

Active Frequency Stabilisation for Prolonged BSSFP Imaging: Application to Neonatal Cardiac MRI

Anthony N. Price1, Shaihan J. Malik1, Kathryn M. Broadhouse1, Anna Finnemore1, Giuliana Durighel1, David J. Cox1, David Edwards1, Alan M. Groves1, Jo V. Hajnal1

1Robert Steiner MRI Unit, Imaging Sciences Department, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

Balanced-SSFP has become a key tool for assessing cardiac function. However, the characteristic dark bands are a major problem, especially in the blood-pool. Reliable and accurate shimming is essential: as is optimum and stable frequency selection. In adult CMR, these issues are rarely a prohibitive problem. In neonatal CMR increased resolution demands, faster heart rates, low SNR, and the need to allow free-breathing, lead to longer acquisition times. Consequently, scanner frequency can no longer be assumed stable. Here we present methods for reliable B0 shimming and also active stabilisation of the scanner frequency drift during bSSFP scanning in neonatal CMR.

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Keywords

accurate achieve achieved acquisition active acute additional adequate adult allow apex application applied approval assessment automated available averaging axis balanced band banding bands bandwidth benefits best blood bottom breath cardiac cause cine coil combined commonly conditions consistency control coronary correction cover degree demand designed determined displacement distinctive drift drifted dynamic ensure examination exhibits field flow free frequency full gated gradient gradients greater heart heavy holds illustrated imperial implemented increment infants initial instability integrated lack last late likely local long longer manually module neonatal neonates newborn operate optimum particularly pass performance phantom phantoms plots pool price primary problem procedures proceeding processing profile prolonged proposed protocol rapid rather reformats relatively reliable required requirements resolution retrospectively routine sample scanner scanning sciences sedation shim shimming short significantly since slab slice slices spatially spectrometer squares stability stable stack stacks starting steady steiner successful suspected sustained taken tend towards typical typically updating views volume weeks whole wide