Biomedical subjects

R Frayne

Publications and source records attributed to R Frayne.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1996

Frequency response of multi-phase segmented k-space phase-contrast.

A theoretical analysis of the temporal frequency response of multi-phase segmented k-space phase-contrast was developed. This includes the effects of both segment duration and the number of cardiac phases that are reconstructed. An increase in the number of views per segment and the corresponding increase in segment duration results in an increased smoothing or low-pass filtering of the time-resolved flow waveform. Reconstruction of all intermediate cardiac phases makes the Nyquist sampling frequency independent of the number of views per segment. This analysis was verified experimentally using a multi-phase phase-contrast segmented k-space MR pulse sequence. This sequence reconstructs all intermediate cardiac phases and uses fractional segments at the end of the cardiac cycle if an entire segment does not fit. The use of fractional segments increases the portion of the cardiac cycle over which data are acquired.

Coronary Circulation↗

PubMed1996

Time-resolved contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography.

An MR angiographic technique, referred to as 3D TRICKS (3D time-resolved imaging of contrast kinetics) has been developed. This technique combines and extends to 3D imaging several previously published elements. These elements include an increased sampling rate for lower spatial frequencies, temporal interpolation of k-space views, and zero-filling in the slice-encoding dimension. When appropriately combined, these elements permit reconstruction of a series of 3D image sets having an effective temporal frame rate of one volume every 2-6 s. Acquiring a temporal series of images offers advantages over the current contrast-enhanced 3D MRA techniques in that it I) increases the likelihood that an arterial-only 3D image set will be obtained. II) permits the passage of the contrast agent to be observed, and III) allows temporal-processing techniques to be applied to yield additional information, or improve image quality.

Contrast Media↗

PubMed1996

MR measurement and numerical simulation of steady flow in an end-to-side anastomosis model.

Magnetic resonance phase contrast velocity imaging ('MR PC velocimetry') is a powerful tool for measuring blood velocity. While it has been demonstrated that MR PC velocimetry can accurately measure velocity profiles in simple, unidirectional flows, errors can arise when measuring the more complex, multidirectional flows of clinical importance. In this work, we have compared MR PC velocity measurements with numerical simulations of steady flow in a physiologically relevant model of an end-to-side anastomosis, which produces many of the complex flow features expected in vivo. MR PC velocity profiles, measured using both 2D and 3D pulse sequences, showed very good agreement with numerically computed profiles, although at 2D PC data showed slightly larger errors than the 3D PC data in regions of high accelerations and oblique flow, likely due to displacement artifacts. We conclude that, under ideal conditions, MR phase contrast velocimetry can measure complex flow patterns to within 15% accuracy, but that care should be taken when using 2D pulse sequences to measure such complex flows.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMed1995

Measurement of fluid-shear rate by Fourier-encoded velocity imaging.

A new technique for estimating the blood fluid shear rate at the vessel wall is presented. The technique uses Fourier-encoded velocity imaging to determine the velocity distribution within a spatial element (voxel) that straddles the blood-vessel wall interface. By appropriate processing, the velocity distribution (1) can determine the location of the wall-blood interface within the voxel and (2) estimate the velocity profile across the spatial extent of the voxel. From this information, accurate estimates of fluid shear rate may be obtained. Simulations are presented to illustrate this technique and to show the effects of various error sources, including differences in proton densities between blood and wall tissues and flow-related signal changes. Experimental evidence obtained for steady flow in straight tubes is also presented in support of the technique. The mean error in the experimental shear rate estimates found using the proposed technique was -15%. This represents a significant improvement over estimates obtained by extrapolation of the velocity profile over multiple voxels (mean error of -73%).

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMed1994

Turbine flow sensor for volume-flow rate verification in MR.

A turbine flow sensor for MR flow experiments has been evaluated using reference volume-flow rate measurements obtained using an electromagnetic (EM) flow meter measurements and simultaneous phase contrast (PC) MR acquisitions. After calibration, the device was found to have accuracy (compared with the EM flow meter), linearity, and precision of better than +/- 1%, +/- 3.5%, 3.5%, respectively, in constant flow mode (0 to 30 ml s-1). The frequency response of the flow sensor was flat (within +/- 10%) up to 13.9 Hz. Volume-flow rate measurements on constant and simulated physiologic flow waveforms were in close agreement with both the electromagnetic (EM) flow meter and the gated MR PC estimates.

Calibration↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Visualizing three-dimensional flow with simulated streamlines and three-dimensional phase-contrast MR imaging.

Three-dimensional (3D) velocity maps acquired with 3D phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contain information regarding complex motions that occur during imaging. A technique called simulated streamlines, which facilitates the display and comprehension of these velocity data, is presented. Single or multiple seed points may be identified within blood vessels of interest and tracked through the velocity field. The resulting trajectories are combined with a 3D MR angiogram and displayed with 3D volume visualization software. Mathematical analysis highlights potential applications and pitfalls of the technique, which was implemented both in phantoms and in vivo with excellent results. For example, single streamlines reveal helical flow patterns in aneurysms, and multiple streamlines seeded in the common carotid artery reveal branch filling-time relationships and slow filling of the carotid bulb. The technique is helpful in understanding these complex flow patterns.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Computer-controlled flow simulator for MR flow studies.

A novel computer-controlled flow simulator for use in magnetic resonance (MR) flow experiments was evaluated. The accuracy in constant-flow mode was better than 1%. The accuracy in pulsatile-flow mode was found to be dependent on the interconnecting tubing. The short-term and long-term reproducibilities of pulsatile waveforms were less than or equal to 0.4 mL/sec (1 standard deviation). Increased response times due to the lengths of tubing required in MR flow experiments were surmounted by using a modified tubing configuration and precompensated waveforms. Piston reversal was found not to cause major difficulties in MR flow experiments.

Blood Circulation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Frequency response to retrospectively gated phase-contrast MR imaging: effect of interpolation.

Retrospectively gated phase-contrast (PC) magnetic resonance velocity and volume flow measurements were evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. The accuracy of these measurements was found to be affected by the interpolation window width required in the reconstruction of retrospectively gated data. Interpolation modified the frequency content of the series of temporal measurements by decreasing the response at higher frequencies. With a series of sinusoidal flow waveforms, the frequency response of one specific implementation of retrospectively gated PC velocity measurements was experimentally determined. The experimental response agreed with the theoretical response predicted from an analysis of the interpolating function (2.2% root-mean-square difference). In vitro experiments with a simulated carotid flow waveform demonstrated errors in the systolic measurements that were a direct result of the modified frequency response. A volunteer study was also undertaken and confirmed the in vitro findings.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of physiologic waveform variability in triggered MR imaging: theoretical analysis.

One of the assumptions inherent in most forms of triggered magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is that the pulsatile waveform (be it cardiac, respiratory, or some other) is purely periodic. In reality, the periodicity condition is rarely met. Physiologic waveform variability may lead to image artifacts and errors in velocity or volume flow rate estimates. The authors analyze the effects of physiologic waveform variability in triggered MR imaging. They propose that this variability be treated as a modulation of the underlying motion waveform. This report concentrates on amplitude modulation of the velocity waveform, which results in amplitude and phase modulation of the transverse magnetization. Established Fourier and modulation theory and the recently described principles of (k,t)-space were used to derive the appearance of physiologic waveform variability artifacts in triggered MR images and to predict errors in time-averaged and instantaneous velocity estimates that may result from such motion effects, including effects such as ghost overlap. Simulations and experimental results are provided to confirm the theory.

Algorithms↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Frequency response of prospectively gated phase-contrast MR velocity measurements.

The authors developed and experimentally verified expressions that describe the frequency response of prospectively gated phase-contrast magnetic resonance velocity measurements. Both interleaved and noninterleaved phase-contrast techniques were evaluated. The primary determinants of the frequency response were (a) the number of interleaved acquisitions (N), (b) the time between acquisitions (delta T), and (c) the degree of balance between the first moments of the velocity-encoding gradients. To quantify the last factor, an imbalance parameter (U) was defined. Depending on the chosen implementation and U, deviations from the ideal frequency responses were predicted and observed. The expressions also revealed an advantage of interleaved acquisitions that use a one-sided gradient configuration: no changes in the frequency response. The effects of concurrently encoding orthogonal velocity components with a Hadamard four-point scheme were examined.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Understanding acceleration-induced displacement artifacts in phase-contrast MR velocity measurements.

A theoretical framework for understanding acceleration-induced errors in phase-contrast magnetic resonance velocity measurements has been developed. An important result of this framework is the interpretation of acceleration-induced velocity errors as displacement artifacts due to the delay between velocity and spatial encoding. A rotating-disk phantom was used to confirm the theoretically predicted displacement times (the difference between theory and experiment was 8.2%). Errors were also observed in velocity profiles measured in regions of fluid acceleration downstream from a step stenosis. The magnitude of these errors could be predicted and corrected by using the analytic framework.

Artifacts↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Accuracy of MR phase contrast velocity measurements for unsteady flow.

The accuracy of MR phase contrast (PC) velocity measurements for unsteady flow has been quantitatively assessed. Spatially resolved velocity fields were measured in a long straight tube using a gated PC technique, and the resulting MR PC velocity data were compared with velocities derived from the analytic Womersley solution to the Navier-Stokes equations governing fluid flow. The overall root-mean-square (rms) difference between the measured and analytic velocities was 1.6 cm s-1 for nominally sinusoidal flow waveforms with peak velocities ranging from 51.6 cm s-1 to 59.8 cm s-1. This rms difference corresponded to 7.5% of the mean fluid velocity, which is similar to the cited accuracy of approximately 5% for MR PC velocimetry for steady flows. Linear regression between the PC velocity measurements and the velocities obtained using the analytic expression was highly significant (r2 = 0.997) and yielded a slope of 0.998, close to the expected value of 1. We conclude that the gated MR PC velocity measurements in unsteady flow are accurate.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of through-plane myocardial motion on phase-difference and complex-difference measurements of absolute coronary artery flow.

We have previously reported on a complex-difference (CD) flow measurement technique that produces more accurate results than the phase-difference (PD) flow measurement technique due to the greater immunity of the former method to partial volume effects. We report here on some of the ways in which through-plane myocardial motion affects the accuracy of absolute coronary artery flow measurements obtained using the PD and CD techniques. We also discuss motion correction schemes that can be applied to the PD and CD processing methods to improve their accuracy. Computer simulations have been performed to assess the magnitude of the errors associated with these flow measurement techniques when they are applied to small vessels that are attached to a moving background. Laminar and plug flow, with and without complete background suppression, have been considered. Experiments with a moving vessel phantom have been conducted to test the performance of the PD and CD flow measurement techniques in circumstances similar to those simulated. The simulations and the experiments showed that, after corrections for through-plane motion are made, the CD method generally yields more accurate flow results than the PD method. As shown by the simulations, however, both methods yield compromised results due to subtle saturation effects that occur when the direction of myocardial motion is opposite the direction of blood flow. Unvalidated PD and CD measurements of coronary artery flow waveforms in human volunteers are presented to illustrate the magnitude of the proposed through-plane motion effects in vivo.

Blood Flow Velocity↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A geometrically accurate vascular phantom for comparative studies of x-ray, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance vascular imaging: construction and geometrical verification.

A technique for producing accurate models of vascular segments for use in experiments that assess vessel geometry and flow has been developed and evaluated. The models are compatible with x-ray, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging systems. In this paper, a model of the human carotid artery bifurcation, is evaluated that has been built using this technique. The phantom consists of a thin-walled polyester-resin replica of the bifurcation through which a blood-mimicking fluid may be circulated. The phantom is surrounded by an agar tissue-mimicking material and a series of fiducial markers. The blood- and tissue-mimicking materials have x-ray, ultrasound, and MR properties similar to blood and tissue; fiducial markers provide a means of aligning images acquired by different modalities. The root-mean-square difference between the inner wall geometry of the constructed model and the desired dimensions was 0.33 mm. Static images were successfully acquired using x-ray, ultrasound, and MR imaging systems, and are free of significant artifacts. Flow images acquired with ultrasound and MR agree qualitatively with each other, and with previously published flow patterns. Volume-flow measurements obtained with ultrasound and MR were within 4.4% of the actual values.

Carotid Arteries↗