%0 Journal Article %A Velasco Forte, Mari Nieves %A Pushparajah, Kuberan %A Schaeffter, Tobias %A Valverde Perez, Israel %A Rhode, Kawal %A Ruijsink, Bram %A Alhrishy, Mazen %A Byrne, Nicholas %A Chiribiri, Amedeo %A Ismail, Tevfik %A Hussain, Tarique %A Razavi, Reza %A Roujol, Sébastien %T Improved passive catheter tracking with positive contrast for CMR-guided cardiac catheterization using partial saturation (pSAT). %D 2017 %U http://hdl.handle.net/10668/11499 %X Cardiac catheterization is a common procedure in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Although cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) represents a promising alternative approach to fluoroscopy guidance, simultaneous high contrast visualization of catheter, soft tissue and the blood pool remains challenging. In this study, a novel passive tracking technique is proposed for enhanced positive contrast visualization of gadolinium-filled balloon catheters using partial saturation (pSAT) magnetization preparation. The proposed pSAT sequence uses a single shot acquisition with balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) readout preceded by a partial saturation pre-pulse. This technique was initially evaluated in five healthy subjects. The pSAT sequence was compared to conventional bSSFP images acquired with (SAT) and without (Non-SAT) saturation pre-pulse. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the catheter balloon, blood and myocardium and the corresponding contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) are reported. Subjective assessment of image suitability for CMR-guidance and ideal pSAT angle was performed by three cardiologists. The feasibility of the pSAT sequence is demonstrated in two adult patients undergoing CMR-guided cardiac catheterization. The proposed pSAT approach provided better catheter balloon/blood contrast and catheter balloon/myocardium contrast than conventional Non-SAT sequences. It also resulted in better blood and myocardium SNR than SAT sequences. When averaged over all volunteers, images acquired with a pSAT angle of 20° to 40° enabled simultaneous visualization of the catheter balloon and the cardiovascular anatomy (blood and myocardium) and were found suitable for CMR-guidance in >93% of cases. The pSAT sequence was successfully used in two patients undergoing CMR-guided diagnostic cardiac catheterization. The proposed pSAT sequence offers real-time, simultaneous, enhanced contrast visualization of the catheter balloon, soft tissues and blood. This technique provides improved passive tracking capabilities during CMR-guided catheterization in patients. %K Cardiac catheterization %K Congenital heart disease %K Device tracking %K Interventional CMR %~