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Biomedical subjects

A E Bampton

Publications and source records attributed to A E Bampton.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Magnetic resonance imaging of pelvic floor relaxation: dynamic analysis and evaluation of patients before and after surgical repair.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate structures involved in pelvic support using conventional and snapshot magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS: We used conventional spin-echo MRI and dynamic snapshot GRASS MRI at various levels of the Valsalva maneuver to describe and quantitate the anatomy of pelvic floor relaxation and to assess anatomical changes produced by surgical repair. Ten female volunteers were evaluated to define normal anatomy and reference measurements. Five women with pelvic floor relaxation were evaluated before and after surgical repair. RESULTS: Static and dynamic MRI were more sensitive than clinical pelvic examination in assessing and grading pelvic floor relaxation. Quantitative results showed widening of the levator hiatus and more vertical lie of the levator plate postoperatively. Descent of the pelvic organs on maximal straining postoperatively was the same as that in normal volunteers. The posterior urethrovesical angle on MRI was more than 110 degrees in 14 of 15 continent subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Magnetic resonance imaging may be valuable in analyzing and assessing pelvic floor relaxation and in understanding anatomical changes occurring before and after surgical repair. The increased sensitivity of MRI in grading prolapse may make it useful in evaluating women with symptoms of pelvic floor relaxation but who have negative findings on clinical examination.

Adult↗

Improved efficiency in 2DFT magnetization-prepared rapid gradient echo imaging: application to abdominal imaging.

The incorporation of the phase offset multi planar (POMP) technique into breathheld magnetization-prepared gradient echo imaging is discussed as a means for improving imaging efficiency without sacrificing resolution, contrast, or SNR improvement. The phase encoding order necessary to preserve the centric approach is described. When combined with interleaving, the POMP technique enables four 256 x 256 images to be acquired in a 12-s breathhold, doubling the efficiency of the original technique. This scan efficiency is compared with that of other T1-weighted 2DFT methods.

Abdomen↗

Centric phase-encoding order in three-dimensional MP-RAGE sequences: application to abdominal imaging.

Three-dimensional (3D) magnetization-prepared rapid gradient-echo imaging has been proposed as a method for improving signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) and contrast-to-noise ratio (C/N) in rapid abdominal imaging. Originally, a standard sequential phase-encoding order was proposed. In the present study, two approaches to a 3D centric phase-encoding order are presented: (a) application of the two-dimensional (2D) centric order to one of the 3D encoding directions, and (b) an interleaved square spiral order, which is the segmented 3D analog of the 2D centric order. With use of simulation, phantom, and volunteer results, the proposed 3D centric methods are compared in terms of S/N, C/N, and artifacts to the 3D sequential method and 2D magnetization-prepared methods. The second centric approach was found to be superior to the first; however, in general, the 3D technique was found to be inferior to the 2D technique for abdominal imaging because of motion artifact in the 3D image set caused by misregistration among the multiple breath holds required.

Abdomen↗

Magnetization-prepared MR angiography with fat suppression and venous saturation.

Magnetization-prepared magnetic resonance (MR) angiography (MPMRA) is an inflow-based two-dimensional (2D) imaging sequence in which a preparation phase precedes rapid image acquisition. For maximal blood/tissue contrast, an inversion-recovery preparation nulls signal from static tissue. If needed, a second inversion suppresses signal from fat. Fully magnetized blood flows in after the inversion pulse(s), providing high signal intensity. The centric phase-encoding order, which ensures that the initial contrast is reflected in the image set, requires the use of a modified venous saturation technique. The sequence is described and its performance assessed with regard to (a) depiction of in-plane flow, (b) fat suppression, and (c) venous saturation. Phantom and volunteer studies showed good performance in all three areas. MPMRA images, acquired in just 2-4 seconds per image, had a blood/tissue contrast-to-noise ratio nearly twice that of standard 2D time-of-flight MR angiograms, acquired in 5-7 seconds. The technique is promising for restless patients and in anatomic areas plagued by motion degradation.

Adipose Tissue↗

Altered phase-encoding order for reduced sensitivity to motion in three-dimensional MR imaging.

A method of reordering phase and slab encoding that can be used to address some of the inherent problems due to motion in three dimensional imaging is described and implemented. The method is shown to be more robust with respect to reducing artifacts resulting from several fundamental types of motion. It can be readily implemented on a standard magnetic resonance imager with essentially no increase in total imaging time. Results of simulations and phantom and in vivo experiments are presented.

Artifacts↗