Biomedical subjects

David Firmin

Publications and source records attributed to David Firmin.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

T2* effects in the dual-sequence method for high-dose first-pass myocardial perfusion.

PURPOSE: To examine whether T2* effects reduce the accuracy of arterial input function (AIF) measurement by the dual-sequence method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The dual-sequence method obtains a low-resolution AIF image and high-resolution myocardial images in each cycle, with suitable T1 weightings. It was modified to assess T2* effects in the low-resolution AIF image (4.8x4.8x10 mm voxels, TE=0.58 msec) by minimizing T1 weighting in that sequence, while the myocardial sequence remained T1-weighted. In 10 patients who underwent perfusion MRI scans (0.5 M Magnevist, 0.1 mmol/kg, 15-ml flush, 7 mL/second right antecubital) the blood signal in the left ventricle (LV) was measured at the bolus peak and compared with the first cycle's fresh magnetization signal. RESULTS: The bolus peak measured 98%+/-4% (mean+/-SD, N=20) of the value before contrast agent arrival. CONCLUSION: T2* causes insignificant error in the dual-sequence method at the stated parameters.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2003

Reduced k-space encoding for dual-contrast TrueFISP imaging.

Dual-contrast TrueFISP imaging relies on the use of two RF pulses with different RF flip-angles for enhancing image contrast and performing automatic tissue classification based on multispectrum clustering. The original technique, however, involves an extended imaging time, which limits its clinical application. The purpose of this study is to compare the applicability of two reduced k-space sampling techniques, reduced imaging using generalized series reconstruction (RIGR) and key-hole imaging, for minimizing the imaging time required. The performance of both approaches was evaluated theoretically and practically using 3D cine datasets acquired from eight asymptomatic subjects.

Contrast Media↗

PubMed2002

Coronary artery motion with the respiratory cycle during breath-holding and free-breathing: implications for slice-followed coronary artery imaging.

The displacement of the right coronary artery (RCA) origin with respiratory position was determined relative to the dome of the right hemidiaphragm in three orthogonal directions in eight healthy subjects. Both multiple breath-hold and free-breathing acquisitions were used, and motion correction factors for slice-following applications were determined. The correction factors for all three directions showed considerable intersubject variability. The mean superior-inferior factor was slightly less in free-breathing than in breath-holding (0.26 vs. 0.29, P = ns), and much less than the fixed value of 0.6 frequently implemented with slice-following. The anterior-posterior correction factors were uniformly low in free-breathing, and significantly less than those obtained from breath-holding (0.04 vs. 0.14, P <.05), while the mean left-right correction factors were approximately 0.1 for both. It is concluded that subject variability in correction factors, together with within-subject differences between breath-holding and free-breathing, is such that slice-following should be performed with subject-specific factors determined from free-breathing acquisitions.

Adult↗