Maximilian Fuetterer1, Julia Busch1, Constantin von Deuster1,2, Christian Binter1, Nikola Cesarovic3, Miriam Lipiski3, Christian Torben Stoeck1,2, and Sebastian Kozerke1,2
1Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, 2Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, United Kingdom, 3Division of Surgical Research, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
A velocity-selective
excitation scheme with bipolar slice-select gradients for hyperpolarized
cardiac perfusion imaging is presented. Using the approach, an excitation ratio
of >5 of myocardial signal to left-ventricular blood pool signal can be
achieved based on differences in blood and tissue velocities. Thereby increased
myocardial signal and reduced left-ventricular signal spilling is obtained.
Dynamic perfusion images acquired with hyperpolarized [13C]urea in pigs show
higher SNR and less signal leakage in the myocardium relative to a conventional
excitation approach.
