Tobias Hahn1, Sebastian Kozerke1,
Mark Fox2,3, Werner Schwizer2, Andreas Steingoetter,
1,4, Michael Fried2, Peter Boesiger1
1Institute for Biomedical Engineering,
University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 2Division
of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich; 3Nottingham
Digestive Diseases Centre and Biomedical Research Unit Queen's Medical
Centre, University Hospital Nottingham; 4Institute of Radiology,
Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universitt Mnchen, Munich, Germany.
3D
tracking of small-sized 19F labeled capsules is studied using fast modified
balanced FFE sequences for concurrent measurements of gastrointestinal
function and morphology. Perfluoro-15-crown-5-ether and Hexafluorobenzene are
proposed and studied for use as tracking mediums. The proposed imaging
protocol is shown to be reliable in tracking small capsules through realistic
abdominal phantoms and might therefore bear potential of being a valuable
tool in detecting abnormal gastric function and at the same time posing the
basis for creating a 3D anatomical model of the complex bowel geometry.