Efficient Navigator-Gated Acquisition of Different Breathing Positions During Free Breathing Applied to Flow Measurements in the Great Vessels

Sebastian Gruhlke¹, Michael Markl¹, Bernd Andr Jung¹

To investigate physiological effects of the breathing position on blood flow, a double navigator-gated sequence was implemented defining two acceptance windows during expiration and inspiration. The method permitted to acquire flow sensitive phase contrast MRI data during both in- and expiration within a single scan with optimal scan efficiency. The sequence was applied to measure the dependency of time resolved blood flow on in- and expiration during breath-hold and free breathing as well as valsalva maneuver in the major vessels. In-vivo measurements could detect respiration related difference in blood flow even during free breathing