Fabian Kording1,
Bjoern Schoennagel1, Chressen K. Much1, Friedrich
Ueberle2, Hendrik Kooijman3, Jin Yamamura1,
Gerhard Adam1, Ulrike Wedegaertner2
1Department
of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center
Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany, Germany; 2Fakulty of Life
Sciences, University of Appljed Sciences Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany, Germany; 3Philips
Medical Systems, Hamburg, Germany, Germany
In this study the feasibility of a novel Doppler-ultrasound device to trigger the heart frequency in cardiac MRI was assessed and compared to conventional ECG triggering. A commercially available ultrasound transducer was modified and the timing of the generated trigger signal was adapted to the physiologic time delay between the ultrasound signal and the electrocardiogram of the human heart to ensure the acquisition of a complete cardiac cycle. There was no difference between both methods in the evaluation of anatomical structures and functional information. The MR compatible Doppler-ultrasound device might be faster and easier in the application compared to ECG.