An image processing environment for guiding vascular MR interventions

Abstract

MRI offers potential advantages over conventional X-ray techniques for guiding and evaluating vascular interventions. Image guidance of such interventions via passive catheter tracking requires real-time processing of the dynamically acquired MR slices and advanced display facilities inside the MR examination room. Commercially available clinical MR-scanners currently do not provide this functionality. This paper describes a processing environment that allows near-real-time MR-guided interventions. Two stand-alone workstations connected to our MR-scanner offer a flexible and fast tool for guiding the interventionist without affecting the stability of the MR-scanner. The paper describes and discusses our approach, including image processing techniques. Results of a phantom balloon angioplasty experiment are presented.