Pair of resonant fiducial markers for localization of endovascular catheters at all catheter orientations.
OBJECTIVE
To test wireless resonance circuits (RC) to be used as fiducial marker of endovascular catheters during MR-guided interventions. Current markers loose their signal enhancement for certain catheter orientations. The purpose of this study was to test a marker setup which overcomes this orientation problem.


METHODS
The markers were constructed from a pair of two RCs. The RCs were individually tuned and the coil axes were oriented perpendicular to each other in order to decouple the two RCs. The markers were mounted on the tip of endovascular catheters and tested in vitro and in one porcine in vivo experiment.


RESULTS
An intense MR signal at similar signal levels was noted at all catheter orientations. In the in vivo experiment the markers allowed for fast and reliable MR guidance of the catheters.


CONCLUSIONS
A pair of two individually tuned and decoupled RCs is well suited for MR guidance of endovascular catheters.
Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Palto Alto, California 94304, USA.
Titus
T
Kuehne
Rebecca
R
Fahrig
Kim
K
Butts
D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D013552:Swine