Real time magnetic resonance guided endomyocardial local delivery.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility of targeting various areas of left ventricle myocardium under real time magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with a customised injection catheter equipped with a miniaturised coil.


METHODS
A needle injection catheter with a mounted resonant solenoid circuit (coil) at its tip was designed and constructed. A 1.5 T MR scanner with customised real time sequence combined with in-room scan running capabilities was used. With this system, various myocardial areas within the left ventricle were targeted and injected with a gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and Indian ink mixture.


RESULTS
Real time sequencing at 10 frames/s allowed clear visualisation of the moving catheter and its transit through the aorta into the ventricle, as well as targeting of all ventricle wall segments without further image enhancement techniques. All injections were visualised by real time MR imaging and verified by gross pathology.


CONCLUSIONS
The tracking device allowed real time in vivo visualisation of catheters in the aorta and left ventricle as well as precise targeting of myocardial areas. The use of this real time catheter tracking may enable precise and adequate delivery of agents for tissue regeneration.
Corti
R
R
Cardiovascular Biology Research Laboratory, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029, USA.
Badimon
J
J
Mizsei
G
G
Macaluso
F
F
Lee
M
M
Licato
P
P
Viles-Gonzalez
J F
JF
Fuster
V
V
Sherman
W
W
D000818:Animals; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003199:Computer Systems; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007267:Injections; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013552:Swine
D002614:Chelating Agents; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D005682:Gadolinium