New Research Leads To Cardiac Imaging Breakthrough

A recent investigation at the University of Western Ontario has resulted in a new imaging technique to enhance the effect of pacemakers, bypass surgery or angioplasties for patients.

A recent study, funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and headed by cardiologist and scientist Dr. James White, at The University of Western Ontario has developed a new imaging technique that can render a single, 3-D high-resolution image of the heart along with both its vasculature and scar tissue within the muscle likely to be caused by injuries, including heart attacks or viral inflammation.

This revolutionary imaging method was performed using a 3-Tesla MRI at the Western’s Robarts Research Institute. The results of the study are available on the web Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging.

The process is executed by acquiring a 3-D coronary image using a continuous infusion of gadolinium contrast, which, in turn brightens the blood-pool light. The 3-T MRI captures images by injecting the contrast into the blood stream, producing a high resolution, three dimensional image of the heart with the coronary blood vessels.

In about 20 minutes, the same process of imaging is repeated to reveal the myogenic muscular organ called the heart and it's scar. As a scar tissue delays in dissolving the contrast agent, its signal can be retained and used inspite of the wash out of contrast from the blood stream and normal tissues. The two images are now well matched for fusion due to the similar process of imaging that includes utilizing the same MRI pulse sequence thereby resulting in a fused, 3-D model of the heart reflecting the heart’s vessels and scar tissue together.

About 55 patients were involved in the imaging technique. These patients were recommended for bypass surgery or a specialized pacemaker designed to enhance the function of the heart known as the Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT), thus declaring that, a clinically possible process is found.

The research presented at the Western Ontario University clearly proves that, the new imaging process can eventually be a significant tool in the planning of these vascular-based cardiac interventions.

“We’ve known for some time that myocardial (heart) scar tissue can be imaged using MRI, but what we’ve now been able to do is to take this imaging to another level,” says Dr. White. “This is the first time we have been able to visualize myocardial scar and the heart’s blood vessels at the same time. We are able to construct a three dimensional model of a person’s heart to immediately understand the relationship between the heart’s blood vessels and related permanent injury. “This will help direct surgeons and cardiologists to better target the blood vessels that lead to muscle capable of responding to their therapy, rather than to muscle that is irreversibly diseased.”

Watch the video links to learn more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogvjqyBxDoE&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpUKOX4QXPY&NR=1

Source: The University of Western Ontario