MRI-guided therapy methods and related systems
First Claim
1. A method for performing an MRI-guided medical procedure, comprising the steps of:
- placing a subject in a main magnetic field of an MR Scanner;
introducing a single MR-compatible electrode catheter with an MR receive antenna inside the subject while the subject is in the main magnetic field, the MR-compatible electrode catheter comprising at least one electrode and at least one wire coupled to the at least one electrode and extending along the catheter;
generating a plurality of RF pulses using the MR scanner;
attenuating signals induced by the RF pulses in the at least one electrode and the at least one wire coupled to the at least one electrode;
acquiring magnetic resonance signals in response to the RF pulses using the MR receive antenna during and/or after the introducing step;
generating MRI images using the signals acquired by the MR receive antenna;
using the generated MRI images to determine the location of the electrode catheter; and
acquiring electrical signals indicative of an electrophysiological state of target tissue using the at least one electrode while the subject is in the main magnetic field.
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Abstract
A system and method for using magnetic resonance imaging to increase the accuracy of electrophysiologic procedures is disclosed. The system in its preferred embodiment provides an invasive combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter which includes an RF antenna for receiving magnetic resonance signals and diagnostic electrodes for receiving electrical potentials. The combined electrophysiology and imaging antenna catheter is used in combination with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner to guide and provide visualization during electrophysiologic diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. The invention further provides a system for eliminating the pickup of RF energy in which intracardiac wires are detuned by filtering so that they become very inefficient antennas. An RF filtering system is provided for suppressing the MR imaging signal while not attenuating the RF ablative current. Steering means may be provided for steering the invasive catheter under MR guidance.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for performing an MRI-guided medical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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placing a subject in a main magnetic field of an MR Scanner; introducing a single MR-compatible electrode catheter with an MR receive antenna inside the subject while the subject is in the main magnetic field, the MR-compatible electrode catheter comprising at least one electrode and at least one wire coupled to the at least one electrode and extending along the catheter; generating a plurality of RF pulses using the MR scanner; attenuating signals induced by the RF pulses in the at least one electrode and the at least one wire coupled to the at least one electrode; acquiring magnetic resonance signals in response to the RF pulses using the MR receive antenna during and/or after the introducing step; generating MRI images using the signals acquired by the MR receive antenna; using the generated MRI images to determine the location of the electrode catheter; and acquiring electrical signals indicative of an electrophysiological state of target tissue using the at least one electrode while the subject is in the main magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for performing a medical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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placing a subject in a main magnetic field of an MR Scanner; introducing a single MR-compatible electrode catheter with an MR receive antenna, the MR-compatible electrode catheter comprising at least one electrode and at least one wire coupled to the at least one electrode and extending along the catheter; generating a plurality of RF pulses using the MR scanner; attenuating signals induced by the RF pulses in the at least one electrode and the at least one wire coupled to the at least one electrode; acquiring a magnetic resonance signal in response to the RF pulses using the MR receive antenna; using magnetic resonance imaging that includes the signal from the MRI receive antenna to determine the location of said MR-compatible electrode catheter; using said MR-compatible electrode catheter to acquire electrical signals indicative of an electrophysiological state while the subject is in the main magnetic field; filtering radiofrequency interference from the electrical signals acquired during said step of using the MR-compatible electrode catheter to acquire electrical signals; ablating tissue to form a lesion using said MR-compatible electrode catheter while the subject is in the main magnetic field; and visualizing the lesion formed by the ablating step in an MR image using the MR receive antenna of the MR-compatible electrode catheter while the subject is in the main magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for performing a medical procedure, comprising the steps of:
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placing a subject in a main magnetic field of an MR Scanner; introducing a single MR-compatible electrode catheter with an MR receive antenna, the MR-compatible electrode catheter comprising at least one electrode and at least one wire coupled to the at least one electrode and extending along the catheter; generating a plurality of RF pulses using the MR scanner; attenuating signals induced by the RF pulses in the at least one electrode and the at least one wire coupled to the at least one electrode; acquiring a magnetic resonance signal in response to the RF pulses using the MR receive antenna; using magnetic resonance imaging that includes the signal from the MRI receive antenna to determine the location of said MR-compatible electrode catheter; using said MR-compatible electrode catheter to acquire electrical signals indicative of an electrophysiological state while the subject is in the main magnetic field; stimulating tissue using said MR-compatible electrode catheter while the subject is in the main magnetic field; and visualizing the stimulated tissue using the MR receive antenna of the MR-compatible electrode catheter while the subject is in the main magnetic field. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A MRI interventional system comprising:
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an MR Scanner having a main magnetic field; and an MR-compatible electrode catheter with an MR receive antenna and at least one electrode and at least one wire coupled to the at least one electrode and extending along the catheter, the electrode catheter in communication with the MR Scanner, wherein, in operation, the electrode catheter is configured to;
(a) acquire internal electrical potential and/or electrophysiological signals from a subject during an interventional procedure while the subject is in the main magnetic field;
(b) transmit low frequency excitation or ablation energy to the subject;
(c) attenuate signals induced by RF pulses from the MR Scanner in the at least one electrode and the at least one wire coupled to the at least one electrode; and
(d) receive MR image data signals in response to the RF pulses using the MR receive antenna. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification