In vivo evaluation of an intravascular receiver coil for MRI at 1.0 Tesla

Background: Evaluation of the applicability of intravascular radiofrequency receiver coils by means of a pig in-vivo-experiment for the detection of v essel wall structures at 1.0 Tesla. Materials and methods: The intravascular receiver coil was constructed acco rding to a well evaluated single-loop-design, which was mounted onto a ball oon catheter for angioplasty. Under fluoroscopy control the balloon cathete r was placed in the common carotid artery of a porcine. Images were obtaine d in a 1.0 Tesla clinical scanner using a fast-spin-echo-, a gradient-echo- and a high resolution spin-echo-sequence. Histological examinations were o btained to detect any vessel wall damage associated with the use of the rec eiver coil. Results: High qualtity images with a resolution up to 0.16*0.12 mm(2) could be acquired in aquisition times of about 5 minutes. Subtle intra- and extr a-vascular structures such as the balloon, irregularities of the vessel wal l or bordering structures could be visualized The histological examination showed no vessel damage due to the application of the int avascular receive r coil. Conclusions: The application of intravascular receiver coils for the visual ization of the vessel wall is feasible at 1.0 Tesla without histologically detectable trauma to the vessel wall.