Improved passive catheter tracking with positive contrast for CMR-guided cardiac catheterization using partial saturation (pSAT)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cardiac catheterization is a common procedure in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Although cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) represents a promising alternative approach to fluoroscopy guidance, simultaneous high contrast visualization of catheter, soft tissue and the blood pool remains challenging. In this study, a novel passive tracking technique is proposed for enhanced positive contrast visualization of gadolinium-filled balloon catheters using partial saturation (pSAT) magnetization preparation. METHODS: The proposed pSAT sequence uses a single shot acquisition with balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) readout preceded by a partial saturation pre-pulse. This technique was initially evaluated in five healthy subjects. The pSAT sequence was compared to conventional bSSFP images acquired with (SAT) and without (Non-SAT) saturation pre-pulse. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the catheter balloon, blood and myocardium and the corresponding contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) are reported. Subjective assessment of image suitability for CMR-guidance and ideal pSAT angle was performed by three cardiologists. The feasibility of the pSAT sequence is demonstrated in two adult patients undergoing CMR-guided cardiac catheterization. RESULTS: The proposed pSAT approach provided better catheter balloon/blood contrast and catheter balloon/myocardium contrast than conventional Non-SAT sequences. It also resulted in better blood and myocardium SNR than SAT sequences. When averaged over all volunteers, images acquired with a pSAT angle of 20° to 40° enabled simultaneous visualization of the catheter balloon and the cardiovascular anatomy (blood and myocardium) and were found suitable for CMR-guidance in >93% of cases. The pSAT sequence was successfully used in two patients undergoing CMR-guided diagnostic cardiac catheterization. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed pSAT sequence offers real-time, simultaneous, enhanced contrast visualization of the catheter balloon, soft tissues and blood. This technique provides improved passive tracking capabilities during CMR-guided catheterization in patients.
Related
- Fast, automated, real‐time 3D passive balloon catheter tracking during MRI ‐guided cardiac catheterization using orthogonal projection imaging and real‐time image‐based catheter detection
- FLiTrak3D: Improved deep-learning-based 3D insect flightkinematics tracking using spatial and temporal encoding
- Pedigree-tracking improved population monitoring of recessive disease-causing alleles in pedigreed canine populations
- Variation in urobiome composition over time in asymptomatic individuals with spinal cord injury and disease using intermittent catheterization
- Invasive cardiovascular magnetic resonance (iCMR) for diagnostic right and left heart catheterization using an MR-conditional guidewire and passive visualization in congenital heart disease
BibTeX
@article{forte2026improved,
title = {{Improved passive catheter tracking with positive contrast for CMR-guided cardiac catheterization using partial saturation (pSAT)}},
author = {Mari Nieves Velasco Forte and Kuberan Pushparajah and Tobias Schaeffter and Israel Valverde Perez and Kawal Rhode and Bram Ruijsink and Mazen Alhrishy and Nicholas Byrne and Amedeo Chiribiri and Tevfik Ismail and Tarique Hussain and Reza Razavi and Sébastien Roujol},
journal = {Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s12968-017-0368-0},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05796053v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Improved passive catheter tracking with positive contrast for CMR-guided cardiac catheterization using partial saturation (pSAT)
AU - Mari Nieves Velasco Forte
AU - Kuberan Pushparajah
AU - Tobias Schaeffter
AU - Israel Valverde Perez
AU - Kawal Rhode
AU - Bram Ruijsink
AU - Mazen Alhrishy
AU - Nicholas Byrne
AU - Amedeo Chiribiri
AU - Tevfik Ismail
AU - Tarique Hussain
AU - Reza Razavi
AU - Sébastien Roujol
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
JO - Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
DO - 10.1186/s12968-017-0368-0
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05796053v1
AB - BACKGROUND: Cardiac catheterization is a common procedure in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Although cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) represents a promising alternative approach to fluoroscopy guidance, simultaneous high contrast visualization of catheter, soft tissue and the blood pool remains challenging. In this study, a novel passive tracking technique is proposed for enhanced positive contrast visualization of gadolinium-filled balloon catheters using partial saturation (pSAT) magnetization preparation. METHODS: The proposed pSAT sequence uses a single shot acquisition with balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) readout preceded by a partial saturation pre-pulse. This technique was initially evaluated in five healthy subjects. The pSAT sequence was compared to conventional bSSFP images acquired with (SAT) and without (Non-SAT) saturation pre-pulse. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the catheter balloon, blood and myocardium and the corresponding contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) are reported. Subjective assessment of image suitability for CMR-guidance and ideal pSAT angle was performed by three cardiologists. The feasibility of the pSAT sequence is demonstrated in two adult patients undergoing CMR-guided cardiac catheterization. RESULTS: The proposed pSAT approach provided better catheter balloon/blood contrast and catheter balloon/myocardium contrast than conventional Non-SAT sequences. It also resulted in better blood and myocardium SNR than SAT sequences. When averaged over all volunteers, images acquired with a pSAT angle of 20° to 40° enabled simultaneous visualization of the catheter balloon and the cardiovascular anatomy (blood and myocardium) and were found suitable for CMR-guidance in >93% of cases. The pSAT sequence was successfully used in two patients undergoing CMR-guided diagnostic cardiac catheterization. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed pSAT sequence offers real-time, simultaneous, enhanced contrast visualization of the catheter balloon, soft tissues and blood. This technique provides improved passive tracking capabilities during CMR-guided catheterization in patients.
SN - 1097-6647
SN - 1532-429X
ER -