Development of a Hybrid Magnetic Resonance and Ultrasound Imaging System

Abstract EN

A system which allows magnetic resonance (MR) and ultrasound (US) image data to be acquired simultaneously has been developed.

B-mode and Doppler US were performed inside the bore of a clinical 1.5 T MRI scanner using a clinical 1–4 MHz US transducer with an 8-metre cable.

Susceptibility artefacts and RF noise were introduced into MR images by the US imaging system.

RF noise was minimised by using aluminium foil to shield the transducer.

A study of MR and B-mode US image signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) as a function of transducer-phantom separation was performed using a gel phantom.

This revealed that a 4 cm separation between the phantom surface and the transducer was sufficient to minimise the effect of the susceptibility artefact in MR images.

MR-US imaging was demonstrated in vivo with the aid of a 2 mm VeroWhite 3D-printed spherical target placed over the thigh muscle of a rat.

The target allowed single-point registration of MR and US images in the axial plane to be performed.

The system was subsequently demonstrated as a tool for the targeting and visualisation of high intensity focused ultrasound exposure in the rat thigh muscle.