Radiofrequency ablation lesion detection using MR-based electrical conductivity imaging: A feasibility study ofex vivoliver experiments

Phantom Construction and Equipment Configurations for Characterizing Electrical Properties Using MRI

Phantom objects are commonly employed in MRI systems as stable substitutes for biological tissues to ensure systems for measuring images are operating correctly and safely. For magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) and magnetic resonance electrical property tomography (MREPT), conductivity or permittivity phantoms play an important role in checking MRI pulse sequences, MREIT equipment performance, and algorithm validation. The construction of these phantoms is explained in this chapter. In the first part, materials used for phantom construction are introduced. Ingredients for modifying the electromagnetic properties and relaxation times are presented, and the advantages and disadvantages of aqueous, gel, and hybrid conductivity phantoms are explained. The devices and methods used to confirm phantom electromagnetic properties are explained. Next, different types of MREIT electrode materials and the constant current sources used for MREIT studies are discussed. In the last section, we present the results of previous MREIT and MREPT studies.

Frequency-dependent conductivity contrast for tissue characterization using a dual-frequency range conductivity mapping magnetic resonance method

Electrical conductivities of biological tissues show frequency-dependent behaviors, and these values at different frequencies may provide clinically useful diagnostic information. MR-based tissue property mapping techniques such as magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) and magnetic resonance electrical property tomography (MREPT) are widely used and provide unique conductivity contrast information over different frequency ranges. Recently, a new method for data acquisition and reconstruction for low- and high-frequency conductivity images from a single MR scan was proposed. In this study, we applied this simultaneous dual-frequency range conductivity mapping MR method to evaluate its utility in a designed phantom and two in vivo animal disease models. Magnetic flux density and B(1)(+) phase map for dual-frequency conductivity images were acquired using a modified spin-echo pulse sequence. Low-frequency conductivity was reconstructed from MREIT data by the projected current density method, while high-frequency conductivity was reconstructed from MREPT data by B(1)(+) mapping. Two different conductivity phantoms comprising varying ion concentrations separated by insulating films with or without holes were used to study the contrast mechanism of the frequency-dependent conductivities related to ion concentration and mobility. Canine brain abscess and ischemia were used as in vivo models to evaluate the capability of the proposed method to identify new electrical properties-based contrast at two different frequencies. The simultaneous dual-frequency range conductivity mapping MR method provides unique contrast information related to the concentration and mobility of ions inside tissues. This method has potential to monitor dynamic changes of the state of disease.

Fast conductivity imaging in magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) for RF ablation monitoring

PURPOSE

This study shows the potential of magnetic resonance electrical impedance tomography (MREIT) as a non-invasive RF ablation monitoring technique.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We prepared bovine muscle tissue with a pair of needle electrodes for RF ablation, a temperature sensor, and two pairs of surface electrodes for conductivity image reconstructions. We used the injected current non-linear encoding with multi-echo gradient recalled echo (ICNE-MGRE) pulse sequence in a series of MREIT scans for conductivity imaging. We acquired magnetic flux density data induced by externally injected currents, while suppressing other phase artefacts. We used an 8-channel RF head coil and 8 echoes to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in measured magnetic flux density data. Using the measured data, we reconstructed a time series of 180 conductivity images at every 10.24 s during and after RF ablation.

RESULTS

Tissue conductivity values in the lesion increased with temperature during RF ablation. After reaching 60 °C, a steep increase in tissue conductivity values occurred with relatively little temperature increase. After RF ablation, tissue conductivity values in the lesion decreased with temperature, but to values different from those before ablation due to permanent structural changes of tissue by RF ablation.

CONCLUSION

We could monitor temperature and also structural changes in tissue during RF ablation by producing spatio-temporal maps of tissue conductivity values using a fast MREIT conductivity imaging method. We expect that the new monitoring method could be used to estimate lesions during RF ablation and improve the efficacy of the treatment.