Circular spirit level guidance system for CT- and MR-guided punctures.

A circular spirit level guidance system was tested for control of CT- and MR-guided punctures. The device consists of a needle holder fixed to a ground plate and two protractors. This allows adjustment of the fixed needle according to the angulation of the supposed puncture path as measured on tomographic images.

[A new MR-(and CT-) compatible bone biopsy system: first clinical results].

Purpose: To describe the development and clinical evaluation of a new, hand-powered or alternatively motor-driven, MRI and CT compatible percutaneous bone biopsy system.

Materials And Methods: A new coaxial drill system (Cook Europe A/S) was designed for percutaneous, MR-guided bone biopsies and powered either by hand or an optional motor (10-250 rotations/minute using 6 bar [88.2 PSI] compressed air).

[MR-micturating cystourethrography using radical k-space sampling].

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of micturating cystourethrography (MCU) by means of real-time MR imaging with radial k-space sampling.

Methods: The MR-MCU was performed in 7 adult male patients subsequent to a gadolinium(Gd)-DTPA-enhanced excretory MR-urography. The Gd-enhancement of the urethra was visualized by MR-fluoroscopy using a T1-weighted gradient-echo-sequence with radial k-space sampling and a slice thickness of 10 mm.

[Determining the effectiveness of percutaneous cava filters: experimental studies].

Purpose: In vitro clot-trapping capacity of 16 different caval filters should be evaluated under varying experimental conditions.

Material And Methods: In a flow model simulating in vivo conditions (soft latex tube, dextran solution at 37 degrees C, pulsatile flow at a mean rate of 3 1/min) the efficiency of 16 caval filters was evaluated in horizontal and vertical position by using 640 or 1280 clots/filter (8 sizes). Non-self centering filters were tested in centric and in tilted position.