Design of a multimodal (H/Na MR/CT) anthropomorphic thorax phantom.

Objectives: This work proposes a modular, anthropomorphic MR and CT thorax phantom that enables the comparison of experimental studies for quantitative evaluation of deformable, multimodal image registration algorithms and realistic multi-nuclear MR imaging techniques.

Methods: A human thorax phantom was developed with insertable modules representing lung, liver, ribs and additional tracking spheres. The quality of human tissue mimicking characteristics was evaluated for H and Na MR as well as CT imaging.

A novel approach for a 2D/3D image registration routine for medical tool navigation in minimally invasive vascular interventions.

Minimally invasive interventions are frequently aided by 2D projective image guidance. To facilitate the navigation of medical tools within the patient, information from preoperative 3D images can supplement interventional data. This work describes a novel approach to perform a 3D CT data registration to a single interventional native fluoroscopic frame.

Initial results of a new generation dual source CT system using only an in-plane comb filter for ultra-high resolution temporal bone imaging.

Objectives: To prospectively evaluate radiation dose and image quality of a third generation dual-source CT (DSCT) without z-axis filter behind the patient for temporal bone CT.

Methods: Forty-five patients were either examined on a first, second, or third generation DSCT in an ultra-high-resolution (UHR) temporal bone-imaging mode. On the third generation DSCT system, the tighter focal spot of 0.

DCE-MRI of the human kidney using BLADE: a feasibility study in healthy volunteers.

Purpose: To evaluate the degree of motion compensation in the kidney using two different sampling methods, each in their optimized settings: A BLADE k-space acquisition technique and a routinely used kidney perfusion acquisition scheme (TurboFLASH).

Materials And Methods: Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance examinations were performed in 16 healthy volunteers on a 3 Tesla MR-system with two parameterizations of the BLADE sequence and the standard reference acquisition scheme. Signal intensity enhanced time curves were analyzed with a mathematical model and a widely published separable compartment model on cortex regions to assess robustness versus motion artifacts.

[Examination of self-navigating MR-sequences for perfusion imaging of the kidneys].

Due to the worldwide increasing number of cases of chronic kidney diseases renal imaging - as a non-invasive technique in magnetic resonance imaging - has become a very important tool for an early diagnosis of probable insufficiencies and malfunction. Especially, dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) provides a technique to derive physiological parameters like renal blood flow or glomerular filtration rate. Similar to the entire field of abdominal imaging, the major problems are motion artifacts that primarily arise from the patient's respiration.