Expanding the Frontiers of
Imaging Guided Intervention and Therapy
The University of California - San Francisco is home to a unique interventional suite. This X/MR suite couples a state-of-the-art high field MR scanner (background) with a fully functional cath lab (foregound) and is a collaborative venture between the Department of Radiology at UCSF and Philips Medical Systems.

suite photo

System Concept: Combined Functionality
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is increasingly being proposed as a desirable means of guiding and monitoring interventional procedures. Initial applications of interventional MR have focussed on neurosurgery, and preliminary findings have indicated a substantial benefit to intraoperative MR imaging in this forum. Many endovascular therapies could also benefit from MR's ability to discriminate soft tissue and to measure functional parameters. The vast majority of endovascular procedures, however, are performed with x-ray guidance and MR currently cannot match the combination of temporal performance and spatial resolution that x-ray affords. Accordingly, initial studies assessing what benefits MR may bring are best performed on hybrid systems, whereby the benefits of x-ray and MR can be efficiently combined.

suite concept movie

This facility was designed to efficiently evaluate integrated MRI and X-ray angio techniques in interactive and interventional procedures. By combining the benefits of both of these modalities we are able to explore new opportunities in endovascular therapy.

For more information about research opportunities, please contact:

Dr Charley Higgins
or
Dr David Saloner

Last Update November, 2002