Grant: Proof of Principle Program - Phase I

In many cardiovascular illnesses, a treatment procedure can be carried out in a more effective, less invasive way if the intervention can be visualized as it is taking place. One example is the treatment for a complete blockage of a heart blood vessel. Instead of open-chest coronary bypass surgery, the blockage can be penetrated by a wire inserted into the vessel, as long as the position of the wire tip can be seen. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides detailed information about the geometry and composition of soft tissues. Currently, there are wire devices that can be used for interventions, and that can be 'seen' on an MRI. The new device proposed here will allow both the tip of the wire, and the soft tissue surrounding the tip, to be imaged with MRI. This will greatly improve the success of MRI-guided procedures and benefit patients with diseased blood vessels or heart tissue that needs treatment.