Events Calendar

Medical Imaging Seminar

Speaker: Vanessa Landes, University of Southern California

Talk Title: Radiofrequency Pulse Performance for Myocardial ASL

Series: Medical Imaging Seminar Series

Abstract: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, accounting for approximately one third of all deaths in individuals over the age of 35. Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is an important tool to diagnose or monitor patients with CAD. Current techniques use ionizing radiation or contrast agents, and are not suitable for routine monitoring or in patients with chronic kidney disease. Myocardial Arterial Spin Labeling is under development as a contrast and radiation free MPI technique. Spatial coverage must be increased and sensitivity to transit delay must be eliminated for clinical adaptation.

This talk will discuss technical improvements in RF pulse performance for myocardial ASL. First, a hardware-free, efficient RF predistortion technique is developed to improve SMS bSSFP imaging for increased spatial coverage of myocardial ASL. Second, a VS pulse is designed using Fourier Velocity encoding techniques and tailored specifically for labeling of coronary blood at 3T to remove transit delay sensitivities of myocardial ASL. With the proposed methods, the development of myocardial ASL approaches clinical reality.

Biography: Vanessa Landes is a Ph.D. candidate working under the supervision of Prof. Krishna Nayak at the Magnetic Resonance Engineering Laboratory. Her research focuses on MR pulse sequence development and RF pulse design for cardiac applications at 3T.

Host: Professor Krishna Nayak

Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 132

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Talyia White