Events Calendar

Medical Imaging Seminar

Speaker: Ahsan Javed, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Southern California

Talk Title: Improving the Sensitivity and Spatial Coverage of Arterial Spin Labeled Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Series: Medical Imaging Seminar Series

Abstract: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) is the method of choice to address the growing need for a safe and repeatable technique to assess coronary artery disease. Existing techniques are unsuitable for frequent use, as they are either invasive or involve ionizing radiation. Recently, CMR first pass perfusion was used to guide treatment of CAD and was shown to have comparable outcomes to fraction flow reserve, the leading invasive assessment. However, first pass perfusion uses gadolinium based contrast agents which are contraindicated in patients with kidney disease. There are approximately 600 thousand Americans with end-stage renal disease and 26 million with chronic kidney disease. This patient population has over 10 times higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and requires more frequent monitoring. In this population arterial spin labeling cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-CMR) presents a promising alternative. Currently, clinical use of existing ASL-CMR techniques is limited by poor spatial coverage and sensitivity.

This talk will introduce developments to improve both spatial coverage and sensitivity of ASL-CMR. We will discuss the development and optimization of saturation steady pulsed arterial spin labeling, a new labeling scheme inspired from a recent work by Capron et al. that improves the sensitivity and signal efficiency of ASL-CMR. I will also present the implementation and validation of reduced FOV sequential multi-slice single shot EPI for ASL-CMR to improve spatial coverage. With these proposed methods we aim to move a few steps closer to making ASL-CMR clinically feasible to enable safe, contrast free assessment of CAD.

Biography: Ahsan Javed is a PhD student in the Magnetic Resonance Engineering Laboratory at University of Southern California under the supervision of Dr. Krishna Nayak. His research expertise lies in RF pulse design, pulse sequence development, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. His works have focused on development of novel pulse sequences to improve sensitivity and spatial coverage of ASL-CMR and validation of ASL-CMR techniques in large animal models.

Host: Krishna Nayak

Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Talyia White