We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




4D Flow MRI Scans Could Revolutionize Diagnosis of Patients with Heart Failure

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 28 Jun 2022
Print article
Image: Cutting-edge 4D flow MRI scans could revolutionize blood flow assessment in the heart (Photo courtesy of University of East Anglia)
Image: Cutting-edge 4D flow MRI scans could revolutionize blood flow assessment in the heart (Photo courtesy of University of East Anglia)

Researchers have developed cutting-edge imaging technology to help doctors better diagnose and monitor patients with heart failure. The state-of-the-art technology uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to create detailed 4D flow images of the heart. The 4D heart MRI scan takes just six to eight minutes and can provide precise imaging of the heart valves and the flow inside the heart in three-dimension, helping doctors determine the best course of treatment for patients.

A new study by researchers at the University of East Anglia (Norwich, Norfolk, UK) has shown how this non-invasive imaging technique can measure the peak velocity of blood flow in the heart accurately and precisely. The researchers tested the new technology on 50 patients with suspected heart failure who were assessed using both echocardiography and the new advanced 4D flow heart MRI. The researchers developed prototype software to automate the process of measuring the peak velocity of blood flow inside the heart. The team hopes their work could revolutionize how heart failure is diagnosed.

“In our study, we used one of the most cutting-edge methods of flow assessment inside the heart called 4D flow MRI,” said lead researcher Dr. Pankaj Garg, from UEA’s Norwich Medical School. “In 4D flow MRI, we can look at the flow in three directions over time - the fourth dimension. We applied automated methods to hunt for the peak velocity in the chamber of the heart and showed that it is similar to echocardiography assessment, but with much greater precision.”

“This work is very important because the heart’s inability to relax leads to a rise in pressures inside the heart, and this causes heart failure with preserved ejection fraction,” added Dr. Garg. “Peak velocity of the blood flow inside the heart is a very important assessment for patients, and our findings show that by using a state-of-the-art 4D flow MRI imaging, we can do this accurately and with a high degree of repeatability. This advanced imaging offers an alternative to ultrasound methods and may even be better than ultrasound in the future.”

Related Links:
University of East Anglia 

Gold Member
STI Test
Vivalytic Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) Array
Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
Silver Member
Wireless Mobile ECG Recorder
NR-1207-3/NR-1207-E
New
Stereotactic Ultralight System
SUSy

Print article

Channels

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: NTT and Olympus have begun the world\'s first joint demonstration experiment of a cloud endoscopy system (Photo courtesy of Olympus)

Cloud Endoscopy System Enables Real-Time Image Processing on the Cloud

Endoscopes, which are flexible tubes inserted into the body's natural openings for internal examination and biopsy collection, are becoming increasingly vital in medical diagnostics. Their minimal invasiveness... Read more

Patient Care

view channel
Image: The newly-launched solution can transform operating room scheduling and boost utilization rates (Photo courtesy of Fujitsu)

Surgical Capacity Optimization Solution Helps Hospitals Boost OR Utilization

An innovative solution has the capability to transform surgical capacity utilization by targeting the root cause of surgical block time inefficiencies. Fujitsu Limited’s (Tokyo, Japan) Surgical Capacity... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The PATHFAST hs-cTnI-II high-sensitivity troponin assay has been developed for the PATHFAST Biomarker Analyzer (Photo courtesy of Polymedco)

POC Myocardial Infarction Test Delivers Results in 17 Minutes

Chest pain is the second leading cause of emergency department (ED) visits by adults in the United States, generating over 7 million visits annually. In the event of a suspected heart attack, physicians... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.