Principal Investigator/Program Director (Last, first, middle): Pauly, John, M Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is emerging as an effective image-guided minimally invasive therapeutic alternative to surgical treatment of cancer tumors. RFA appears well suited to nonresectable tumors in liver. The ablation process is highly dependent on the electrical conductivity of these tissues yet there is no easy way to predict the current pathways or how focused the current will be on the tumor. For example, bone and fatty pockets can shield tumor from ablation currents. Our goal is to enhance the planning and efficacy of tumor ablation by using an MRI system that can map RF ablation current pathways during ablation and map thermal changes. RF current maps will show where power is being deposited, and MR thermometry will show where heat flowed during the ablation. Our approach exploits a new MRI technique that images RF current density in tissue. The ablation electrode is injected with RF currents at the resonant frequency of the MRI scanner. The MRI scanner can directly image the intense magnetic fields associated with the ablation current, and then derive the map of current flow in tissue. In our preliminary work, we have already visualized the current flow in an MR compatible ablation electrode. These tests demonstrated that fatty tissue effectively insulates and blocks the ablation current. Moreover, the current pathway itself lights up high conductivity tissue and creates a medically significant contrast. To fully exploit this capability, we will merge RF current mapping with MR thermometry and ablation devices to form a comprehensive interventional MRI system for RF ablation. Enhanced RF hardware, pulse sequences and reconstructions will be developed. Upon completion, we will perform ex-vivo tissue sample and in-vivo animal studies to demonstrate the clinical potential of this system. Project Description Page 6
| Etezadi-Amoli, Maryam; Stang, Pascal; Kerr, Adam et al. (2015) Controlling radiofrequency-induced currents in guidewires using parallel transmit. Magn Reson Med 74:1790-802 |
| Ellenor, Christopher W; Stang, Pascal P; Etezadi-Amoli, Maryam et al. (2015) Offline impedance measurements for detection and mitigation of dangerous implant interactions: an RF safety prescreen. Magn Reson Med 73:1328-39 |
| Etezadi-Amoli, Maryam; Stang, Pascal; Kerr, Adam et al. (2015) Interventional device visualization with toroidal transceiver and optically coupled current sensor for radiofrequency safety monitoring. Magn Reson Med 73:1315-27 |
| Stang, Pascal P; Conolly, Steven M; Santos, Juan M et al. (2012) Medusa: a scalable MR console using USB. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 31:370-9 |
| Shultz, Kim; Stang, Pascal; Kerr, Adam et al. (2012) RF field visualization of RF ablation at the Larmor frequency. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 31:938-47 |
| Khalighi, Mohammad Mehdi; Rutt, Brian K; Kerr, Adam B (2012) RF pulse optimization for Bloch-Siegert B??? mapping. Magn Reson Med 68:857-62 |
| Zanchi, Marta G; Stang, Pascal; Kerr, Adam et al. (2011) Frequency-offset Cartesian feedback for MRI power amplifier linearization. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 30:512-22 |
| Overall, William R; Pauly, John M; Stang, Pascal P et al. (2010) Ensuring safety of implanted devices under MRI using reversed RF polarization. Magn Reson Med 64:823-33 |
| Zanchi, Marta G; Venook, Ross; Pauly, John M et al. (2010) An optically coupled system for quantitative monitoring of MRI-induced RF currents into long conductors. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 29:169-78 |
| Grissom, William A; Lustig, Michael; Holbrook, Andrew B et al. (2010) Reweighted ?1 referenceless PRF shift thermometry. Magn Reson Med 64:1068-77 |
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