SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING ELASTOGRAPHY

Systems and methods for generating Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) elastographs of a region in a body are provided. A catheter, in accordance with one embodiment, comprises an elongated member, an acoustic transducer positioned near a distal end of the elongated member, and a Radio Frequency (RF) coil adjacent to the acoustic transducer. To generate an MRI elastograph of a region in a body, the acoustic transducer and the RF coil of the catheter are positioned at the desired region in the body. The acoustic transducer emits acoustic waves in the region of the body, and the RF coil detects RF signals emitted within the region of the body. The detected RF signals are outputted to an MRI receiver to generate the MRI elastograph of the region in the body.