Wireless mobile technology to improve workflow and feasibility of MR-guided percutaneous interventions

Purpose A wireless interactive display and control device combined with a platform-independent web-based user interface (UI) was developed to improve the workflow for interventional magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI). Methods The iMRI-UI enables image acquisition of up to three independent slices using various pulse sequences with different contrast weighting. Pulse sequence, scan geometry and related parameters can be changed on the fly via the iMRI-UI using a tablet computer for improved lesion detection and interventional device targeting. The iMRI-UI was validated for core biopsies with a liver phantom ( n = 40) and Thiel soft-embalmed human cadavers ( n = 24) in a clinical 1.5T MRI scanner. Results The iMRI-UI components and setup were tested and found conditionally MRI-safe to use according to current ASTM standards. Despite minor temporary touch screen interference at a close distance to the bore ( < 20 cm), no other issues regarding quality or imaging artefacts were observed. The 3D root-mean-square distance error was 2.8 ± 1.0 (phantom)/ 2.9 ± 0.8 mm (cadaver), and overall procedure times ranged between 12 and 22 (phantom)/20 and 55 min (cadaver). Conclusion The wireless iMRI-UI control setup enabled fast and accurate interventional biopsy needle placements along complex trajectories and improved the workflow for percutaneous interventions under MRI guidance in a preclinical trial.