Benefit
Easy Trigger is a MR compatible Doppler-ultrasound device, which was developed to trigger the heart frequency of adults and fetuses (in utero) for cardiovascular MR imaging. This is the first and only MR compatible Doppler-ultrasound device. The MR compatible Doppler-ultrasound device is easier and faster in the application compared to the established method ECG. One benefit is to save examination time. The recorded Doppler signal is more stable, especially in patients with pleural or pericardial effusions. Compared to ECG it is advantageous at higher field strengths. In addition, the Doppler-ultrasound device offers a larger range of applications. It opens the possibility to perform fetal cardiovascular MR imaging with anatomical and functional information’s (ejection fraction) of the fetal heart. The in utero detection of cardiovascular anomalies is important for therapeutically planning. Companies that develop medical instruments could use the MR compatible Doppler-ultrasound device as a basis to develop hybrid ultrasound MR imaging systems.
Easy Trigger applied to a fetus.
Easy Trigger applied to an adult.
Award
Easy Trigger has been awarded as the most innovative medical technology development with the German High Tech Champions Award in Medical Imaging of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and the BMBF.
Research
The scientific results have been published in international peer-reviewed journals:
- Schoennagel BP, Remus CC, Yamamura J, Kording F, de Sousa MT, Hecher K, Fischer R, Ueberle F, Boehme M, Adam G, Kooijman H, Wedegaertner U:
Fetal blood flow velocimetry by phase-contrast MRI using a new triggering method and comparison with Doppler ultrasound in a sheep model: a pilot study.
MAGMA. 2014 Jun;27(3):237-44.
- Kording F, Yamamura J, Much C, Adam G, Schoennagel B, Wedegärtner U, Ueberle F.:
Evaluation of an MR Compatible Doppler-Ultrasound Device as a New Trigger Method in Cardiac MRI: A Quantitative Comparison to ECG.
Biomed Tech (Berl). 2013 Sep 7.
- Kording F, Schoennagel B, Much C, Ueberle F, Kooijman H, Yamamura J, Adam G, Wedegaertner U:
MRT-Herzbildgebung mit neuem Triggerverfahren: MR kompatibles Doppler Ultraschall Gerät im Vergleich zum EKG.
Fortschr Röntgenstr 2013; 185.
- Yamamura J, Kopp I, Frisch M, Fischer R, Valett K, Hecher K, Adam G, Wedegärtner U:
Cardiac MRI of the Fetal Heart Using a Novel Triggering Method: Initial Results in an Animal Model.
J Magn Reson Imaging. 2012 May;35(5):1071-6.
- Wedegärtner U, Frisch M, Kopp I, Grässner J, Hecher K, Adam G, Yamamura J:
Cardiales MRT des fetalen Herzens: Triggerung der fetalen Herzfrequenz mit einem MR kompatiblen Doppler-Ultraschall.
Fortschr Röntgenstr 2011; 183.
Further Information
For further information the following material can be downloaded:
- Flyer (PDF format)