Faster MRI scans with Compressed Sensing from Siemens Healthineers

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

At the 2016 RSNA, Siemens Healthineers unveils a groundbreaking technology thatovercomes one of the major limitations in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Acquisitiontimes can sometimes be long, which presents a significant challenge when scanning movingphysiology. With Compressed Sensing, MRI scans can now be performed in a fraction of the\time previously required for examinations. Rather than lasting roughly six minutes, CardiacCine imaging can now take just 25 seconds when using Compressed Sensing2. This is madepossible by an innovative algorithm that drastically reduces the amount of data acquired,speeding up image acquisition drastically. The MRI scanner can accommodate more cases,and new patient groups can be treated. This represents Siemens Healthineers’ contributionto the competitiveness and economic situation of healthcare providers in spite of growing financial pressure.

“Compressed Sensing enables scanning speeds that we could only dream of before,” saysDr. Christoph Zindel, Vice President of Magnetic Resonance at Siemens Healthineers.“Working close with our cooperation partners, we have really been able to pioneer thistechnology. Compressed Sensing Cardiac Cine is just the first step; we are already working together with our partners to expand this technology, and will bring further applications to the market,” says Zindel.

Due in particular to the unparalleled levels of tissue contrast it offers, its comprehensiveand radiation-free visualization of morphology and functionality, as well as its ability tosupport physicians in gaining high diagnostic certainty, MRI has become a fixed componentin radiological imaging. For cardiac cases, it is widely considered the gold standard forevaluating heart function. Yet, this method has a clear disadvantage when it comes tomoving organs: Due to the long acquisition times, some examinations are limited in theirapplication. Further increasing MRI scan speeds is therefore of critical importance – andthis is where Compressed Sensing comes in.

Only key data points acquired
Thanks to the new technology, fewer data points are needed in order to provide theradiologist with images of diagnostic quality. With the help of iterative reconstruction, highresolution,high-quality images can be reconstructed – with no image information loss inthe process. Additionally, the efficient inline reconstruction algorithm allows high clinicalthroughput. The acquired data is calculated directly at the scanner, requiring no export orexternal processing of the acquired data.

In cardiac imaging, Compressed Sensing Cardiac Cine takes full advantage of this algorithm:Rather than having to hold their breath 10 to 14 times, which can take roughly six minutesdue to regenerative breaks during the scan, patients can breathe freely – as a result theacquisition roughly takes 25 seconds. To accurately assess additional quantitativeinformation, such as ejection fraction, only a single breath hold is needed. Motion artifactscaused by breathing and heartbeats are effectively avoided. This is particularly beneficialfor older and critically ill patients who are unable to hold their breath during theexamination.

MRI for patients with cardiac arrhythmias
With the high speed of Compressed Sensing Cardiac Cine, cardiac MRI has becomeaccessible for entirely new patient groups, including those with cardiac arrhythmias. In thepast, Cardiac MRI scans were never an option for these patients due to the low diagnosticquality of the images. This is no longer the case with the new application, as users cantestify: “Since 38 percent of my patients suffer from arrhythmias, ten percent of which have atrial fibrillation, I use Compressed Sensing Cardiac Cine regularly,” says Dr. ChristophTillmans3 from the diagnostikum Berlin clinic. “In patients with suspected constructivepericarditis, I’d like to visualize the movement of the cardiac septum as they breathe freely.And here Compressed Sensing Cardiac Cine provides me with diagnostic imaging quality,”he emphasizes.

Thanks to adaptive triggering, the entire cardiac cycle – including diagnostic informationabout the late diastolic phase – can now be recorded in real time with only one breathhold.As scientific studies have shown, Compressed Sensing Cardiac Cine also offersexcellent visualization and quantification of the left ventricle function.

Taking the example of a single ventricular heart, a birth defect, Dr. François Pontana4of theUniversity Hospital of Lille, France, draws the following conclusion: “The most importantadvantage of Compressed Sensing Cardiac Cine is that we can visualize the completecontraction of the heart chamber, of volumes and the ejection fraction, with only onebreath-hold. It is particularly helpful in this case since the patients find it difficult to holdtheir breath. When monitoring patients undergoing treatment, this key benefit is hugelysignificant and clinically relevant.”

The algorithm used by Compressed Sensing was developed by Siemens experts and wonacclaim in 2014 at the Competition for Dynamic Imaging by the International Society forMagnetic Resonance in Medicine. Together with research partners, Siemens Healthineersfurther developed the algorithm and transformed it from an idea into a product. All overthe world, selected customers have been using a so-called ‘work-in-progress’ (WIP) packagefor a number of years now, which is an imaging package for application in research. ThisCompressed Sensing technology has been tried and tested in a number of clinical settings;numerous studies attest to the advantages of the method.

The products/features (here mentioned) are not commercially available in all countries. Due to regulatory reasons their future
availability cannot be guaranteed. Further details are available from the local Siemens organizations.The statements by Siemens’ customers described herein are based on results that were achieved in the customer's uniquesetting. Since there is no “typical” hospital and many variables exist (e.g., hospital size, case mix, level of IT adoption) therecan be no guarantee that other customers will achieve the same results.

Press pictures are available at www.siemens.com/press/PR2016110086HCEN.
For further information on RSNA, please see www.siemens.com/press/rsna2016.

Contact for journalists
Kathrin Palder
Phone: +65 6490 8672; E-mail: Kathrin.Palder@siemens.com

Siemens Healthineers is the separately managed healthcare business of Siemens AG enabling healthcare providers worldwideto meet their current challenges and to excel in their respective environments. A leader in medical technology, SiemensHealthineers is constantly innovating its portfolio of products and services in its core areas of diagnostic and therapeuticimaging and in laboratory diagnostics and molecular medicine. Siemens Healthineers is also actively developing its digitalhealth services and enterprise services. To help customers succeed in today’sdynamic healthcare marketplace, SiemensHealthineers is championing new business models that maximize opportunity and minimize risk for healthcare providers.In fiscal 2016, which ended on September 30, 2016, Siemens Healthineers generated revenue of €13.5 billion and net incomeof over €2.3 billion and has about 46,000 employees worldwide. Further information is available at
www.siemens.com/healthineers.