Autonomous MRI Solution Enables More Efficient Scans

A novel artificial intelligence (AI) platform integrates with existing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to enable a complete and comprehensive cardiac ischemia exam in less than 15 minutes.

The HeartVista (Los Altos, CA, USA) One-Click MRI acquisition software is designed to automatically acquire standard cardiac views in as little as 10 seconds, all while the patient breathes freely. An artifact detection algorithm incorporated into the autonomous protocol senses if the image quality is below an acceptable range, prompting the operator to reacquire them. An accelerated non-cartesian four-dimensional (4D) cardiac flow sequence can thus be acquired in just minutes, allowing necessary calibrations prior to the myocardial delayed-enhancement acquisition.

The AI-driven solution breaks down barriers for wider adoption of cardiac MRI exams. Patients benefit from fewer breath holds and reduced discomfort, and also enjoy increased access to imaging, especially those suffering from arrhythmia, intolerance to long exams, and other health constraints. Technologists benefit from the reduced complexity of exams, while clinicians can simultaneously remotely monitor and guide the exams and review scans acquired with consistency and confidence, including preliminary measurements of left ventricular function.

“We are thrilled to introduce the first autonomous MRI solution that incorporates years of innovation and collaboration with world-class clinicians, technologists and researchers across major institutions,” said William Overall, founder and CTO of HeartVista. “Magnetic resonance imaging offers one of the richest diagnostic imaging techniques today and our mission is to enable fast, efficient and simple MRI exams so patients, providers, and radiologists can all benefit.”

Cardiac MRI is an imaging technology for the non-invasive assessment of the function and structure of the cardiovascular system based on the same basic principles as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with optimizations that use rapid imaging sequences. As a result, CMR images are currently acquired in steps. Patients breathe in and then hold their breath for each image, then recover before repeating the process for the next image.

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