Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2008 May 21;10(1):23.
doi: 10.1186/1532-429X-10-23.

Ventricular assist device implant (AB 5000) prototype cannula: in vitro assessment of MRI issues at 3-Tesla

Frank G Shellock  1 , Samuel Valencerina
Affiliations

Ventricular assist device implant (AB 5000) prototype cannula: in vitro assessment of MRI issues at 3-Tesla

Frank G Shellock et al. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. .

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate MRI issues at 3-Tesla for a ventricular assist device (VAD).

Methods: The AB5000 Ventricle with a prototype Nitinol wire-reinforced In-Flow Cannula and Out-Flow Cannula attached (Abiomed, Inc., Danvers, MA) was evaluated for magnetic field interactions, heating, and artifacts at 3-Tesla. MRI-related heating was assessed with the device in a gelled-saline-filled, head/torso phantom using a transmit/received RF body coil while performing MRI at a whole body averaged SAR of 3-W/kg for 15-min. Artifacts were assessed for the main metallic component of this VAD (atrial cannula) using T1-weighted, spin echo and gradient echo pulse sequences.

Results: The AB5000 Ventricle with the prototype In-Flow Cannula and Out-Flow Cannula attached showed relatively minor magnetic field interactions that will not cause movement in situ. Heating was not excessive (highest temperature change, +0.8 degrees C). Artifacts may create issues for diagnostic imaging if the area of interest is in the same area or close to the implanted metallic component of this VAD (i.e., the venous cannula).

Conclusion: The results of this investigation demonstrated that it would be acceptable for a patient with this VAD (AB5000 Ventricle with a prototype Nitinol wire-reinforced In-Flow Cannula and Out-Flow Cannula attached) to undergo MRI at 3-Tesla or less. Notably, it is likely that the operation console for this device requires positioning a suitable distance (beyond the 100 Gauss line or in the MR control room) from the 3-Tesla MR system to ensure proper function of the VAD.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
a. The AB5000 Ventricle with the prototype Nitinol wire-reinforced In-Flow Cannula and Out-Flow Cannula attached that underwent testing for magnetic field interactions, heating, and artifacts at 3-Tesla. Note the prototype Nitinol wire-reinforced In-Flow Cannula atrial cannula (arrow). This is the only metallic portion of this ventricular assist device that is implanted. b. The AB5000 Circulatory Support System (Abiomed, Inc., Danvers, MA). Note the console component of this ventricular assist device.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Experimental set up showing the 3-Tesla MR system and head/torso phantom used for the evaluation of MRI-related heating for the Ventricle with the prototype Nitinol wire-reinforced In-Flow Cannula and Out-Flow Cannula. Note the cables going to the fluoroptic thermometry probes of the thermometry system.
Figure 3
Figure 3
MRI artifact associated with the prototype Nitinol wire-reinforced atrial cannula used with the AB5000 Ventricle (gradient echo pulse sequence; TR/TE, 100-msec/15-msec; flip angle, 30 degrees; matrix size, 256 × 256; section thickness, 10-mm; field of view, 42-cm; long axis imaging plane).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Moazami N, Smedira NG. Temporary mechanical support. J Card Surg. 2001;16:193–202. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2001.tb00508.x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Leshnower BG, Gleason TG, O'Hara ML, Pochettino A, Woo YJ, Morris RJ, Gardner TJ, Acker MA. Safety and efficacy of left ventricular assist device support in postmyocardial infarction cardiogenic shock. Ann Thorac Surg. 2006;81:1365–70. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2005.11.040. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Samuels LE, Holmes EC, Garwood P, Ferdinand F. Initial experience with the Abiomed AB5000 ventricular assist device system. Ann Thorac Surg. 2005;80:309–12. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2004.07.086. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Zhang L, Kapetanakis EI, Cooke RH, Sweet LC, Boyce SW. Bi-ventricular circulatory support with the Abiomed AB5000 system in a patient with idiopathic refractory ventricular fibrillation. Ann Thorac Surg. 2007;83(1):298–300. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2006.05.034. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Levine GN, Gomes AS, Arai AE, Bluemke DA, Flamm SD, et al. Safety of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cardiovascular devices: an American Heart Association scientific statement from the Committee on Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiac Catheterization. Circulation. 2007;116:2878–91. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.187256. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types