Elevate Cardiac MRI with smart-sync
Doppler Ultrasound Gating for Cardiovascular MRI Applications
Cardiac Gating with Doppler Ultrasound
Performing cardiac gating using ECG can be challenging: At high magnetic field strengths, such as 3T, the magnetohydrodynamic effect makes cardiac synchronization difficult. When tight schedules are impacted by delays during the MRI scan, it can significantly disrupt your clinical routine.
smart-sync, based on Doppler ultrasound, is not influenced by magnetic fields, allowing you to perform MRI scans without delays to your time-sensitive schedule.
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Benefits
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Fast application: No shaving and cleaning of the skin.
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Reliable Gating: No influence of the signal by any MRI system of 1.5T and 3T.
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For all patients: Independent of patient size, pacemakers, scars or any conditions like amyloidosis.
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Cost effective: No need for expensive ECG electrodes.
With the
transducer the heartbeat is measured. It is artefact-free and built with wings for easy fastening.
Unboxing smart sync
Features
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The cardiac gating simply appears as an ECG signal on the MRI scanner.
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smart-sync is a plug and play device that does not require any special installation.
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smart-sync is compatible with all MRI systems of 1.5T and 3T.
The Sensor Box is the main unit that calculates the trigger signal based on Doppler Ultrasound. The trigger is then send to the MR System.
Placement of the transducer on the chest fixed with a belt
Schematic placement of the transducer
Placement of the transducer showing the acoustic window
Systolic Trigger:
The onset of the movement of the myocard is measured. A trigger signal is created once the ventricles starts to contract.
Diastolic Trigger:
Triggers on the timepoint when no motion occurs at the start of diastasis (rest period).
The contraction of the myocardium is measured with Doppler Ultrasound which is free from MRI interactions and disturbances. With Doppler Ultrasound we measure the true cardiac motion in realtime.
The ultrasound transducer is placed on the left parasternal side of the chest. Starting from the sternum, the transducer should be positioned at the level of the third rib. The transducer must be fixed at the point where the heart is directly connected to the chest wall. This position provides an acoustic window to the heart even during respiratory movements.
How does it work?
With the measurement of the physiologic movement of the heart we can provide more information on cardiac gating. We measure the systolic contraction and the time of the onset of resting phase in the diastasis. This way we can provide two different trigger time points that can be chosen using the touch screen of the Sensor Box
MR Integration
Easily integrates with the following MRI machines without requiring additional software
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Recent Publication
L.D. Beissel et al.
Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
2025