Assessing Pulmonary Function: A Comparative Study at 0.55T and 1.5T

Motivation: The motivation for this study is to develop a non-invasive imaging technique for assessing pulmonary function without the need for ionizing radiation or potentially harmful contrast agents. Goal(s): To evaluate the impact of different magnetic field strengths (0.55T and 1.5T) on functional parameters derived from the PREFUL MRI technique. Approach: The study analyzed the data with MRLung software and conducting statistical comparisons to assess the differences in functional parameters, SNR, and CNR between the two field strengths. Results: VDP, mean perfusion, and mean ventilation exhibited significant changes at the lower field strength, with higher SNR at 0.55T compared to 1.5T. Impact: We demonstrate the potential of using a lower field strength (0.55T) MRI system for assessing pulmonary function, offering insights into the impact of field strength on functional parameters and quality, which may have implications for improving non-invasive pulmonary imaging methods.