Non-Contrast Myocardium Perfusion using Stacks-of-Stars (SoS) Time-SLIP

Motivation: Coronary Arterial Disease (CAD) evaluations often require myocardium perfusion exams. Many CAD patients also have stents which makes difficult to evaluate images due to susceptibility artifacts. A reliable non-contrast MR perfusion technique in CAD patients with stents is needed. Goal(s): To introduce Time-SLIP technique with Stack-of-Stars (SoS) sequence for more inclusive myocardial assessments without the need for contrast mediums. Approach: Implemented diaphragm navigator echoes and T2-prep with the SoS sequence, refined through phantom trials, for tagging the proximal aortic root blood flow to visualize myocardial perfusion. Results: Preliminary in-vivo scans indicate reduced stent-related artifacts and the feasibility of non-contrast perfusion quantification. Impact: Our non-contrast myocardial perfusion approach offers a safer CAD evaluation, reducing risks from contrast agents. This method opens doors for inclusive patient assessments and encourages further refinement in non-invasive cardiac diagnostics.