Free-Breathing Cardiac Cine Imaging with Pre-Scan Preparation and Post-Scan Processing: An Easily Implemented Approach in Clinical Practice

Motivation: Free-breathing cardiac cine imaging (FBCCI) currently relies on sophisticated motion correction algorithms or deep learning techniques. This reliance poses a challenge for MRI scanners that lack high-performance hardware or specialized sequences to obtain FBCCI. Goal(s): To develop an approach for FBCCI that eliminates the need for complex computations or specific sequences. This approach used breath-hold cardiac cine imaging (BHCCI) as reference for comparison of left ventricular (LV) function. Approach: A multiple averaged SSFP sequence, with both pre-scan preparation and post-scan processing, was utilized for FBCCI (FBCCI-2P). Results: The FBCCI-2P technique achieved identical results in all LV function parameters compared with the BHCCI method. Impact: The FBCCI-2P technique offers effective free-breathing imaging and provides reliable assessment of LV function. This approach enables MRI scanners with lacking high-performance hardware or sequences to achieve free-breathing imaging.