In vivo Feasibility of an MRI-visible Interventional Device Portfolio for Neuro-oncology Applications

Motivation: Traditional fluoroscopy effectively guides catheter placement in neurointerventions, but it is limited by inadequate soft tissue characterization and visualization of small intracranial vessels. MRI-guided interventions address these problems, but compatible and visible tooling hasn't been fully realized. Goal(s): Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of a passively-tracked microcatheter for intra-arterial (IA) drug delivery under real-time MRI guidance in vivo. Approach: Susceptibility and marker patterns were evaluated during real-time MRI guidance and super-selective injection of IA gadolinium was performed. Results: Preliminary findings in vivo demonstrated successful super-selective contrast delivery and significantly discernable tracking markers to delineate device distal tips. Impact: Successful device integration into MRI-guided procedures enables real-time intraprocedural validation of deposition parameters and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Improved treatment efficacy could benefit patients with metastatic disease or neurodegenerative disorders requiring BBB disruption and IA therapy, among many other applications.