This invention relates to a novel MRI compatible and active visible catheter for conducting interventional and intraoperative procedures under the guidance of MRI.

MRI is a promising imaging modality that provides superior soft tissue contrast and multi planar real-time imaging without harmful ionizing radiation for therapeutic procedures.  Interventional magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) has gained important popularity in many fields such as interventional cardiology and radiology, owing to the development of minimally invasive techniques and visible catheters under MRI for conducting MRI-guided procedures and therapies.  This invention relates to a novel MRI compatible and active visible catheter for conducting interventional and intraoperative  procedures under the guidance of MRI.  The catheter features a non conductive transmission line and the use of ultrasonic transducers that transform RF signals to ultrasonic signals for transmitting RF signal to the MRI scanner.  The unique design of this catheter overcomes the concern of patient/sample heating (due to the coupling between RF transmission energy and long conductors within catheter) associated with the design of conventional active MRI catheters.

•    U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/716,503 filed 14 Sep 2005 (HHS Reference No. E-298-2005/0-US-01)

•    PCT Application No. PCT/US2006/035636 filed 13 Sep 2006, which published as WO 2007/033240 on 22 Mar 2007 (HHS Reference No. E-298-2005/0-PCT-02)

•    U.S. Patent Application filed Mar 2008 (HHS Reference No. E-298-2005/0-US-03)

Inventor:

Ozgur Kocaturk (NHLBI)

Licensees Sought:

Available for exclusive or non-exclusive licensing.

 

Collaborative Research Opportunity:

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Cardiac Catheterization Lab is seeking statements of capability or interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop, evaluate, or commercialize the alternative Active MRI compatible and visible catheters using ultrasonic technology.  Please contact Peg Koelble at koelblep@nhlbi.nih.gov for more information.