New MRI technique to reduce breathing-related artifacts in brain scans
Prospective Evaluation of a Free Induction Decay (FID) Navigator-Based Off-Resonance Correction Method (DORK) for Improving High-Resolution 3D Echo Planar (EPI) Susceptibility-Weighted (SWI) Brain MRI
This project tests a new MRI technique that tries to reduce breathing-related distortions in brain scans for adults having routine clinical brain MRI.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Region Stockholm Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Stockholm, Solna) |
| Trial ID | NCT07305948 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational project embeds a dual free induction decay (FID) navigator method into routine 3D-EPI susceptibility-weighted MRI to measure breathing-related magnetic field changes during acquisition. Two very short FID navigator signals are acquired during scanning to track respiration-induced B0 fluctuations, and these measurements are used to perform dynamic off-resonance correction during image reconstruction. The correction is applied without increasing scan time or altering standard clinical sequences, and aims to reduce blurring and distortion that can obscure veins, microbleeds and iron deposits on SWI. Adult patients scheduled for routine brain MRI at Karolinska are asked for consent and scans incompatible with the protocol or with excessive motion are excluded.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (≥18) scheduled for routine clinical brain MRI at Karolinska who can give written informed consent and whose scan protocol is compatible with 3D-EPI SWI are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with standard MRI contraindications, those requiring urgent imaging where consent is not feasible, or scans with excessive motion that prevent correction are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could produce clearer, less distorted SWI images that improve detection of small veins, microbleeds, and iron deposits without adding scan time.
How similar studies have performed: Navigator-based and B0-correction techniques have previously shown promise in reducing motion- and field-related artifacts, though the specific dual-FID DORK implementation is relatively new.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients (18 years or older) * Undergoing a routine clinical brain MRI at Karolinska University Hospital * Able to understand the study information and provide written informed consent * Sequence parameters and scan protocol compatible with the research acquisition (3D-EPI SWI) Exclusion Criteria: * Patients unable to give informed consent * Standard contraindications to MRI (e.g., non-MRI safe implants, severe claustrophobia) * Clinical conditions requiring urgent imaging where research consent is not feasible * Significant motion or incomplete scans preventing creation of research images (rare)
Where this trial is running
Stockholm, Solna
- Karolinska University Hospital — Stockholm, Solna, Sweden (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Ola Norbeck, PhD
- Email: ola.norbeck@regionstockholm.se
- Phone: +46735670476
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.