SmartTourniquet
A set of high quality thigh blood pressure cuffs for
use in the MRI environment
Each SmartTourniquet kit contains two each of thigh
cuffs, extension tubing, and manometer.
Click here to read an article on how
SmartTourniquet improves the quality of
peripheral MR Angiography
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informational brochure on
the SmartTourniquet
Optimization of Contrast Enhanced
Peripheral MR Angiography with
Mid-Femoral Venous Compression
1) Herborn, CU, Ajaj W, Goyen M,
Massing S, Ruehm SG, Debatin
JF. Peripheral Vasculature:
Whole-Body MR Angiography with
Midfemoral Venous Compression
-Initial Experience. Radiology.
2004 Mar;230(3):872-8.
ABSTRACT-1 (Herborn article)
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
REFERENCES
Five volunteers and 10 patients suspected of having peripheral vascular disease underwent multistation contrast
material–enhanced three-dimensional whole-body magnetic resonance (MR) angiography. The first examination, based
on standard protocol, lasted 72 seconds, while the following two examinations, performed with a high-spatial-resolution
T1-weighted gradient-recalled-echo sequence for the last two stations (lower extremities) lasted 170 seconds. In the
second high-resolution examination, midfemoral venous compression was used. Intraindividual comparison showed the
high-resolution protocol with venous compression resulted in the best qualitative and quantitative image quality through
higher signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios in the calf arteries. Despite prolonged acquisition times, there was no
venous contamination. The data suggest that midfemoral venous compression should be incorporated in multistation
protocols of the lower extremities to improve depiction of calf arteries without disturbing venous overlap.
© RSNA, 2004
Index terms: Arteries, extremities • Arteries, MR, 90.129412, 90.12942, 90.12943 • Arteries, stenosis or obstruction,
90.721 • Magnetic resonance (MR), high resolution • Magnetic resonance (MR), vascular studies, 90.129412,
90.12942, 90.12943 • Veins, femoral
2) Vogt FM, Ajaj W, Hunold P,
Herborn CU, Quick HH, Debatin JF,
Ruehm SG. Venous compression
at high-spatial-resolution
three-dimensional MR angiography
of peripheral arteries. Radiology.
2004 Dec;233(3):913-20. Epub
2004 Oct 14.
ABSTRACT -2 (Vogt article)
TOP
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
Materials and Methods
Results
Discussion
REFERENCES
The aim of this study was to assess a venous compression technique that is performed with contrast material–enhanced
peripheral magnetic resonance (MR) angiography to reduce venous enhancement. Healthy volunteers, as well as
patients with correlating digital subtraction angiographic (DSA) findings, were examined. Venous compression was
accomplished by placing a cuff at the midfemoral level unilaterally. Arterial signal-to-noise and contrast-to-noise ratios
indicated no significant differences between compressed and noncompressed legs. Venous overlay was substantially
reduced in the compressed legs. MR angiography with venous compression yielded diagnostic image quality and results
that had excellent correlation with DSA findings. High-spatial-resolution peripheral MR angiography of improved
diagnostic quality appears feasible, even with long data acquisition times.
© RSNA, 2004
Index terms: Arteries, stenosis or obstruction, 92.721 • Extremities, angiography, 92.122, 92.12942 • Extremities, MR,
92.12942 • Magnetic resonance (MR), vascular studies, 92.12942