NCT02840019

Advanced Fetal Imaging - Phase II

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 300 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Boston Children's Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years – 45 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The goal of Advanced Fetal Imaging - Phase II is to advance fetal MRI imaging by designing MRI coils specifically for pregnant women and testing recently developed MRI image acquisition techniques. The investigators aim to more reliably obtain higher quality fetal MRI images when compared to current clinical fetal MRI.

Detailed description

The main aim of this project is to evaluate and optimize the existing clinical magnetic resonance (MR) techniques for fetal imaging, and to also implement and test new MR technologies that would improve fetal imaging in general. This involves the development of new pulse sequences and image acquisition schemes that "freeze" fetal motion and hence provide improved image quality and robustness for both structural (T1- and T2- weighted, susceptibility and FLAIR imaging) and physiological imaging (diffusion, perfusion, spectroscopy, resting-state functional MRI, etc). The scope of this project also includes testing of newly developed radio frequency (RF) receive-only coil arrays that would inherently provide the means for faster imaging of the fetus, and thus complement the software developments.

Conditions

• Pregnancy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Investigational MRI coil designed for pregnant women	The investigational MRI receiver coil designed specifically for pregnant women will be used during the 60 minute full research MRI scan. An MRI receiver coil is part of the MRI machine that is placed over the body part being imaged during every MRI scan. A coil is required to obtain MR images, yet there isn't one designed for pregnant women. This investigational MRI receiver coil for pregnant women will be tested to see if it helps improve image quality and take images faster.
PROCEDURE	MRI Scan	All participants will participate in an MRI scan. The add-on MRI scan will be 15 minutes. The full MRI scan will be 60 minutes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-07-01
• Primary completion: 2027-06-01
• Completion: 2028-06-01
• First posted: 2016-07-21
• Last updated: 2025-12-08

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States