Clinical Use of a New Neonatal MRI System

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: The purpose of the present study is to make medically indicated state of the art/high end magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams available to all infants in the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Detailed Description: The current practice of transferring infants from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to radiology departments and imaging in adult-sized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners is associated with significant safety and image quality issues. For these reasons, the smallest and/or sickest neonates are typically precluded from receiving an MRI exam. The overreaching goal of our research effort is to bring high-performance MRI into the NICU so that all neonates can benefit from the same quality of diagnostic imaging as adults. To accomplish this, we have converted a commercial small-bore 1.5 Tesla (T) MRI scanner designed for orthopedic use into a neonatal MRI system optimized for whole body imaging of neonates. To expand the imaging capabilities of the NICU MRI system, the measurement control electronics and operating system software of the FDA cleared imaging OPTIMA platform have been augmented with state of the art HDX electronics and software currently used on a conventional commercially available adult sized whole body MRI scanner. The clinical safety of the integrated HDX/OPTIMA NICU MRI system and its ability to produce diagnostic image quality has been shown in 15 pilot patients (CCHMC Protocol 2011-2045). The present protocol builds and expands upon the previous to use the integrated NICU MRI system to perform MRI exams in the neonatal population.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Any infant admitted to the NICU at CCHMC
Have a medical condition for which an MRI exam is indicated, as determined by the attending neonatologist
Able to maintain body temperature for at least 90 minutes without the aid of an incubator or radiant warmer int he opinion of the attending neonatologist
Parental/LAR permission obtained

Exclusion Criteria

Infants too large to fit in the customized NICU MRI system comfortably (expected to be infants heavier than 6 kg)
Standard MRI exclusion criteria as set forth by the CCHMC Division of Radiology

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
MRI for Neonates	GE OPTIMA MR430s with HDX/GE Electronics	All participants will receive an MRI in the NICU scanner in the GE OPTIMA 1.5T MRI at CCHMC.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants With Adverse Events as Observed During and After Scanning.	Day 1	Any observed physical changes either related or not related to the MRI was recorded during and after scanning.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Each Infant's Baseline Measurement for Weight Will be Recorded to Ensure the Infant is Less Than 6 kg.	Day 1	These measures will be used in order to facilitate future design of coils and transport tables for the customized MRI system.