Fetal MRI Acquisition and Sequence Development (FMASD)

Testing of new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pulse sequences (image acquisition software) for imaging the fetus to improve workflow and image quality in fetal imaging and diagnosis. The investigators would like to develop novel MRI approaches to enhance fetal imaging with MRI, in the presence of motion. As part of technical development, the investigators plan to develop methods to improve structural T1 and T2 weighted images, MR angiography, diffusion and spectroscopy measurements of the fetus.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Pregnancy Related
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: No intervention - the investigators are evaluating a new image acquisition method on an MRI scanner

Detailed Description

Fetal MRI has become a critical tool for both studying the early development of the human brain and resolving diagnostic ambiguities that may remain after routine ultrasound exams. Due to its excellent soft-tissue contrast and the absence of harmful ionizing radiation, MRI is preferable to computed tomography for neuroimaging. Unfortunately, fetal and maternal motion limit fetal MRI to rapid two-dimensional (2D) sequences with thick slices such as half-Fourier single-shot turbo spin echo (HASTE). Although these sequences decrease the impact of motion during the sub-second acquisition of individual slices, multiple slices are needed, and contiguous orthogonal scans are challenging as motion occurs between slices. Typically, >38% of acquisitions are discarded because of corrupted geometry and artifacts.

In this project the investigators will develop software that runs on the Siemens MRI scanner. This software will improve the workflow for fetal imaging i.e. for imaging the fetus in utero. Fetal imaging in its current form is inefficient due to the frequent motion of the fetus during the imaging procedure. In this project the investigators will develop automated methods for alignment and tracking of the fetus during imaging, to more efficiently image the fetus and to obtain better image quality in a shorter examination. The investigators are specifically interested in the fetal brain, but these methods may be generalized to all fetal organ systems. The investigators will install the software on the scanner and test these methods with volunteers.

• Study Type: Observational

Contacts and Locations

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 2 months to 9 months (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Pregnant women presenting for imaging of the fetus

Description

Eligibility will be determined prior to the scan session by a pre-screening interview conducted either via telephone or in person asking about MR contraindications.

Participants will be excluded from study entry or study completion when any of the following exclusion criteria are met at any time of screening or enrollment:

• Claustrophobia sufficient to interfere with MRI or render the subject unable to complete an MRI scan
• MRI contraindications (e.g., magnetically or mechanically activated implants)
• Weight greater than or equal to 300lbs (weight limit of the MRI table)
• Non-English speaking
• Neurological conditions (i.e. epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, memory disorders, brain tumor)
• Past incidence of stroke or heart attack
• Severe hypertension, blood disorders, advanced diabetes mellitus, or advanced cardiovascular disease
• Hospitalization within 6 weeks prior to enrollment
• Significant acute and/or chronic medical conditions, current use of medications that indicate the existence of significant medical conditions, and other unspecified reasons that make the subject unsuitable for enrollment at the discretion at the PI and a consulting MD.

Pregnant mothers with the following features will be excluded.

• Mothers with contraindication to MRI (such as pacemaker, metal in body, exceeding scanner weight or bore diameter limits (550lbs, 70cm))
• Mothers with claustrophobia
• Mothers medically unstable for the MRI study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Only
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Pregnant women presenting for MRI; Alternative motion-robust MR imaging sequences and procedures for automatic positioning while be tested during fetal brain imaging	Other: No intervention - the investigators are evaluating a new image acquisition method on an MRI scanner; The investigators will evaluate the performance of a modified MRI acquisition method against an existing method in fetal imaging in volunteers

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Image alignment in fetal MRI	Evaluation of image alignment with automatical positioning in MRI	Five year K99/R00 project
Tracking quality in fetal MRI	Evaluation of image quality with motion tracking in MRI	Five year K99/R00 project

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): May 31, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 11, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 14, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): February 24, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 9, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: MRI; Brain; Placenta; Uterus; Fetus
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2021P001433

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: The investigators will share data if requested as permitted by the Massachusetts General Brigham (MGB) Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No