Evaluation of a New MRI Technique to Reduce Breathing-Related Artifacts in Brain Imaging (DORK)

January 29, 2026 updated by: Region Stockholm

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 study aims to improve the quality of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans by testing a new imaging method that reduces distortions caused by breathing. During respiration, small movements of the chest and diaphragm can lead to subtle changes in the magnetic field within the head. These changes can introduce artifacts in certain MRI techniques, particularly susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI), which is used to visualize veins, small hemorrhages, and iron deposits.

The investigated method measures breathing-related magnetic field variations during MRI acquisition using two very short navigator signals, referred to as free induction decay (FID) navigators. These signals are used to perform dynamic off-resonance correction during image reconstruction, reducing image blurring and distortion. The method does not increase scan time and does not affect standard clinical imaging.

In this study, patients scheduled for routine clinical brain MRI are asked to provide informed consent for use of their raw MRI data for research purposes. For each participant, two sets of SWI images are generated from the same acquisition: one using standard reconstruction and one using the free induction decay navigator-based dynamic off-resonance correction method (FID-DORK). The objective is to assess whether the corrected images provide improved image quality and diagnostic reliability.

The study includes adult patients undergoing routine clinical MRI at Karolinska University Hospital. Image quality is evaluated using both visual assessment by neuroradiologists and quantitative measures of image variation. No additional imaging procedures, contrast agents, or scan time are required. All research data are pseudonymized prior to analysis.

The hypothesis is that the dual free induction decay navigator-based correction method (FID-DORK) improves the diagnostic quality of high-resolution three-dimensional echo-planar imaging susceptibility-weighted imaging brain MRI by reducing breathing-related artifacts.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Sweden
    • Solna
      • Stockholm, Solna, Sweden, 171 76

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants will be selected from adult patients referred for routine clinical brain MRI examinations at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden. These individuals represent a typical clinical population undergoing MRI for a wide range of neurological indications, including tumors, vascular disorders, inflammatory conditions, and other brain diseases. Only patients scheduled for standard-of-care brain MRI that includes a susceptibility-weighted sequence (SWI) will be approached for participation.

Description

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)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Patients Undergoing Routine Clinical Brain MRI
Diagnostic test: Dual Free Induction Decay (FID) Navigator Off-Resonance Corrected (DORK) 3D Susceptibility Weighted (SWI) Echo Planar Imaging (EPI)
This intervention consists of a modified magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition and reconstruction method used during routine clinical brain imaging. The method adds two very short free-induction-decay (FID) navigator signals to each repetition of a high-resolution 3D echo planar imaging (EPI) susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) sequence. These navigator signals measure breathing-related magnetic field changes, which are then used to perform dynamic off-resonance correction (DORK) during image reconstruction. The modified sequence does not change the clinical scan time or affect patient care. For each participant, both uncorrected and corrected SWI images are generated from the same raw data.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging Image Quality With and Without Free Induction Decay Navigator-Based Dynamic Off-Resonance Correction (FID-DORK)
Time Frame: Periprocedural (during the clinical brain MRI examination)
Image quality of susceptibility-weighted imaging scans reconstructed with and without free induction decay navigator-based dynamic off-resonance correction is compared. Image quality is assessed using visual ratings by neuroradiologists and quantitative measures of image variation. Differences in image quality between corrected and uncorrected reconstructions are evaluated.
Periprocedural (during the clinical brain MRI examination)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Region Stockholm

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

January 5, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 27, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 18, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

December 26, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 29, 2026

Last Verified

November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • K2025-9116

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Brain Diseases

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Germany

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe