Myocardial ischemia induces tissue injury with subsequent inflammation and recruitment of immune cells. Besides myocardial tissue characterization, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows for functional assessment using molecular imaging contrast agents. Here, we assessed ischemic cardiac lesions non-invasively directly after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in a porcine model by advanced MRI techniques and molecular imaging, targeting the cell adhesion molecule P-selectin functionalized with microparticles of iron oxide (MPIO). We used a closed-chest model of I/R by temporary coronary balloon-occlusion, real time 3T MRI-guided coronary injection of MPIO-based contrast agents, as well as injury, edema and iron-sensitive MRI. Within the first hours after I/R, we found T1 mapping to be most sensitive for tissue injury, with no changes in edema-sensitive MRI. Intriguingly, P-selectin MPIO contrast agent selectively enhanced the ischemic area in iron-sensitive MRI. In conclusion, this approach allows for sensitive detection of early myocardial inflammation beyond traditional edema-sensitive imaging.
Purpose: To test intra-arterial spin labeling (iASL) using active guiding catheters for myocardial perfusion measurements during magnetic resonance (MR)-guided interventions in a pig study. Methods: In this work, a single-loop radiofrequency (RF) coil at the tip of a 6F active coronary catheter was used as a transmit coil for local spin labeling. The transmit magnetic RF field (B1) of the coil and the labeling efficiency were determined, and iASL was tested in two pigs after the catheter was engaged in the aortic root, the ostium of the left coronary artery (LCA) under MR-guidance. The iASL effect was assessed by the signal difference between spin-labeling On and control (spin-labeling OFF) images, and in a cross-correlation between ON/Off states of spin-labeling a binary labeling paradigm. In addition, quantitative myocardial perfusion was calculated from the iASL experiments. Results: The maximum B1 in the vicinity of the catheter coil was 2.1 m T. A strong local labeling effect with a labeling efficiency of 0.45 was achieved with iASL both in vitro and in vivo. In both pigs, the proximal myocardial segments supplied by the LCA showed significant labelling effect up to distances of 60 mm from the aortic root with a relative signal difference of (3.14 f 2.89)% in the first and (3.50 f 1.25)% in the second animal. The mean correlation coefficients were R = 0.63 f 0.22 and 0.42 f 0.16, respectively. The corresponding computed myocardial perfusion values in this region of the myocardium were similar to those obtained with contrast perfusion methods ((1.2 f 1.1) mL/min/g and (0.8 f 0.6) mL/min/g). Conclusion: The proposed iASL method demonstrates the feasibility of selective myocardial perfusion measurements during MR-guided coronary interventions, which with further technical improvements may provide an alternative to exogenous contrast-based perfusion. Due to the invasive nature of the iASL method, it can potentially be used in concert with MRI-guided coronary angioplasty.
Purpose Intraoral coils (IOCs) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio compared with conventional extraoral coils. To assess the safety of IOCs, we propose a 2-step procedure to evaluate radiofrequency-induced heating of IOCs and compare maximum temperature increases in 3 different types of IOCs. Methods The 2-step safety assessment consists of electric field measurements and simulations to identify local hotspots followed by temperature measurements during MRI. With this method, 3 different coil types (inductively coupled IFC, transmit/receive tLoop, and receive-only tLoopRx) were tested at 1.5 T and 3 T for both tuned and detuned coil states. High SAR and regular MRI protocols were applied for 2 coil positions. Results The measured E field maps display distinct hotspots for all tuned IOCs, which were reduced by at least 40-fold when the IOCs were detuned. Maximum temperature rise was higher when the coils were positioned at the periphery of the phantom with the coil planes parallel to B0. When neither active nor passive detuning was applied, maximum temperature increase of ΔT = 1.3/0.5/1.8 K was found for IFC/tLoop/tLoopRx coils. Hotspots detected by E field measurements, and simulations were consistent. In the simulations, the results were different for homogeneous phantoms compared with full anatomical models. The 2-step test procedure is applicable to different coil types. Conclusions The results indicate that a risk for radiofrequency-induced heating exists for tuned IOCs, so that adequate detuning circuits need to be integrated in the coils to ensure safe operation.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a multitude of techniques to detect and characterize myocardial infarction. To correlate MRI findings with histology, in most cases terminal animal studies are performed; however, precise extraction and spatial correlation of myocardial tissue samples to MRI image data is difficult. In this proof of concept study, we present a 3D-printing technique to facilitate the extraction of tissue samples from myocardial regions. Initially, seven pig hearts embedded in formaldehyde were imaged on a clinical 3 T system to define biopsy targets on high resolution ex vivo images. Magnitude images and R2*-maps acquired with a 3D multi-echo gradient echo sequence and 0.58 mm isotropic resolution were used to create digital models of the cardiac anatomy. Biopsy guides were 3D-printed to steer the extraction of myocardial samples. In total, 61 tissue samples were extracted with an average offset of the tissue sample location from the target location of 0.59 ± 0.36 mm. This offset was not dependent on the distance of the target point to the epicardial surface. Myocardial tissue could be extracted from all samples. The presented method enables extraction of myocardial tissue samples that are selected by ex vivo MRI with submillimeter precision.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including congenital heart diseases (CHD), present significant global health challenges, emphasizing the need for safe and effective treatment modalities. Fluoroscopy-guided endovascular interventions are widely utilized but raise concerns about ionizing radiation, especially in pediatric cases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a radiation-free alternative with superior soft tissue visualization and functional insights. However, the lack of compatible instruments remains a major obstacle. An adapted thermal drawing platform that enables low-cost and rapid prototyping of instruments for MR-guided endovascular interventions is introduced. This platform is demonstrated through the development of two exemplary catheter systems: a tendon-driven steerable catheter with helical lumina and an active tracking Tiger-shaped catheter with an embedded coaxial wire. These catheters exhibit mechanical properties comparable to commercial counterparts and show promising outcomes in both in vitro and in vivo feasibility testing. This scalable thermal drawing platform addresses the limitations of existing manufacturing approaches and facilitates the exploration of diverse designs, potentially accelerating advancements in catheter technologies for MR-guided cardiovascular interventions.
In closed-bore MRI units, assistance systems play a crucial role in overcoming patient access limitations during percutaneous interventions. In this work, we present eGantryMate, a piezo-motor-driven assistance system specifically designed for MR-guided needle interventions in high-field MRI systems. eGantryMate consists of an instrument positioning unit and a control unit equipped with piezo motors, radiofrequency filters, and shielding. Paired with a real-time tracking sequence for automatic marker detection and projection of the instrument trajectory onto the MR image, eGantryMate enables precise and efficient needle interventions. Targeting experiments were performed by inserting a biopsy needle into a series of fiducial targets in a phantom, and usability experiments were conducted in vivo without needle insertion. The results show artifact-free MR imaging, minimal temperature rise on the instrument positioning unit, and precise targeting capabilities. These findings demonstrate eGantryMate’s ability to perform real-time needle alignments and insertions within the magnet bore, highlighting its potential to enhance the acceptability and efficacy of MR-guided interventions.
Low-field MRI systems are expected to cause less RF heating in conventional interventional devices due to lower Larmor frequency. We systematically evaluate RF-induced heating of commonly used intravascular devices at the Larmor frequency of a 0.55 T system (23.66 MHz) with a focus on the effect of patient size, target organ, and device position on maximum temperature rise. To assess RF-induced heating, high-resolution measurements of the electric field, temperature, and transfer function were combined. Realistic device trajectories were derived from vascular models to evaluate the variation of the temperature increase as a function of the device trajectory. At a low-field RF test bench, the effects of patient size and positioning, target organ (liver and heart) and body coil type were measured for six commonly used interventional devices (two guidewires, two catheters, an applicator and a biopsy needle). Electric field mapping shows that the hotspots are not necessarily localized at the device tip. Of all procedures, the liver catheterizations showed the lowest heating, and a modification of the transmit body coil could further reduce the temperature increase. For common commercial needles no significant heating was measured at the needle tip. Comparable local SAR values were found in the temperature measurements and the TF-based calculations. At low fields, interventions with shorter insertion lengths such as hepatic catheterizations result in less RF-induced heating than coronary interventions. The maximum temperature increase depends on body coil design.
An optically powered and broadcasted modular receive coil concept (Light Coils) is presented for MRI to simultaneously eliminate the challenges in MRI of pediatric or overweight patients, signal-to-noise ratio losses and potential safety hazards due to electro-magnetic interferences in the transmission cables, and Ohmic losses in the metallic wires. By combining innovative RF antenna architectures, low-noise-low-power front end electronics and state-of-the-art silicon photonics technology, Light Coils might offer a robust and scalable solution for MRI image acquisition. Preliminary experimental results on the power-on-fiber driving of LNAs, and optical active detuning of receive coils are also discussed.
In MR-guided interventional procedures, RF coils can be attached to the instruments to provide a positive MR signal for device tracking. The signal from these coils can vary strongly over the procedure and mask the surrounding anatomy. The purpose of this study is to introduce and demonstrate a low-cost, vendor- and device-independent interface circuit that allows the interventionalist to adjust the active device signal intensity. In this work a variable attenuator circuit was constructed to control the tip signal of an active coronary artery catheter in real-time from within the MR scanner room. Performance of the attenuator circuit and the active catheter was characterized on the test bench, in a phantom model, and in vivo. The system was used in a pig model at 3T during the introduction of the catheter into the left coronary artery. The circuit could attenuate the amplitude of the tracking coil signal by up to 20 dB. Without attenuation, the tracking coil signal intensity was masking anatomical details of the coronary ostium making it impossible to reliably introduce the catheter into the artery. After interactive adjustment, which was performed in a few seconds by the interventionalist, the improved visualization of the vascular anatomy enabled a rapid insertion of the catheter into the coronary ostium. The vendor-independent variable attenuator provides real-time control of the catheter signal without interrupting the image acquisition. Even though most MRI systems can control the individual signal levels from coils by software, the attenuator hardware is advantageous as it can be integrated into any MR-system, and it provides a direct interface for the interventionalist at the magnet.
Background: MRI is a frequently used tool in radiation therapy planning. For MR-based tumor segmentation, diffusion weighted imaging plays a major role, which can fail due to excessive image artifacts for head and neck cancer imaging. Here, an easy-to-use setup is presented for imaging of head and neck cancer patients in radiotherapy thermoplastic fixation mask. Methods: In a prospective head and neck cancer study, MRI data of 29 patients has been acquired at 3 different time points during radiation treatment. The data was analyzed with respect to Nyquist ghosting artifacts in the diffusion images in conventional single shot and readout segmented EPI sequences. For 9 patients, an improved setup with water bags for B0 homogenization was used, and the impact on artifact frequency was analyzed. Additionally, volunteer measurements with B0 fieldmaps are presented. Results: The placement of water bags to the sides of the head during MRI measurements significantly reduces artefacts in diffusion MRI. The number of artifact-free images in readout segmented EPI increased from 74% to 95% of the cases. Volunteer measurements showed a significant increase in B0 homogeneity across slices (head foot direction) as well as within each slice. Conclusions: The placement of water bags for B0 homogenization is easy to implement, cost-efficient and does not impact patient comfort. Therefore, if very sophisticated soft-or hardware solutions are not present at a given site, or cannot be implemented due to restrictions from the thermoplastic mask, this is an excellent alternative to reduce artifacts in diffusion weighted imaging.
We aimed to assess critical temperature areas in the kidney parenchyma using magnetic resonance thermometry (MRT) in an ex vivo Holmium:YAG laser lithotripsy model.Thermal effects of Ho:YAG laser irradiation of 14 W and 30 W were investigated in the calyx and renal pelvis of an ex vivo kidney with different laser application times (tL) followed by a delay time (tD) of tL/tD = 5/5 s, 5/10 s, 10/5 s, 10/10 s, and 20/0 s, with irrigation rates of 10, 30, 50, 70, and 100 ml/min. Using MRT, the size of the area was determined in which the thermal dose as measured by the Cumulative Equivalent Minutes (CEM43) method exceeded a value of 120 min.In the calyx, CEM43 never exceeded 120 min for flow rates ≥ 70 ml/min at 14 W, and longer tL (10 s vs. 5 s) lead to exponentially lower thermal affection of tissue (3.6 vs. 21.9 mm2). Similarly at 30 W and ≥ 70 ml/min CEM43 was below 120 min. Interestingly, at irrigation rates of 10 ml/min, tL = 10 s and tD = 10 s CEM43 were observed > 120 min in an area of 84.4 mm2 and 49.1 mm2 at tD = 5 s. Here, tL = 5 s revealed relevant thermal affection of 29.1 mm2 at 10 ml/min.We demonstrate that critical temperature dose areas in the kidney parenchyma were associated with high laser power and application times, a low irrigation rate, and anatomical volume of the targeted calyx.
Purpose: To quantify B-0- and B-1-induced imaging artifacts of braided venous stents and to compare the artifacts to a set of laser-cut stents used in venous interventions. Methods: Three prototypes of braided venous stents with different geometries were tested in vitro. B-0 field distortion maps were measured via the frequency shift Delta f using multi-echo imaging. B-1 distortions were quantified using the double angle method. The relative amplitudes B-1(rel) were calculated to compare the intra-luminal alteration of B-1. Measurements were repeated with the stents in three different orientations: parallel, diagonal and orthogonal to B-0. Results: At 1.5 T, the braided stents induced a maximum frequency shift of vertical bar Delta f (x)vertical bar < 100Hz. Signal voids were limited to a distance of 2 mm to the stent walls at an echo time of 3 ms. No substantial difference in the B-0 field distortions was seen between laser-cut and braided venous stents. B-1(rel) maps showed strongly varying distortion patterns in the braided stents with the mean intraluminal B-1(rel) ranging from (63 +/- 18)% in prototype 1 to (98 +/- 38)% in prototype 2. Compared to laser-cut stents the braided stents showed a 5 to 9 times higher coefficient of variation of the intraluminal B-1(rel). Conclusion: Braided venous stent prototypes allow for MR imaging of the intraluminal area without substantial signal voids due to B-0-induced artifacts. Whereas B-1 is attenuated homogeneously in laser-cut stents, the B-1 distortion in braided stents is more inhomogeneous and shows areas with enhanced amplitude. This could potentially be used in braided stent designs for intraluminal signal amplification.
This article introduces a transfer function (TF) measurement setup for cascaded media (CM) and demonstrates that the full immersion of an implant in a lossy medium might result in an underestimation of the RF-induced heating compared to partial immersion. A CMTF measurement setup was constructed using medium-specific local electric field sources and electro-optical sensor (EOS). TFs of bare and insulated wire samples were measured in the CM air/saline. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations were implemented using a reciprocal approach with a monopole excitation source as well as a piecewise plane wave excitation method. As a theoretical guideline for understanding the CM behavior of the devices, an analytical model based on the buried wire models was derived. CMTFs agree with good precision between FDTD simulations, analytical modeling, and the EOS measurements. Measured TFs were calibrated and validated similar to ISO/TS 10974:Ed.2. Calculated tip SAR values under uniform incident field show an increase up to a factor of 5.7 for partially immersed wires compared to the full immersion. On average, FDTD-based TFs overestimate SAR by 25% compared to measurement-based TFs. As safety assessments for fully immersed implant leads or devices might not represent the worst-case scenario, single-medium assessments might underestimate the RF-induced heating.
Objective: To assess the effect of the electro-magnetic coupling of endovascular stents on their RF heating potential in MRI. Methods: A custom-built electro-optic E-field probe is used to perform measurements of the scattered E-field at a distance of 2 mm to stent samples with submillimeter resolution. Various combinations of stent lengths are measured at 124 MHz (3T MRI Larmor frequency) with varying gap and overlap between the stents, with and without stent coating, and with distilled water and saline solution as surrounding media. The results are compared to theoretically derived E-field distributions. Results: At an overlap of 10 mm the E-field pattern of two stents collapses to a single dipole indicating excellent coupling between the stents. E-field intensities substantially increase/decrease up to 5-fold/2.5-fold if the total length of the two combined stents is closer/further away from the resonance length of the single stents. Stent coating and conductivity of the surrounding medium strongly influence the E-field patterns of overlapping stents. Measured and calculated E-field patterns are in good agreement. Conclusion: Electro-optic E-field measurements are a valuable tool for RF safety assessments in both single as well as coupled stents. Significance: RF induced heating of single stents during MRI has been extensively studied. However, in clinical practice often two or more stents are implanted in close proximity which can substantially change the pattern of the scattered electric fields and the localization and intensity of hot spots. In this study a detailed assessment of the coupling of stents during RF excitation is given.
X-ray-based fluoroscopy is the standard tool for diagnostics and intervention in coronary artery disease. In recent years, computed tomography has emerged as a non-invasive alternative to coronary angiography offering detection of coronary calcification and imaging of the vessel lumen by the use of iodinated contrast agents. Even though currently available invasive or non-invasive techniques can show the degree of vessel stenosis, they are unable to provide information about biofunctional plaque properties, e.g. plaque inflammation. Furthermore, the use of radiation and the necessity of iodinated contrast agents remain unfavourable prerequisites. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a radiation-free alternative to X-ray which offers anatomical and functional imaging contrasts fostering the idea of non-invasive biofunctional assessment of the coronary vessel wall. In combination with molecular contrast agents that target-specific epitopes of the vessel wall, MRI might reveal unique plaque properties rendering it, for example, 'vulnerable and prone to rupture'. Early detection of these lesions may allow for early or prophylactic treatment even before an adverse coronary event occurs. Besides diagnostic imaging, advances in real-time image acquisition and motion compensation now provide grounds for MRI-guided coronary interventions. In this article, we summarize our research on MRI-based molecular imaging in cardiovascular disease and feature our advances towards real-time MRI-based coronary interventions in a porcine model.
Objective. Report simple reference structure fabrication and validate the precise localization of subdural micro- and standard electrodes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in phantom experiments. Approach. Electrode contacts with diameters of 0.3 mm and 4 mm are localized in 1.5 T MRI using reference structures made of silicone and iron oxide nanoparticle doping. The precision of the localization procedure was assessed for several standard MRI sequences and implant orientations in phantom experiments and compared to common clinical localization procedures. Main results. A localization precision of 0.41 ± 0.20 mm could be achieved for both electrode diameters compared to 1.46 ± 0.69 mm that was achieved for 4 mm standard electrode contacts localized using a common clinical standard method. The new reference structures are intrinsically bio-compatible, and they can be detected with currently available feature detection software so that a clinical implementation of this technology should be feasible. Significance. Neuropathologies are increasingly diagnosed and treated with subdural electrodes, where the exact localization of the electrode contacts with respect to the patient’s cortical anatomy is a prerequisite for the procedure. Post-implantation electrode localization using MRI may be advantageous compared to the common alternative of CT-MRI image co-registration, as it avoids systematic localization errors associated with the co-registration itself, as well as brain shift and implant movement. Additionally, MRI provides superior soft tissue contrast for the identification of brain lesions without exposing the patient to ionizing radiation. Recent studies show that smaller electrodes and high-density electrode grids are ideal for clinical and research purposes, but the localization of these devices in MRI has not been demonstrated.
The quantification of myocardial perfusion with contrast agent (CA) tracers requires the precise knowledge of the arterial input function (AIF). In this study a method for MR-guided vascular interventions is evaluated that determines the AIF via an active tracking catheter during targeted CA injection. A phantom experiment with a dialysis filter was conducted to measure the AIF using an active catheter and a dynamic image series as reference. To compensate for dilution and coil sensitivity effects, correction methods were developed for the catheter-based AIF determination. From the dynamic MR measurements in the perfusion phantom quantitative perfusion maps were calculated by a deconvolution of the measured CA concentration with the AIF, and additional flow measurements were used to normalize the perfusion map. The signal-time-curves of the measured AIF using the catheter-based and imaging-based methods agree while the absolute values differ by a scaling factor of about 9. After normalization to the surrounding flow, both perfusion techniques are in excellent agreement. Catheter-based AIF measurements are feasible but require an additional normalization which can be determined from a flow measurement. The technique might enable faster perfusion measurements during cardiovascular interventions.
Purpose The aims of this study were to assess radiofrequency (RF) shielding and susceptibility-induced imaging artifacts of venous stents with different designs at 1.5 T and to analyze the relationship between stent designs, that is, cell geometry and RF shielding. Methods Twelve dedicated venous stents and 1 stent used for venous pathologies with 8 different designs from 5 different manufacturers were tested: Blueflow (plus medica, Düsseldorf, Germany), Sinus Obliquus, Sinus Venous, Sinus XL (Optimed, Ettlingen, Germany), Vici (Veniti, St. Louis, MO), Zilver Vena (Cook, Bjaeverskov, Denmark), and Venovo (Bard, Tempe, AZ). Two versions with different lengths were available from all stents except the Venovo. For each stent, B 1 and frequency mapping was performed using the double angle method and gradient multiecho imaging. Each stent was measured in 3 different orientations: parallel, orthogonal, and at 45 degrees to B 0. A correlation analysis was performed between the induced B 1 field strength inside the stents and the geometries of the cells. Results Radiofrequency shielding was found to be strongly varying between different stent designs. The 120-mm-long Vici stent showed the lowest mean relative B 1 amplitude of (38% ± 16%) when oriented parallel to B 0. The highest mean B 1 amplitude was measured inside the 100-mm-long Blueflow stent with diagonal orientation (90% ± 20%). Averaged over all stents, the shielding was 18% stronger when the stents are oriented orthogonal to B 0 compared with a parallel orientation and the between-stent variation was lower for the orthogonal orientation (11%) compared with the parallel orientation (20%). For laser-cut stents, a linear correlation was found between the amount of RF shielding and the length of individual cells measured perpendicular to the stents’ long axes. The woven stents showed a strongly inhomogeneous intraluminal RF shielding pattern, whereas the laser-cut stents provided a more homogeneous shielding pattern. No substantial susceptibility-induced frequency shifts were measured near all stents with a maximum shift of ∆f = 96 Hz measured in the vicinity of the 150-mm-long Sinus Obliquus stent. Conclusion Magnetic resonance imaging in the vicinity of commercially available venous stents is feasible at 1.5 T with no substantial susceptibility-induced artifacts but reduced transmit and receive B 1 field strengths inside the stents. The strength and homogeneity of the intraluminal B 1 depend on the stents’ fabrication (woven or laser-cut) and cell geometry.
Background Automatic tumor segmentation based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) has shown to be a valuable tool in treatment planning and clinical decision making. We investigate the influence of 7 MRI input channels of a CNN with respect to the segmentation performance of head&neck cancer. Methods Head&neck cancer patients underwent multi-parametric MRI including T2w, pre- and post-contrast T1w, T2*, perfusion (k trans , v e ) and diffusion (ADC) measurements at 3 time points before and during radiochemotherapy. The 7 different MRI contrasts (input channels) and manually defined gross tumor volumes (primary tumor and lymph node metastases) were used to train CNNs for lesion segmentation. A reference CNN with all input channels was compared to individually trained CNNs where one of the input channels was left out to identify which MRI contrast contributes the most to the tumor segmentation task. A statistical analysis was employed to account for random fluctuations in the segmentation performance. Results The CNN segmentation performance scored up to a Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.65. The network trained without T2* data generally yielded the worst results, with ΔDSC GTV-T = 5.7% for primary tumor and ΔDSC GTV-Ln = 5.8% for lymph node metastases compared to the network containing all input channels. Overall, the ADC input channel showed the least impact on segmentation performance, with ΔDSC GTV-T = 2.4% for primary tumor and ΔDSC GTV-Ln = 2.2% respectively. Conclusions We developed a method to reduce overall scan times in MRI protocols by prioritizing those sequences that add most unique information for the task of automatic tumor segmentation. The optimized CNNs could be used to aid in the definition of the GTVs in radiotherapy planning, and the faster imaging protocols will reduce patient scan times which can increase patient compliance. Trial registration The trial was registered retrospectively at the German Register for Clinical Studies (DRKS) under register number DRKS00003830 on August 20th, 2015.
Purpose To dynamically minimize radiofrequency (RF)‐induced heating of an active catheter through an automatic change of the termination impedance. Methods A prototype wireless module was designed that modifies the input impedance of an active catheter to keep the temperature rise during MRI below a threshold, ΔT max . The wireless module (MR safety watchdog; MRsWD) measures the local temperature at the catheter tip using either a built‐in thermistor or external data from a fiber‐optical thermometer. It automatically changes the catheter input impedance until the temperature rise during MRI is minimized. If ΔT max is exceeded, RF transmission is blocked by a feedback system. Results The thermistor and fiber‐optical thermometer provided consistent temperature data in a phantom experiment. During MRI, the MRsWD was able to reduce the maximum temperature rise by 25% when operated in real‐time feedback mode. Conclusion This study demonstrates the technical feasibility of an MRsWD as an alternative or complementary approach to reduce RF‐induced heating of active interventional devices. The automatic MRsWD can reduce heating using direct temperature measurements at the tip of the catheter. Given that temperature measurements are intrinsically slow, for a clinical implementation, a faster feedback parameter would be required such as the RF currents along the catheter or scattered electric fields at the tip.