Design and testing of an MRI-compatible cycle ergometer for non-invasive cardiac assessments during exercise

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important tool for cardiac research, and it is frequently used for resting cardiac assessments. However, research into non-pharmacological stress cardiac evaluation is limited. We aimed to design a portable and relatively inexpensive MRI cycle ergometer capable...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biomedical engineering online 2012-03, Vol.11 (1), p.13-13, Article 13
Main Authors: Gusso, Silmara, Salvador, Carlo, Hofman, Paul, Cutfield, Wayne, Baldi, James C, Taberner, Andrew, Nielsen, Poul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adjustment
Adult
Bioengineering
Cycle ergometer
Design
Equipment Design
Ergometry - instrumentation
Exercise
Exercise Test - instrumentation
Female
Heart
Heart - physiology
Heart beat
Heart Function Tests - instrumentation
Heart rate
Humans
Left ventricular function
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Physiological aspects
Resistance to control
Rest - physiology
Time Factors
Workloads
Young Adult
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Summary:Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important tool for cardiac research, and it is frequently used for resting cardiac assessments. However, research into non-pharmacological stress cardiac evaluation is limited. We aimed to design a portable and relatively inexpensive MRI cycle ergometer capable of continuously measuring pedalling workload while patients exercise to maintain target heart rates. We constructed and tested an MRI-compatible cycle ergometer for a 1.5 T MRI scanner. Resting and sub-maximal exercise images (at 110 beats per minute) were successfully obtained in 8 healthy adults. The MRI-compatible cycle ergometer constructed by our research group enabled cardiac assessments at fixed heart rates, while continuously recording power output by directly measuring pedal force and crank rotation.
ISSN:1475-925X
1475-925X
DOI:10.1186/1475-925X-11-13