Purpose: An instrument has been developed for the introduction of caval filters which can be used with MRI; it has been investigated in in vitro and in in vivo experiments.
Material and method: The ferromagnetic components of a commercially available instrument for the femoral introduction of the MR-eye Tulip IVC filter were changed for similar, non-ferromagnetic parts and the lock and dilator marked with dysprosium oxide rings. The instrument was used in a flow phantom and in animal experiments (two domestic pigs) in order to insert filters under MRI control on a 1.5 T Philips Gyroscan with integrated mobile digital subtraction angiography.
Results: Both in vitro and in vivo, the introducer, catheter and caval filter could be identified by MRI and positioned under MRI control. The position of the filter as indicated by MRI corresponded with radiological and macroscopic findings in all cases (5 phantoms, 2 pigs).
Conclusion: The early experimental results indicate that percutaneous introduction of caval filters with placement under MRI control is possible.