mediri is and has been involved in various cutting edge research projects. Hence, we steadily extend our portfolio in the area of clinical imaging and data evaluation. The expertise we gain in research projects is directly and efficiently embedded into our work. We would be delighted to cooperate with you as a research partner. In following we will give you a short overview of our research foci.
Image quality assessment is one of or our core competences, for which we offer a broad range of services. Especially in clinical studies, where a large amount of image data has to be handled, automated quality assessment is essential.
Therefore, we developed the highly modular software AQUA. Whilst being processed within an analysis-pipeline, images can be examined with respect to various characteristics. AQUA modules can be applied to a database in order to detect cases with critical image quality. Furthermore, AQUA allows for recognizing deviations already during the image acquisition, which can be instantly corrected for.
Within the EU-funded project ASSURE mediri developed various AQUA modules for the application to automated 3D breast ultrasound (ABUS). These modules detect and classify artifacts such as the ultrasound shadow of the nipple, which can be disruptive during diagnosis. Our tailored AQUA software recognizes artifacts already at the point of image acquisition and provides suggestions on how to improve image quality during a repeated scan.
Assure Project
Radboud umc Nijmegen
Fraunhofer Mevis Bremen
Institute Jules Bordet Brussels
University Girona
Women with an increased risk of breast cancer are recommended to undergo regular MRI investigations. Whilst the standard method dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI employs contrast agent, currently new contrast agent free methods are arising, such as Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL).
Within the EU-funded project ASSURE mediri developed image quality assessment methods for both techniques.
Assure Project
Radboud umc Nijmegen
Fraunhofer Mevis Bremen
Institute Jules Bordet Brussels
University Girona
Large quantities of image data have to be analyzed in neurological imaging studies - either automatically or manually. In both cases, to save time and money, some image quality features can be checked prior to analysis.
Was the correct sequence employed? Was the field of view chosen appropriately? Were all coils active during image acquisition? Our image quality analysis tools, which were tailored to this purpose, provide answers to these questions.
Many quantitative parameters, measurable with MRI, contain valuable diagnostic or prognostic information, such as the volume of a lesion or the T1- and T2-relaxation times of a tissue.
One of our core competences lies in the accurate quantification of such biomarkers.
Measuring volume changes in lesions during therapy allows for assessment of response to treatment.
mediri is glad to assist you with specialized imaging protocols, automated segmentation algorithms, as well as evaluation methods providing accurate volume and area measurements for your application of interest.
T1- and T2-relaxation time mapping provides valuable information about pathological tissue changes, especially during dynamic contrast agent uptake.
If you are planning to incorporate relaxometry into your clinical study, mediri will assist you by providing measurement methods and quantification tools.
Magnetic Transfer Ratio MRI measurements contain valuable information about large molecule content and can be used to reflect tissue degeneration in diseases like Multiple Sclerosis.
mediri can provide reliable MT measurement protocols and data analysis tools for your study.
In the field of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU or FUS for „Focused Ultrasound Surgery“) we are involved in various projects. Our MR compatible ultrasound-based motion detection system can be used in conjunction with MR guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) in moving organs such as the liver.
Recent studies on MR guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) imply that it is a suitable method to be used in localized prostate cancer therapy. MR guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) combines high intensity focused ultrasound for thermal ablation of diseased tissue with MR imaging to visualise the tumor and surrounding anatomy and to provide MR thermal feedback.
mediri developed the “Local Therapy Control” software, which comprises all necessary features for therapy planning and for analyzing therapy outcome. It covers the whole prostate treatment workflow and displays correlations between previous diagnostic and therapeutic data.
Profus Project
Transfusimo Project
Uniklinikum Freiburg
Radboud umc Nijmegen
Fraunhofer Mevis Bremen
The aim of this BMBF-funded Israeli-German cooperation project was to develop a technology platform that enables localized chemotherapeutic drug delivery to moving organs by MR guided focused ultrasound.
This biotechnological approach used a unique combination of MR imaging and ultrasound-based tracking to allow for a focused ultrasound drug delivery application. Combining these two imaging modalities generates images with both high temporal and spatial resolutions, thus providing the required data to track dynamic organs for accurate in vivo delivery and monitoring of therapy.
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
Final Report
InSightec Ltd. Tirat Carmel, Israel
Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
German Cancer Research Center (dkfz), Heidelberg
Real-time motion monitoring, especially for radio therapy, is currently a hot research topic. Motion detection and compensation for target structures in the lung or the abdomen are still challenging tasks in modern radio therapy, which can deliver dose within the range of 1 -2 mm.
For this purpose, mediri refined a technology of motion detection which is real-time capable, radiation-free, and cost-effective at superb soft tissue contrast: sonography.
To realize an intuitive and easy to handle real time motion tracking, mediri developed (in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, St. Ingbert, Germany) a new generation of medical ultrasound devices.
mediri´s Sonoplan transforms a clinical MR-scanner into an US-MRI-hybrid system and allows for simultaneous acquisition of US- and MR-images. Sonoplan is completely MR compatible – from transducer to screen.
Our software provides real time motion monitoring by tracking a predefined structure simultaneously on ultrasound images. The tracking data is made available nearly in real time for further use, e.g. visualization, MR-slice positioning, or dynamic radiation field adaption in radio therapy.
Within the EU-funded ENVISION project, mediri enhanced the real-time motion monitoring tools in the Sonoplan II device and developed tailored approaches for hadron therapy.
By including prediction models, time delays occurring between the ultrasound tracking device and the therapy control system were compensated. It was shown that our tracking routine is able to guide an actively scanned heavy ion beam to follow a moving target.
ENVISION project
Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center
GSI Darmstadt
MR guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) combines high intensity focused ultrasound for thermal ablation of diseased tissue with MR imaging to visualise the tumor and surrounding anatomy and to provide MR thermal feedback.
The EU-funded project FUSIMO aimed at the development of a planning system for MRgFUS, which is capable to deal with the challenges in the treatment of moving abdominal organs.
The aim of the follow up project TRANS-FUSIMO is to translate the developed prototypes into clinical practice. mediri could enhance the tracking capabilities of Sonoplan II, such that structures to be tracked can now be automatically detected in the images. Furthermore, mediri developed an additional tracking method based on MR images.
Transfusimo Project
IMSaT at University Dundee
Fraunhofer IBMT St. Ingbert
Fraunhofer Mevis Bremen
ETH Zürich
mediri offers research and implementation services for acquisitions in the field of physiologic MR imaging.
We provide specialized protocols, pulse sequences and reconstruction algorithms tailored to your specific research interest.
Perfusion measurement provides important diagnostic information on pathological conditions, such as stroke or dementia.
One of our core research topics is contrast agent free perfusion imaging using Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL). Our high performance ASL methods are being used by the world’s leading clinical researchers and are incorporated in several commercial products of scanner manufacturers.
Furthermore, mediri is the main sponsor of the ASL Network (http://asl-network.org/), supporting the international ASL community in order to bring forward this promising imaging technique.
In dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI, the uptake of a contrast agent injection is monitored over time to diagnose and classify lesions.
Our employees are very active in the field of DCE MRI and have gained a vast experience regarding protocol-setups and data evaluation using pharmacokinetic modeling. We are glad to assist you in your project with the latest DCE-MRI techniques.
In clinical routine raw data are normally acquired line by line in a Cartesian fashion. However, alternative acquisition techniques exist, following a non-Cartesian acquisition trajectory, for example along radial or spiral patterns. These non-Cartesian images are more robust with respect to motion artifacts and imaging can be highly accelerated.
Especially in the areas of ASL and DCE MRI our team provides highly experienced researchers in the field of non-Cartesian sequence development. mediri is pleased to contribute with their expertise to your scientific project.
Reconstruction is the process of image generation from MR raw data as acquired by the scanner hardware.
We offer expertise in a wide range of advanced reconstruction techniques such as:
Schwaab J, Diez Y, Oliver A, Martí R, van Zelst J, Gubern-Mérida J, Bensouda Mourri A, Gregori J, Günther M, "Automated quality assessment in three-dimensional breast ultrasound images," J. Med. Imag. 3(2), 027002 (2016), doi: 10.1117/1.JMI.3.2.027002.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/1.JMI.3.2.027002Schwaab, J., Kurz, C., Sarti, C., Bongers, A., Schoenahl, F., Bert, C., et al. (2015): First steps towards ultrasound-based motion compensation for imaging and therapy: calibration with an optical system and 4D PET imaging. Frontiers in Oncology 5, S. 258
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4663279/Jenne, J. W., Schwaab, J. (2015): Ultrasound motion tracking for radiation therapy. In: Der Radiologe 2015/11, S. 984–991.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26438093Luca, V. de, Benz, T., Kondo, S., König, L., Lübke, D., Rothlübbers, S., et al. (2015): The 2014 liver ultrasound tracking benchmark. In Phys. Med. Biol. 60 (14), pp. 5571–5599.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26134417Corr, D., Weiler, F., Hoogenboom, M., van Amerongen, M. J., Fütterer, J., Dadakova, T., Bock, M., Günther, M., Jenne, J. W. (2015): Software-supported analysis of MRgFUS therapy outcome. Journal of Therapeutic Ultrasound 2015, 3(Suppl 1):P83
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4489607/
For more than 10 years mediri represents expertise in medical imaging. An experienced team offers one-stop services to partners from the pharmaceutical and medical sector. Services range from designing the imaging protocols over data management and analysis to mediri’s support of processes like secure electronic transfer of image data, computer-based quality asses and a central image read by board certified radiologists.
mediri GmbH
Eppelheimer Straße 13
69115 Heidelberg
E-Mail: info@mediri.com
+49 6221 725 6970
Fax: +49 6221 725 6979
