Figure 7
Flow measurements. Left: Flow phantom. The custom-built phantom model consists of an interconnected system of plastic tubes contained within a water-filled bottle which is linked in a closed circuit to a CMR-compatible flow pump providing pulsatile flow. Middle: Qualitative assessment of flow exemplified with the Medtronic CoreValve® prosthesis using flow-sensitive phase-contrast cine CMR. Right: Flow curves integrated over time were obtained up and downstream of the stent-valve (arrows) using an ECG-triggered, velocity-encoded, through-plane phase-contrast sequence demonstrating a competent valve without relevant regurgitation.