Innovative MRI and NASA-inspired Negative-Pressure Pants Enhance Heart Stress Testing and Detect Hidden Heart Issues

Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington have developed groundbreaking advancements in cardiac stress testing using MRI technology combined with NASA-inspired lower body negative-pressure pants. This innovative approach, inspired by the gear astronauts wear to simulate gravity, aims to improve the accuracy of stress tests and uncover hidden heart problems that traditional methods may miss.

During exercise stress tests inside MRI machines, patients typically lie flat, causing increased blood flow back to the heart due to the absence of gravity’s pull. This can artificially enhance the heart's perceived performance, making it challenging for clinicians to distinguish between healthy and compromised cardiac function. To address this, Dr. Michael Nelson and his team introduced negative-pressure pants that mimic gravity’s effects by pulling blood downward, similar to standing up. This allows for a more realistic assessment of heart function under stress.

These pants are part of a patent-pending technology that has the potential to revolutionize heart imaging. Dr. Nelson emphasizes, "We’ve completely changed how exercise cardiac MRI is conducted. In my opinion, incorporating these pants should become standard practice for stress testing."

In addition to improving stress tests, the team has pioneered a non-invasive MRI technique to measure venous oxygen levels—an essential indicator of how well the body extracts oxygen during exercise—without invasive catheter insertion. Previously, obtaining this data required inserting a catheter into the vena cava, which involved risks and discomfort. The new method leverages MRI to deliver accurate oxygen extraction metrics, which, when combined with cardiac output data, allow for precise calculation of oxygen consumption during physical activity.

This comprehensive approach helps predict future health risks and understands exercise intolerance—an issue affecting daily functioning and overall health. The advancements are supported by the recent opening of UTA’s $6.2 million Clinical Imaging Research Center, equipped with state-of-the-art MRI machines capable of conducting exercise-based studies safely and effectively.

The significance of these innovations lies in their non-invasive nature, safety, and high repeatability, making them ideal for frequent assessments. Dr. Mark Haykowsky notes, "Since MRI poses no ionizing radiation risk, we could theoretically perform these stress tests daily or monthly, providing continuous monitoring for patients."

Ultimately, this research aims to improve the understanding of why certain individuals experience exercise limitations, whether due to cardiac issues, muscle problems, or both. By identifying specific causes non-invasively, clinicians can devise targeted therapies to enhance quality of life and longevity.

For more detailed insights, refer to the studies published in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology and the European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging, highlighting the validation and first-in-man proof-of-concept of these cutting-edge techniques.