Cardiovascular Research

Cardiac DENSE Imaging

Abbas Moghaddam, Nikoo Saber

DENSE MRI is a new phase contrast method that provides a 3D Lagrangian frame work for analysis of myocardial deformation. In contrast with MR Tagging, which is affected by tag fading and provides only the in-plane Lagrangian displacement, DENSE has a higher spatial and temporal resolution (almost 1 mm and 10 ms respectively) and is able to image the entire cardiac cycle. However, DENSE is time consuming and therefore the full potential of this novel method has not been revealed. Some of efforts we have done in this field are as below:

• combination of Short Axis (S.A) and Long Axis (L.A) images that provides a more comprehensive data from DENSE MRI in 20 to 40% shorter time. <SA_LA.jpg>
• demonstration of the sequential initiation of myocardial strain as well as heterogeneous contraction patterns across the ventricle wall based on a single slice long axis DENSE MRI of a beagle heart for the whole cardiac cycle. <Media:Example.ogg>
• measurement of mechanical deformations in the cardiac wall through parameters like torsion along the long axis, thickening and shortening indices, principal strain and total deformation values.