Mathematical Development and Computational Analysis of Harmonic Phase-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (HARP-MRI) Based on Bloch Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Diffusion Model for Myocardial Motion

• Published in: Journal of medical systems 2017-10, Vol.41 (10), p.168-168, Article 168
• Main Authors: Dada, Michael O., Jayeoba, Babatunde, Awojoyogbe, Bamidele O., Uno, Uno E., Awe, Oluseyi E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algorithms; Boundary conditions; Cardiovascular disease; Carrier Proteins; Computation; Computational mathematics; Computer applications; Computer simulation; Cytokines; Deformation; Diffusion; Diffusion models; Education & Training; Emerging Technologies for Connected Health; Flow equations; Health care; Health Informatics; Health Sciences; Heart; Humans; Image analysis; Image processing; Imaging techniques; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetization; Marking; Mathematical models; Medical diagnosis; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Myocardial Contraction; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Physics; Polar coordinates; Resonance; Spherical waves; Statistics for Life Sciences
• ISSN: 0148-5598; 1573-689X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10916-017-0816-2

Harmonic Phase-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (HARP-MRI) is a tagged image analysis method that can measure myocardial motion and strain in near real-time and is considered a potential candidate to make magnetic resonance tagging clinically viable. However, analytical expressions of radially tagged transverse magnetization in polar coordinates (which is required to appropriately describe the shape of the heart) have not been explored because the physics required to directly connect myocardial deformation of tagged Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) transverse magnetization in polar geometry and the appropriate harmonic phase parameters are not yet available. The analytical solution of Bloch NMR diffusion equation in spherical geometry with appropriate spherical wave tagging function is important for proper analysis and monitoring of heart systolic and diastolic deformation with relevant boundary conditions. In this study, we applied Harmonic Phase MRI method to compute the difference between tagged and untagged NMR transverse magnetization based on the Bloch NMR diffusion equation and obtained radial wave tagging function for analysis of myocardial motion. The analytical solution of the Bloch NMR equations and the computational simulation of myocardial motion as developed in this study are intended to significantly improve healthcare for accurate diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cardiovascular related deceases at the lowest cost because MRI scan is still one of the most expensive anywhere. The analysis is fundamental and significant because all Magnetic Resonance Imaging techniques are based on the Bloch NMR flow equations.