Patent ID: 9176211
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: A61B,G01R

Abstract:
1. A method for producing an image indicative of myocardial contractile function with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the steps comprising: a) acquiring, with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, image data of a subject's heart; b) reconstructing images from acquired image data; c) calculating, from reconstructed images, a plurality of strain values at each of a plurality of points in the subject's heart; d) normalizing calculated strain values using values in a stored reference heart model, wherein the stored reference heart model includes, for each of the plurality of points in the subject's heart, a mean strain value (μ) and a standard deviation value (σ) for each of the plurality of strain values, and wherein the mean strain values (μ) and the standard deviation values (σ) are calculated using strain values from a plurality of other subjects having normal myocardial contractile function such that a normalization is performed relative to the plurality of other subjects having normal myocardial contractile function; e) producing from normalized strain values an image indicative of myocardial contractile function; and f) combining normalized strain values at each of the plurality of points in the subject's heart to produce a multiparametric strain index for each point of the plurality of points in the subject's heart.