Strain–encoded magnetic resonance imaging (SENC-MRI) is a

magnetic resonance imaging Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio wave ...

technique for imaging the strain of deforming tissue. It is undergoing testing to diagnose some

heart diseases Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, hea ...

, particularly congenital

right ventricle A ventricle is one of two large chambers toward the bottom of the heart that collect and expel blood towards the peripheral beds within the body and lungs. The blood pumped by a ventricle is supplied by an atrium, an adjacent chamber in the upper ...

dysfunctions, which are difficult to diagnose. It is an improvement on

magnetic resonance elastography Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is a form of elastography that specifically leverages Magnetic resonance imaging, MRI to quantify and subsequently map the mechanical properties (Elasticity (physics), elasticity or stiffness) of soft tissue. F ...

in that it has a faster imaging time, and less post-processing time, to turn the acquired data into a useful image. To use the technique, the gradient coils in the MRI equipment need to be driven with special pulse sequences, designed for specific tissues, that "tags" deformation of the tissue, such that tissue that deforms more is brighter, or darker, as needed. Using a baseline measurement of normal deformation, the measurements can show unusual amounts of pressure a tissue is exposed to, or indicate that the tissue is unusually stiff or flexible, in either case potentially revealing a pathology. Inventors of the technique, Nael Osman and Jerry Prince, co-founded a company called DiagnoSoft to get regulatory approval for software enabling this technique and others from their academic lab, and make them available to doctors and patients.Diagnosoft Press Release. January 30, 200
Diagnosoft(R) Introduces Its Third MRI Analysis Innovation
/ref>

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Strain Encoding Mri Cardiac imaging Magnetic resonance imaging Medical imaging

See also

References