Carla S. Gil1, Stephen D. Meredith1, Adrianus J. Bakermans2, Bastian J. Nierop2, Gustav J. Strijkers2, Hans C. van Assen3, Niall C. Colgan4, Kathleen M. Curran1
1School of Medicine & Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; 2Biomedical NMR, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands; 3Biomedical Image Analysis, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, Netherlands; 4College of Medicine, Swansea University, Wales, United Kingdom
The aim of this study is to link cardiac functional and structural properties. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is the best method to study myocardial fiber architecture, while tagged MRI is the best tool to measure local deformation of the myocardium. Here, we report for the first time, a preliminary study that aims at combining information of the myocardial fiber structure and its mechanical properties, such as circumferential, radial, shear and principal strains. Our analysis shows a correlation between left ventricular deformation and fiber architecture for normal datasets.