Validation of SPAMM Tagged MRI Based Measurement of 3D Soft Tissue Deformation

TL;DR

This paper introduces and validates a new MRI sequence based on SPAMM for non-invasively measuring 3D soft tissue deformation with minimal acquisitions, overcoming limitations of previous methods that required repetitive motion cycles.

Contribution

A novel non-ECG-triggered SPAMM MRI sequence enabling efficient 3D soft tissue deformation measurement with only six acquisitions, suitable for biomechanical and clinical applications.

Findings

Validated the new MRI sequence against existing methods.

Achieved accurate 3D deformation measurements with minimal acquisitions.

Reduced patient discomfort and increased applicability in clinical settings.

Abstract

This study presents and validates a novel (non-ECG-triggered) MRI sequence based on SPAtial Modulation of the Magnetization (SPAMM) to non-invasively measure 3D (quasi-static) soft tissue deformations using only six acquisitions (three static and three indentations). In current SPAMM tagged MRI approaches data is typically constructed from many repeated motion cycles. This has so far restricted its application to the measurement of highly repeatable and periodic movements (e.g. cardiac deformation). In biomechanical applications where soft tissue deformation is artificially induced, often by indentation, significant repeatability constraints exist and, for clinical applications, discomfort and health issues generally preclude a large number of repetitions.