Imaging heart motion using harmonic phase MRI

Describes a new image processing technique for rapid analysis and visualization of tagged cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) images. The method is based on the use of isolated spectral peaks in spatial modulation of magnetization (SPAMM)-tagged magnetic resonance images. The authors call the calculated angle of the complex image corresponding to one of these peaks a harmonic phase (HARP) image and show that HARP images can be used to synthesize conventional tag lines, reconstruct displacement fields for small motions, and calculate two-dimensional (2-D) strain. The performance of this new approach is demonstrated using both real and simulated tagged MR images. Potential for use of HARP images in fast imaging techniques and three-dimensional (3-D) analyses are discussed.