Image analysis of left ventricle wall motion by MRI tagging

We have developed a left-ventricular (LV) wall motion analysis method and a display method of the LV wall motion. To know the precise wall motion, such as its rotation or deformity, identifiable landmarks must be located on the heart. MRI tagging makes it possible to estimate the regional wall motion non-invasively. Tagging is achieved by the selective saturation pulse method. We tried to estimate the precise LV wall motion by MRI tagging. The difference in the signal intensity between the tagged and non-tagged regions persisted for 400-700 ms. We displayed the tag-point movement of the LV wall as an animation.