Towards high temporal and spatial resolution cardiac imaging with parallel MRI

High temporal resolution cardiac MRI studies can potentially provide detailed information about cardiac motion, including during the early phases of systolic contraction and diastolic relaxation. Such information could be useful for evaluating local mechanical dyssynchrony or studying valvular function. Mechanical dyssynchrony has been shown to be a better indicator of electrical dyssynchrony in the setting of chronic heart failure than the conventionally used indicator, the elongated QRS complex. On the other hand, very high temporal resolution flow imaging may prove to be very useful for evaluating valvular dynamics, and for studying flow patterns in the cardiac chambers