Title :
In Silico Modeling of Magnetic Resonance Flow Imaging in Complex Vascular Networks
Author :
Jurczuk, Krzysztof ; Kretowski, Marek ; Eliat, Pierre-Antoine ; Saint-Jalmes, Herve ; Bezy-Wendling, Johanne
Author_Institution :
Fac. of Comput. Sci., Bialystok Univ. of Technol., Bialystok, Poland
Abstract :
The paper presents a computational model of magnetic resonance (MR) flow imaging. The model consists of three components. The first component is used to generate complex vascular structures, while the second one provides blood flow characteristics in the generated vascular structures by the lattice Boltzmann method. The third component makes use of the generated vascular structures and flow characteristics to simulate MR flow imaging. To meet computational demands, parallel algorithms are applied in all the components. The proposed approach is verified in three stages. In the first stage, experimental validation is performed by an in vitro phantom. Then, the simulation possibilities of the model are shown. Flow and MR flow imaging in complex vascular structures are presented and evaluated. Finally, the computational performance is tested. Results show that the model is able to reproduce flow behavior in large vascular networks in a relatively short time. Moreover, simulated MR flow images are in accordance with the theoretical considerations and experimental images. The proposed approach is the first such an integrative solution in literature. Moreover, compared to previous works on flow and MR flow imaging, this approach distinguishes itself by its computational efficiency. Such a connection of anatomy, physiology and image formation in a single computer tool could provide an in silico solution to improving our understanding of the processes involved, either considered together or separately.
Keywords :
biomedical MRI; blood flow measurement; blood vessels; cardiovascular system; lattice Boltzmann methods; medical computing; parallel algorithms; physiological models; MR flow imaging; anatomy; blood flow characteristics; complex vascular networks; complex vascular structures; computational demands; computational efficiency; computational model; computational performance; experimental images; experimental validation; flow behavior; image formation; in silico modeling; in silico solution; in vitro phantom; integrative solution; large vascular networks; lattice Boltzmann method; magnetic resonance flow imaging; parallel algorithms; physiology; simulated MR flow images; single computer tool; Bifurcation; Blood; Computational modeling; Lattices; Magnetic resonance imaging; Program processors; Computational fluid dynamics (CFD); computational modeling; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); parallel computing; vascular network;
Journal_Title :
Medical Imaging, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TMI.2014.2336756