3D reconstruction of microvasculature in MRI using magnetic microparticles

In MRI, magnetic microparticles induce a perturbation in the local magnetic field homogeneity in a much larger scale than their real size. While the ability to visualize microstructures using clinical imaging modalities remains to be improved, this concept initiates an approach for microvasculature visualization. An algorithm for 3D reconstruction of a microvascular network is presented. To evaluate the algorithm, magnetic microparticles were released in an unknown simulated microvascular network. The microparticles were scanned in different slices and at time intervals equal to the temporal resolution of the system. By recording the X, Y, and Z coordinates of the particles, points were generated to reconstruct their travel trajectory through the different bifurcations.