SIMULATION OF 2-DIMENSIONAL TAGGED MRI

MR tagging is a recent imaging development that, in cardiac applicatio ns, makes possible the tracking of points in the myocardium during the cardiac cycle. Researchers have developed semiautomated, computer-bas ed methods for analyzing tagged Images, but the images are complex and present a challenge to automated tracking systems, Simulation can pro vide an inexhaustible supply of images far testing and validation of t ag tracking software and preview the effect of parameter changes in ac quisition, SIMTAG is an interactive computer program that simulates tw o-dimensional tagged-MR experiments, The mathematic model used in the simulation and algorithms for simulating image noise and object deform ation are described, Examples of the use of simulated images in SPAMM parameter selection, a comparison of tag contrast in signal-averaged S PAMM and CSPAMM, and simulated images as test sets for tag-tracking so ftware are presented.