IN-VITRO VALIDATION OF RAPID MR MEASUREMENT OF WAVE VELOCITY

A one-dimensional time-of-flight MR sequence, having a total acquisiti on time of approximately 60 ms, has been employed to determine flow-wa ve propagation velocities for pulsatile flow in compliant latex tubes. The results were compared with those of two independent methods and w ere found to be in good agreement. An extension of the same MR method was used to test the validity of the ''water-hammer'' relationship as a means to assess pulse pressure. Very good agreement was found with d irect manometric determinations of pulse pressure. (C) 1997 Academic P ress.