Method for fully automated quantitative analysis of arterial flow using flow-sensitized MR images

While the recent developments in the velocity-sensitive MR imaging offer great potential for non-invasive assessment of blood how in major blood vessels, the clinical applications of this technique have been hampered by tedious, human-assisted data processing techniques. In this paper, we describe a robust system for automated extraction of quantitative as well as qualitative flow information from velocity-sensitive, phase contrast MR images. The algorithm accomplishes reliable segmentation of blood vessels using multiresolution analysis based on wavelet transform, and employs a multivariate scoring criterion to minimize the impact of imaging artifacts such as partial volume averaging and flow turbulence, which normally cause incomplete or inaccurate detection of vascular boundaries. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.