High resolution spiral myocardial phase velocity mapping (PVM) of the entire cardiac cycle

Background Three-directional PVM is capable of measuring regional myocardial velocities. Current techniques use Cartesian k-space coverage, and navigator-gated high spatial and temporal resolution acquisitions are long [1,2]. In addition, they use prospective ECG-gating and analysis of the full cardiac cycle is not possible. The aim of this study is to develop a high temporal and spatial resolution PVM technique using efficient spiral k-space coverage and retrospective ECG-gating which will allow detailed analysis of the entire cardiac cycle, including atrial systole which accounts for 20-30% of leftventricular filling in healthy motion [3]