System and Method for Generating Spatial Maps of Mechanical Parameters Using Graph-Cut Based Optimization

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprising:

• a magnet system configured to generate a polarizing magnetic field about at least a portion of a subject;
• a plurality of gradient coils configured to apply a gradient field to the polarizing magnetic field;
• a radio frequency (RF) system configured to apply an excitation field to the subject and acquire MR image data therefrom;
• a driver system configured to deliver an oscillatory stress to the subject to, thereby, direct a mechanical wave through the subject;
• a computer system programmed to:
• a) control the driver system to deliver the oscillatory stress;
• b) control the RF system and the gradient coils to acquire a magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) data set while the oscillatory stress is being delivered;
• c) estimate a first temporal harmonic signal to generate an estimated harmonic signal using the MRE data set and a graph-cut based optimization strategy;
• and
• d) generate a spatial map of a mechanical parameter using the estimated harmonic signal.