Method for quantitatively mapping myocardial contractile function with magnetic resonance based multiparametric strain analysis

A method for producing an image indicative of myocardial contractile function with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the steps comprising:

• a) acquiring, with the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, image data of a subject's heart;
• b) reconstructing images from acquired image data;
• c) calculating, from reconstructed images, a plurality of strain values at each of a plurality of points in the subject's heart;
• d) producing a normalized set of strain values by normalizing calculated strain values using values in a stored reference heart model, wherein the stored reference heart model includes, for each of the plurality of points in the subject's heart, a mean strain value (μ) and a standard deviation value (σ) for each of the plurality of strain values, and wherein the mean strain values (μ) and the standard deviation values (σ) are calculated using strain values from a plurality of other subjects having normal myocardial contractile function such that a normalization is performed relative to the plurality of other subjects having normal myocardial contractile function;
• e) repeating steps a) through d) to produce a second set of normalized strain values;
• f) combining the first set of normalized strain values at each of the plurality of points in the subject's heart to produce a first set of multiparametric strain indices;
• g) combining the second set of normalized strain values at each of the plurality of points in the subject's heart to produce a second set of multiparametric strain indices;
• and
• h) producing an image using two sets of normalized strain values that is indicative of the change in myocardial contractile function.