Reference-based linear curve fitting for bolus arrival time estimation in 4D MRA and MR perfusion-weighted image...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Medical Imaging Analysis
• Hemodynamic Monitoring

Background:

• Bolus arrival time (BAT) from indicator dilution curves is a critical hemodynamic parameter.
• Direct BAT estimation is challenging, and existing parametric models lack clear physiological validation.
• A need exists for robust methods to accurately determine BAT from indicator dilution data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an indirect method for estimating BAT by incorporating patient-specific physiological information.
• To improve the precision and efficiency of BAT estimation compared to standard techniques.
• To develop a method that does not rely on assumptions about indicator dilution distribution.

Main Methods:

• Extraction of a patient-specific hemodynamic reference curve and its corresponding BAT.
• Linear fitting of the reference curve to the given signal curve.
• Transfer of the reference BAT to the signal curve using fitting parameters.

Main Results:

• Monte Carlo simulations validated the proposed method.
• Improved BAT estimation precision by up to 59% compared to standard methods.
• Reduced computation time for BAT estimation.

Conclusions:

• The indirect method effectively estimates BAT by leveraging physiological data implicitly.
• The approach offers enhanced precision and computational efficiency in hemodynamic monitoring.
• This method avoids the need for explicit assumptions regarding indicator dilution distributions.