Strain encoded imaging (SENC) is a very robust and unique approach to the problem of imaging regional function in the heart.

SENC is built on the concept of tagged magnetic imaging, but requires a dramatic change of perspective when thinking about its geometry. Whereas HARP relies on tagged MR images that encode both “horizontal” and “vertical” in-plane motions, SENC encodes the through-plane direction—the direction that is perpendicular to both the horizontal and vertical directions. Because the encoding direction is exactly perpendicular to the imaging plane, it is not possible to visually assess either the motion or the mechanical strain from SENC images. Computer processing is required to yield the through-plane strain. It is also straightforward to acquire both tagged MR images and SENC images in order to obtain regional information about cardiac function in all three directions. The information is complementary, not equivalent. In fact, there are other differences in the data. Because of the nature and relationships of the harmonic peaks in Fourier space, SENC strain images are inherently of higher spatial resolution than HARP strain images. Therefore, SENC is better for the visual and quantitative analysis of the right ventricle, which has much thinner wall than the left ventricle. On the other hand SENC is not capable of tracking the motion (it measures strain without actually measuring the motion), so it cannot be directly used for computing quantities such as rotation and twisting.

Diagnosoft, Inc. is the sole source for patented and patent-pending HARP and SENC technologies. Diagnosoft’s products can rapidly, reliably, and accurately analyze tagged MR images using HARP and SENC images to obtain all motion and motion-related quantities. Resulting information is organized in conventional bulls-eye plots and temporal plots over the cardiac cycle in order to study and quantify regional cardiac function. These results can be visualized together with other acquired data such as perfusion, delayed enhancement, and cine in order to fully characterize cardiac performance and the overall condition of the heart.