Electro-Mechanical Imaging of the Heart using Tagged MRI and ECG/MCG Arrays

We develop a computational framework for estimating simultaneously mechanical properties (active stress, passive elasticities, and mechanical activation time) and electrical properties (current density and electrical activation time.) First, we present a method for estimating the mechanical properties, active stress and passive elasticity modulus, of the in vivo heart using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tissue-tagging and intra-ventricular pressure measurements. Next, we present an algorithm for estimating the current density of the heart using electrocardiography (ECG) and magnetocardiography (MCG) sensor arrays. Finally, we present an inverse electro-mechanical model based on the excitation-contraction coupling and dynamic analysis which includes inertial forces and moving mesh. The proposed model has significant potential for studying the coupling effects in the whole heart.