Visualization of moving fluid: quantitative analysis of blood flow velocity using MR imaging.

A new method for the measurement of blood flow using magnetic resonance imaging has been developed. The flow velocities are calculated from the distances that the fluid has moved. The distances are directly visualized by a new pulse sequence. In a phantom study, the measured flow rates showed very good correlation with actual flow rates of up to 20 l/min (3 m/sec). In a volunteer study, pulsatile flow velocities of a large artery were measured with electrocardiographic gating. The flow pattern of a cardiac cycle at the abdominal aorta is similar to that revealed by other methods of measurement, such as Doppler ultrasound. This method allows reasonably accurate quantitative analysis of blood flow in the large arteries.