A diffusion tensor imaging tractography algorithm based on Navier-Stokes fluid mechanics

We introduce a method for estimating regional connectivity in diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI) based on a fluid mechanics model. We customize the Navier-Stokes equations to include information from the diffusion tensor and simulate an artificial fluid flow. The velocity vector field of this fluid construct is then used as a connectivity metric. We generate probable connection paths by maximizing the fluid velocity along a path between two regions of interest while constraining its bending energy. Our method is based on a second-order nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE) and incorporates local anisotropy and similarity measurements into a viscosity term, which extends previous linear first-order methods. We tested our algorithm on a digital DTI phantom. Our method was able to correctly segment the structure of the phantom with various levels of noise, despite local distortion of the image pattern. We applied our method to DTI volumes from a normal human sub...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: ISBI
• Authors: Nathan S. Hageman, David W. Shattuck, Katherine Narr, Arthur W. Toga
• Keywords: Fluid Velocity Field, ISBI 2006, Medical Imaging, Method Produced Paths, Order Pde Method