Exploring new dimensions in cardiovascular flow and motion: application of Bloch NMR flow equations, Bessel and spherical harmonic functions

✍ Scribed by Bamidele O Awojoyogbe

• Book ID: 104499495
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Year: 2012
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 84 KB
• Volume: 14
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1097-6647
• DOI: 10.1186/1532-429x-14-s1-w28

✦ Synopsis

Biological tissues are complex system that contains a variety of liquid components, macromolecules and ions. They are highly heterogeneous media that consist of various compartments and barriers of different diffusivities. In terms of its cyto-histologic architecture, a tissue can be regarded as a porous structure made up of a set of more or less connected compartments in a networklike arrangement. Since molecular motion of water is significantly affected by macromolecules, the variation in the relaxation times between tissues is attributed to the effect of macromolecular interaction. The movement of water molecules during diffusion-driven random displacement is restricted by compartmental boundaries and other molecular obstacle in such a way that the actual diffusion distance is reduced, compare with what is expected in unrestricted diffusion. In this study, based on the new NMR diffusion equation, Bessel functions and the spherical harmonic functions, we present an analysis of diffusing blood component by monitoring its NMR signal emitted at its unique resonant frequency. This view can be very important in the study of pathologies such as sickle cell anemia and finding a treatment to the genetic disorder. This is because, we may be able to visualize blood vessels pores that are blocked by the sickle cell and find out the factor that makes the erythrocytes rigid. It is expected that the diamagnetic property of the oxyhemoglobin that makes it difficult to deliver the oxygen on it would be very useful here. Hence, a very slowly decaying signal or non -decaying signal could be the indication of some form of problem with the vessel.