Synchronize AIF

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Synchronize the Arterial Input Function (AIF) by identifying the difference in Bolus Arrival Time (BAT) between the dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) dataset and a template AIF.

The AIF represents the concentration of contrast agent in the blood plasma over time and plays a critical role in quantitative DCE-MRI analysis. However, misalignment between the AIF and the tissue enhancement curves will cause errors in the analysis. This node corrects for these discrepancies by determining the optimal temporal shift required for synchronization, ensuring accurate pharmacokinetic modeling and quantification.

Inputs

AIF

Arterial Input Function (AIF) table that requires synchronization.

Type: Table, Required, Single

Time Series

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI time series data used as the reference for AIF synchronization.

Type: Image, Required, Single

Mask

Optional mask defining the region of interest within the time series that is used for synchronization.

Type: Mask, Optional, Single

Outputs

AIF

The synchronized Arterial Input Function (AIF), adjusted based on the estimated shift in BAT.

Type: Table

ΔBAT

The computed shift in the bolus arrival time (BAT) necessary for synchronization.

Type: Numeric Array

Sync. Plot

Plot data illustrating the synchronization between the AIF and the time series data.

Type: Table

Settings

Match Duration [s] Float

Defines the duration over which the AIF and time series are compared for synchronization.

Time step [s] Float

Specifies the time step size used for assessing synchronization shifts.

Search Interval [s] Float

Defines the range of time shifts (in seconds) over which the synchronization optimization is performed.