  This study presents and validates a novel (non-ECG-triggered) MRI sequence
based on SPAtial Modulation of the Magnetization (SPAMM) to non-invasively
measure 3D (quasi-static) soft tissue deformations using only six acquisitions
(three static and three indentations). In current SPAMM tagged MRI approaches
data is typically constructed from many repeated motion cycles. This has so far
restricted its application to the measurement of highly repeatable and periodic
movements (e.g. cardiac deformation). In biomechanical applications where soft
tissue deformation is artificially induced, often by indentation, significant
repeatability constraints exist and, for clinical applications, discomfort and
health issues generally preclude a large number of repetitions.
