title: AnalyzeNNLS: magnetic resonance multiexponential decay image analysis.
abstract: Exponential decays are fundamental to magnetic resonance imaging, yet adequately sampling and analyzing multiexponential decays is rarely attempted. The advantage of multiexponential analysis is the quantification of sub-voxel structure caused by water compartmentalization, with application as a non-invasive imaging biomarker for myelin. We have developed AnalyzeNNLS, software designed specifically for multiexponential decay image analysis that has a user-friendly graphical user interface and can analyze data from many MR manufacturers. AnalyzeNNLS is a simple, platform independent analysis tool that was created using the extensive mathematical and visualization libraries in Matlab, and released as open source code allowing scientists to evaluate, scrutinize, improve, and expand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. thor.bjarnason@coolth.ca
authors.forename: Thorarin A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bjarnason
authors.forename: J Ross
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011381:Programming Languages; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012984:Software; D012986:Software Validation