FAQs

MyoStrain is a new rapid and accurate MRI heart scan performed in under 10 minutes. It’s a first-of-its-kind heart health assessment that directly measures the heart’s ability to contract, which may help physicians to detect heart dysfunction early and may help them prevent adverse events before symptoms of heart damage occur. This is a transformative new approach to heart care, as it allows physicians to focus on optimizing your treatment and protecting the heart long-term.

Heart disease often goes unnoticed until symptoms occur. Most people don’t know they have a problem for months and even years until an adverse event occurs, a sign of irreversible damage on the heart. MyoStrain may help physicians detect the early signs that can lead to adverse cardiac events later in life. This opens cardiac care to early detection and prevention, where physicians deploy proactive treatment strategies to help prevent heart damage and protect the heart.

MyoStrain is available to those who want to know more about their heart health and are eligible for an MRI scan. Currently, MyoStrain is being used primarily to detect early asymptomatic heart dysfunction in patients who have risk factors commonly associated with heart disease, such as hypertension or diabetes, as well as recovered COVID-19 patients and cancer survivors.

The MyoStrain scan is a simple and straightforward procedure. First, a technologist will assist you into the scanner. MyoStrain will perform a twelve-heartbeat scan and collect 6 encoded images of your heart. MyoStrain will then analyze the images and generate a report. This report contains a MyoHealth score, which is a single number calculated based on the percentage of normally functioning heart tissue. A certified MyoStrain physician will then reach out to you afterwards to review your score and results.

MyoStrain provides a highly accurate and sensitive assessment that has been documented in more than 500 peer-reviewed publications. Studies show that MyoStrain is able to help physicians detect and proactively manage the early asymptomatic effects of diseases, drugs and treatments on the heart, and where traditional heart tests could not. Learn more

The average MyoStrain scan is complete in under 10 minutes.

MyoStrain is a safe and non-invasive procedure that is performed without the use of radiation, contrast agents, pharmacological stressors, needle injections, or breath holding. However, not everyone is eligible for an MRI scan. See who can undergo an MRI scan here.

After your MyoStrain scan, a certified MyoStrain physician will contact you to go over your scan results. Depending on your MyoHealth score, your certified MyoStrain physician may prescribe you with a personalized treatment plan and/or schedule a follow-up scan to monitor for any changes in your heart health.

Your MyoStrain report contains critical information about your heart health, including your personalized MyoHealth score, which used together with a certified physician's clinical judgement, provides actionable information to decide the best treatment plan for you.

The MyoHealth Score is a single number representing the percentage of your heart muscle that is functioning normally. It is calculated by dividing the number of normal segments by the total number of left-ventricular segments. This allows certified MyoStrain physician to track subtle changes in your heart health early and monitor the effectiveness of your treatment over time.

MyoStrain is typically covered by Medicare and may be covered by other major insurers. Depending on your plan, there may also be a co-pay to receive the scan.

MyoStrain measures the heart’s ability to contract effectively across 48 segments of the heart. If any individual segment is weak, or isn't contracting properly, doctors can identify the affected area quickly and start treating it before the issue spreads to other parts of the heart.  

MyoStrain was originally developed at Johns Hopkins University by Professor of Radiology Dr. Nael Osman, PhD. It was invented as a research tool to help monitor subtle changes in patient heart health over the course of a multi-year clinical trial (Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT00005487). Learn more

Yes, MyoStrain has undergone a rigorous validation process by the FDA and has received FDA 510(k) clearance as of February 2019. Learn more

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an advanced diagnostic imaging technique that uses powerful magnetic fields to produce high-resolution images of your body's soft tissue.

No, MRIs do not use X-rays or any form of ionizing radiation.

• Have a cardiac pacemaker
• Have a surgical implant, hearing aid, body monitor or some other implanted medical device
• Who have ever held a job in a metal-working industry or have been exposed to metallic dust, splinters
• Suffer from claustrophobia
• Weigh more than 300 pounds
• Are pregnant or think they might be