AxonPacking

AxonPacking simulates white matter axon arrangements to model microstructural parameters (fiber volume fraction, myelin volume fraction, and fraction of restricted water) for quantitative MRI studies.

Key Features:

• Novel Disk Packing Algorithm: Implements a disk packing algorithm that optimizes axon placement while accounting for myelin sheaths to generate realistic packed fiber geometries.
• Reproducibility and Stability: Demonstrates reproducibility across 50 runs with axon density standard deviation < 10^-3 and achieves observed packing density ≈ 0.892 versus theoretical 0.907.
• Adaptability: Enables exploration of axon densities and diameter distributions and their effects on FVF, MVF, and f_r consistent with histological data.
• Validation Against Theoretical Models: Validated against theoretical disk packing problems to confirm accuracy of packing densities.

Scientific Applications:

• Validating Diffusion Models: Provides synthetic microstructures for testing and refining diffusion MRI models using controlled axon geometries.
• Evaluating qMRI Methods: Enables assessment of quantitative MRI techniques by simulating how changes in FVF, MVF, and f_r affect MR signal properties.
• Studying Clinical Applications: Supports investigation of white matter microstructural alterations relevant to neurological disease by simulating variable axon and myelin configurations.

Methodology:

Uses a disk packing algorithm and validation against theoretical disk packing problems, with reproducibility evaluated across 50 runs.