1. MRI was first developed in 1946 and has since evolved into a powerful non-invasive diagnostic tool known as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 2. In the early 1980s, researchers began exploring applications of MRI in cardiovascular medicine such as detecting structural abnormalities, tissue characterization, and evaluating patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. 3. A 1991 study demonstrated MRI's ability to correctly identify substantial coronary artery stenosis, and a 1993 study showed MRI could provide visualization of major epicardial vessels in a single breath-hold.