A Research Triangle Park company that has developed technology to improve cardiac magnetic resonance testing has raised $5 million in a private equity offering, according to a filing Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Myocardial Solutions Inc., which is based in Morrisville, raised the money from 37 investors, according to the filing.

The company is using software to develop applications for MRI scanners to improve speed, ease and patient experience in order to enhance the clinical utility of cardiac magnetic resonance testing.

Myocardial says its software enables fast image capture and quantitative processing for CMR strain testing through a proprietary algorithm.

By improving existing cardiac exams’ processing speed and objectivity in image interpretation, the company says it may enhance the clinical utility of CMR testing in two important markets:

1. Strain testing is measuring changes in cardiac wall motion to help detect effects of disease and drug toxicity on the heart before patients present with symptoms of heart failure; and
2. By utilizing and comparing strain testing on a relaxed and stressed heart, physicians can detect changes in heart function to potentially identify blood vessel restrictions caused by coronary artery disease.

The technology has been used globally in over 70 major medical research centers.

The company, which was founded in January 2016, completed an initial funding round of $4 million in June 2016.

The technology was developed by Dr. Nael Osman, a radiology professor at Johns Hopkins Medical Center and a founder of Myocardial Solutions.

Companies relying on a Reg D exemption do not have to register their offering of securities with the SEC, but they must file what’s known as a Form D electronically with the SEC after they first sell their securities.