Double Contrast Perfusion Imaging via Segmented Saturation Pulses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cardiac perfusion imaging techniques face challenges in detecting perfusion defects due to suboptimal saturation delay times, which limit contrast-to-noise ratio and result in high blood/myocardium signal ratios and dark rim artifacts, preventing effective diagnosis of coronary artery disease.
Innovation Solution
The method involves applying at least two saturation pulses during a cardiac cycle with different saturation time delays, allowing for simultaneous multi-slice imaging at various cardiac phases, thereby improving contrast and reducing the number of acquisition modules needed, while maintaining spatial coverage and providing dual-phase, dual-contrast data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single saturation pulse with short saturation delay time is used to cover multiple slices within a single heartbeat, then the acquisition time is reduced and multiple slices can be covered, but the contrast-to-noise ratio between healthy and unhealthy myocardium is decreased and dark rim artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single acquisition into multiple separate acquisitions, each with its own saturation pulse and optimized saturation delay time. This allows each acquisition to be tuned for optimal contrast-to-noise ratio while collectively covering multiple slices through the heart
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the time dimension by performing acquisitions across multiple heartbeats rather than confining all acquisitions to a single heartbeat. This enables longer saturation delay times to be used in each acquisition while still achieving complete coverage of multiple slices across the cardiac cycle
2Measurement precision
If a longer saturation delay time is used, then the contrast-to-noise ratio between healthy and unhealthy myocardium increases and dark rim artifacts are reduced, but the number of slices that can be covered within a single heartbeat is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the slice coverage across multiple heartbeats, with each heartbeat dedicated to acquiring a specific set of slices at optimized saturation delay times. This segmentation allows each acquisition to achieve optimal contrast-to-noise ratio while the collective set of acquisitions covers all required slices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the saturation delay time for each acquisition based on the specific slice location and cardiac phase being imaged. This dynamic optimization ensures that each acquisition is tuned for maximum contrast-to-noise ratio while maintaining efficient coverage of all slices across multiple heartbeats
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional two-dimensional acquisition schemes are used to acquire slices sequentially, then high spatial resolution images can be obtained, but the same slice location cannot be acquired at different cardiac phases more than once
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal acquisition framework that can handle both single-phase and multi-phase imaging requirements. The same imaging sequence and reconstruction algorithms can accommodate acquisitions at different cardiac phases for the same slice location, providing multi-functionality without sacrificing spatial resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the cardiac phase dimension to the traditional slice acquisition approach. By indexing slices not only by spatial location but also by cardiac phase timing, the system enables multiple acquisitions of the same slice at different cardiac phases while maintaining high spatial resolution through the original 2D imaging geometry
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the myocardial-to-defect contrast by 150% and decreases the blood-to-myocardium signal ratio by 60-80%, improving diagnostic accuracy for coronary artery disease.
Implementation Method 1
a saturation pulse is employed to saturate the signal. The saturation pulse is separated from a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) readout module that is used in the CMR perfusion imaging by a saturation delay time (TS), during which the magnetization recovers to baseline
Data Source
AI summary
The present techniques relate to a techniques for performing cardiac perfusion imaging in order to detect perfusion defects in the myocardium. The present techniques relate to methods for performing cardiac perfusion imaging by performing at least two image acquisitions using different, customizable saturation delay times, which improves the ability to detect defects.