Fat Suppression Pulse Flip Angle Optimization for MRI Contrast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques face challenges in achieving optimal image contrast without increasing the number of fat-suppression pulses, which can prolong scanning time and affect image quality.
Innovation Solution
A data acquisition device and method that exert a fat-suppression pulse to suppress initial fat signals to a negative value, allowing intermediate echo data to remain within a preset threshold close to zero, and utilize an RF pulse train and phase encoding gradients to fill echo data into a K-space in a linear filling mode, with the flip angle of the fat-suppression pulse calculated to maintain optimal fat signal suppression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional fat suppression methods are used to suppress fat signals, then image contrast is improved, but scanning time is prolonged and image quality is affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the fat suppression pulse flip angle from the traditional fixed 90 degrees to an optimized range of 150-170 degrees. This parameter optimization allows effective fat signal suppression while reducing the number of required suppression pulses, thereby shortening scanning time and improving overall image quality without sacrificing contrast
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by applying a fat suppression pulse at the beginning of the echo train before signal degradation occurs. This initial suppression, combined with the optimized flip angle, maintains fat signal suppression throughout the echo train, eliminating the need for multiple subsequent suppression pulses and reducing total scanning time
2Manufacturing precision
If the number of fat-suppression pulses is increased to improve fat suppression effect, then fat signal suppression is enhanced, but scanning time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the flip angle parameter to 150-170 degrees, which provides superior fat signal suppression efficiency compared to the traditional 90-degree pulse. This optimized parameter achieves better fat suppression with fewer pulses, directly reducing scanning time while maintaining or improving fat suppression effect
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a single fat suppression pulse with an optimized flip angle that produces sufficient suppression effect, rather than applying multiple standard pulses. This partial action (single pulse) achieves the desired fat suppression effect more efficiently, avoiding the time cost of multiple pulses
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 image contrast by effectively suppressing fat signals, improving the fat suppression effect compared to traditional methods, while reducing the number of fat-suppression pulses required, thus balancing scanning time and image quality.
Implementation Method 1
MRI is a technique using the magnetic resonance phenomenon for imaging. The principle of magnetic resonance imaging is mainly as follows: For an atomic nucleus containing an odd number of protons, for example, the hydrogen atomic nucleus widely existing in human bodies, the protons spin like a small magnet
Implementation Method 2
RF pulses having a specific frequency are used to excite the nucleus in the external magnetic field so that the spin axis of the nucleus deviates from the positive longitudinal axis or negative longitudinal axis to produce a resonance. This is called a magnetic resonance phenomenon
Implementation Method 3
After the emission of RF pulses is stopped, the excited atomic nucleus emits echo signals and releases the absorbed energy in the form of electromagnetic waves, and the phase and the energy level are both recovered to the state before excitation. After further processing, such as space encoding, of echo signals emitted by the atomic nucleus, an image can be reconstructed. The process of the recovery of the excited atomic nucleus to the state before excitation is called relaxation process
Data Source
AI summary
The data acquisition device may include a fat-suppression pulse exertion module configured to exert a fat-suppression pulse on an imaging area at set intervals, the fat-suppression pulse being able to suppress an initial fat signal to a negative value and keep the fat signal corresponding to the intermediate echo datum of the echo data collected between two fat-suppression pulses within [0, a], and a being a preset threshold close to 0, and an excitation and acquisition module, configured to exert a radio frequency pulse train and a series of phase encoding gradients after each fat-suppression pulse, collect the corresponding echo data, and fill the echo data into K-space in linear filling mode.