3D Flow Compensated Interleaved EPI for Susceptibility Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) methods in magnetic resonance imaging require long scan times due to full flow compensations in multiple directions, leading to inefficiencies and artifacts from flowing tissues.
Innovation Solution
A fast susceptibility imaging method that performs flow compensations in the slice, phase, and frequency encoding directions for the central echo of multiple echoes in interleaved Echo Planar Imaging, using formulas to calculate first-order moments and collecting echo data with opposite polarity readout gradients to reduce phase oscillation and improve scan efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full flow compensations are performed in slice, phase, and frequency encoding directions for each echo, then flow artifacts are eliminated, but scan time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial flow compensation by performing full flow compensations (including slice, phase, and frequency encoding directions) only for the central echo, while using reduced or no flow compensation for peripheral echoes. This selective approach eliminates the most critical flow artifacts from the central region of interest while significantly reducing the computational and temporal overhead associated with full flow compensation across all echoes, thereby resolving the contradiction between artifact elimination and scan time reduction
2Reliability
If flow compensations are performed in all three directions for every echo, then motion artifacts are eliminated, but scan efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the echo train into a central echo and peripheral echoes, applying different flow compensation strategies to each segment. The central echo receives comprehensive flow compensation in all three directions (slice, phase, frequency encoding) to ensure high quality in the region of interest, while peripheral echoes receive reduced or no flow compensation. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high scan efficiency while still eliminating motion artifacts in the most critical imaging region
3Measurement precision
If traditional 3D fully flow-compensated T2* weighted gradient recalled echoes are used, then susceptibility-weighted imaging quality is improved, but acquisition time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing high-quality fully flow-compensated data only for the central echo where susceptibility-weighted imaging is most critical, while using lower-quality or uncompensated data for peripheral echoes. This approach maintains high susceptibility imaging quality in the region of interest while significantly reducing the total acquisition time by not applying the computationally intensive full flow compensation to all echoes
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a fast susceptibility imaging techniques for performing flow compensations in the slice, phase, and frequency encoding directions for the central echo of a plurality of echoes excited each time in interleaved echo planar imaging (iEPI). The echo data for which flow compensations have been performed may be collected, and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) performed for collected echo data. The fast susceptibility imaging techniques may reduce scan time.