K-space Echo Data Population Order for MRI Image Sharpness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, such as single-shot fast spin echo (SSFSE) sequences, face challenges with image quality due to signal amplitude variations across echoes, leading to image blurs and poor contrast, particularly at image edges.
Innovation Solution
A method involving populating echo data into K-space with opposite orders for each set of echo data acquired from multiple excitations, followed by calculating and shifting the central echo position to improve image reconstruction, thereby enhancing image sharpness and reducing signal amplitude differences across the K-space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fast spin echo sequences are used for rapid data acquisition, then imaging speed is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to signal amplitude variations causing blurs and poor contrast
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies opposite K-space populating orders for different echo data sets. Specifically, even-numbered echo data is populated from the center of K-space toward one edge, while odd-numbered echo data is populated from the center toward the opposite edge. This inversion approach equalizes signal amplitude distribution across K-space, eliminating the blur and contrast problems that normally accompany fast spin echo imaging.
2Ease of operation
If echoes are populated sequentially in the same order to K-space, then data acquisition is simplified, but image edges suffer from poor contrast and blurs due to signal amplitude differences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces opposite populating directions for different echo data sets. Even-numbered echoes are populated from the K-space center toward one edge, while odd-numbered echoes are populated from the center toward the opposite edge. This inversion equalizes signal amplitude distribution, significantly improving image edge quality and reducing blurs while maintaining operational simplicity.
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 results in improved image sharpness and reduced blurs, especially at image edges, by averaging echo amplitudes and adjusting echo positions, leading to clearer and more accurately reconstructed MRI images.
Implementation Method 1
nuclear spins associated with hydrogen nuclei in human tissue are polarized, so that the tissue of the part to be imaged generates a longitudinal magnetization vector at a macroscopic level
Implementation Method 2
After a radio-frequency field B1 intersecting the direction of the main magnetic field B0 is applied, the rotation direction of protons changes so that the tissue of the part to be imaged generates a transverse magnetization vector at a macroscopic level
Implementation Method 3
After the radio-frequency field B1 is removed, the transverse magnetization vector decays in a spiral manner until it is restored to zero. A free induction decay signal is generated during decay.
Implementation Method 4
A gradient system is configured to transmit a layer selection gradient pulse, a phase-coded gradient pulse, and a frequency-coded gradient pulse (also referred to as a read-out gradient pulse) to provide three-dimensional position information for the aforementioned magnetic resonance signal
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for acquiring and processing magnetic resonance data, a magnetic resonance imaging system and method, and a computer-readable storage medium. The method for acquiring and processing magnetic resonance data comprises: populating, to a K-space, a plurality of sets of echo data acquired from a plurality of excitations of a tissue to be imaged, wherein at least two of the plurality of sets of echo data have opposite K-space populating orders; and reconstructing an image based on the echo data populated to the K-space.