MR Echo Train Length Adaptation for Complete K-Space Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In magnetic resonance imaging, existing methods often incompletely acquire k-space points with the last echo train, leading to inefficiencies and quality issues in MR data acquisition, particularly when the total number of phase coding steps does not correspond to a whole number multiple of the echo train length.
Innovation Solution
The method involves adjusting the echo train length and/or the total number of phase coding steps to ensure they correspond to a whole number multiple, allowing for complete acquisition of k-space points, with the option to reduce phase coding steps and omit those far from the center of k-space, which have less impact on image quality, and implementing radial scanning to maintain uniformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the total number of phase coding steps is not adapted to the echo train length, then the acquisition process is simpler, but the last echo train acquires only a few k-space points leading to incomplete data acquisition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adapts the total number of phase coding steps to correspond to a whole number multiple of the echo train length. This parameter adjustment ensures that all echo trains, including the last one, acquire a complete set of k-space points, thereby eliminating incomplete data acquisition while maintaining a structured and manageable acquisition process.
2Speed
If the echo train length is increased to cover more k-space points, then the acquisition speed improves, but the number of required echo trains decreases leading to potential incomplete acquisition in the final train
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the echo train length and total phase coding steps to ensure that the total number of phase coding steps is a whole number multiple of the echo train length. This ensures that each echo train, regardless of the optimized length, acquires a complete set of k-space points, maintaining both high acquisition speed and reliable complete data acquisition.
3Productivity
If phase coding steps are reduced to match whole number multiples of echo train length, then the acquisition efficiency improves, but some k-space points far from the center are omitted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the principle of local quality by selectively omitting phase coding steps that correspond to k-space points far from the center. Since peripheral k-space points have less impact on overall image quality, this selective omission maintains high acquisition efficiency while preserving the essential image quality determined by central k-space points.
4Manufacturing precision
If radial scanning is implemented to maintain uniformity in k-space coverage, then the distribution of acquired points improves, but the complexity of the scanning pattern increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs radial scanning, which follows a curved pattern through k-space, to achieve uniform distribution of acquired k-space points. This curved scanning approach ensures that points are evenly distributed throughout k-space, improving coverage uniformity while the systematic radial pattern keeps the implementation manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) system to acquire MR data in a predetermined volume segment of an examination subject, the data are acquired with at least one echo train that includes at least two signal echoes. The same number of echoes is acquired for each echo train of the at least one echo train, with this number of echoes corresponding to an echo train length. The total number of echoes that are required to acquire the MR data and the echo train length is adapted so that the total number corresponds to a whole number multiple of the echo train length.