Magnetic Resonance Vessel Wall Imaging with Uniform CSF Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging techniques, such as the combination of SPACE and DANTE, face challenges in uniformly suppressing cerebrospinal fluid signals, which affects the precision of intracranial and carotid artery plaque imaging, leading to suboptimal vessel wall visualization.
Innovation Solution
A modified pulse sequence incorporating a Delay Alternating with Nutation for Tailored Excitation (DANTE) pulse train, a variable flip angle train of three-dimensional fast spin echo (SPACE), and a flip-down pulse train is applied to uniformly suppress cerebrospinal fluid signals, enhancing image quality by improving signal-to-noise ratio and contrast between vessel walls and cerebrospinal fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the combination of SPACE and DANTE techniques is used to suppress cerebrospinal fluid signals, then blood flow suppression advantage is maintained, but the suppression of cerebrospinal fluid signals is non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines three techniques (DANTE, SPACE, and flip-down) into a unified pulse sequence that integrates the blood flow suppression advantage of DANTE with the cerebrospinal fluid suppression capability of flip-down, while maintaining the high image quality of SPACE. This merged approach resolves the contradiction by achieving both uniform cerebrospinal fluid suppression and blood flow suppression simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the pulse sequence parameters by introducing a flip-down module with specific timing and amplitude characteristics. The flip-down gradient parameters are optimized to achieve uniform cerebrospinal fluid signal suppression across different regions, while the DANTE parameters are preserved to maintain blood flow suppression effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If DANTE technique is used to suppress blood flow signals, then blood flow suppression is effective, but cerebrospinal fluid signal suppression becomes non-uniform
Solution Approach 1:
The flip-down module acts as an intermediary that compensates for the non-uniform cerebrospinal fluid suppression caused by DANTE. The flip-down gradient is applied as an intermediate step between DANTE and SPACE, specifically targeting cerebrospinal fluid signals in regions where DANTE suppression is insufficient, thereby restoring uniformity without affecting blood flow suppression.
3Productivity
If SPACE technique is used for high image acquisition efficiency, then scanning time is reduced, but blood flow artifacts occur at carotid bifurcation
Solution Approach 1:
The DANTE pulse train is applied as a preliminary action before the SPACE sequence to suppress blood flow signals in advance. This preliminary suppression prevents blood flow artifacts from occurring during the high-efficiency SPACE imaging, allowing the system to maintain both fast acquisition and artifact-free images.
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
The approach effectively and uniformly suppresses cerebrospinal fluid signals, improving the quality of magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging, particularly for intracranial and carotid artery imaging, by maintaining the blood flow suppression advantages of DANTE and enhancing image clarity and differentiation of vessel walls.
Implementation Method 1
DANTE is a new method for suppressing the signals of moving spins (DANTE-prepared pulse trains: a novel approach to motion-sensitized and motion-suppressed quantitative magnetic resonance imaging, Magnetic resonance in medicine, year 2012, Issue 5, Volume 68, page 1423)
Implementation Method 2
three-dimensional fast spin echo (SPACE) technique
Implementation Method 3
variable flip angle train of a three-dimensional fast spin echo (SPACE)
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic resonance vessel wall imaging method and device. The method comprises: applying a set pulse sequence into an imaging region, wherein the set pulse sequence comprises, in chronological order, a Delay Alternating with Nutation for Tailored Excitation (DANTE) pulse train, a variable flip angle train of a three-dimensional fast spin echo (SPACE), and a flip-down pulse train (S110); acquiring a magnetic resonance signal generated in the imaging region, and reconstructing a magnetic resonance images of the vessel wall in the imaging region according to the magnetic resonance signal (S120). By adding the flip-down pulse train behind the variable flip angle train of the three-dimensional fast spin echo (SPACE), the cerebrospinal fluid signals of the whole brain can be further suppressed effectively and uniformly, and the DANTE pulse train promotes the vessel wall imaging of the head and neck jointing portion.