The General Hospital Corporation

Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Matthew Tisdall

Himanshu Bhat

Keith Aaron Heberlein

Andre Van Der Kouwe

Andre Jan Willem Van Der Kouwe

Thomas Beck

Martin Harder

Jonathan R Polimeni

Bruce Fischl

Andre J W Van Der Kouwe

Systems and methods for performing fast multi-contrast magnetic resonance imaging ('MRI') are provided. In general, data are acquired from both multiple echo times ('TEs') and at multiple effective inversion times (&#x201c;TIs&#x201d;). Following the application of a magnetization preparation radio frequency (&#x201c;RF&#x201d;) pulse, a plurality of different multi-echo acquisitions are performed, thereby acquiring data from multiple different TEs during different portions of the longitudinal magnetization recovery curve. Data acquisition in these inner encoding loops (i.e., during each multi-echo acquisition) can be accelerated to efficiently provide for the acquisition of multiple contrasts in the time normally required to acquire a single contrast.

System and methods for fast multi-contrast magnetic resonance imaging

A system and method for directing an MRI system to form echo signals from spins in a volume-of-interest (VOI) includes creating an integrated pulse sequence that integrates a volume navigator pulse sequence with an imaging pulse sequence by coordinating a navigator TR with an imaging TR to preserve a steady state of magnetization in the VOI associated with the imaging pulse sequence. The integrated pulse sequence includes performing the imaging pulse sequence to acquire imaging data from the VOI, performing the navigator pulse sequence to acquire navigator data VOI, processing the navigator data to generate motion estimates of motion in the VOI, creating an updated imaging pulse sequence that prospectively corrects for the motion in the VOI using the motion estimates, and repeating these steps using the updated imaging pulse sequence.

System and method for magnetic resonance imaging with prospective motion control

Systems and methods for estimating frequency drifts in magnetic resonance signals acquired with a magnetic resonance imaging ('MRI') system are provided. In one example, the frequency drifts are estimated from phase-correction data that are obtained during an echo-planar imaging ('EPI'), or other multiecho imaging, scan. The systems and methods of the present invention provide for efficiently and accurately computing frequency drift values that can be used for real-time, prospective frequency drift correction.

System and method for real-time frequency correction for magnetic resonance imaging

A method for MRI inter-scan motion correction includes performing (i) an anatomical localizer scan of a region of interest (ROI) to identify anatomical landmarks defining orientation of a surrounding field-of-view (FOV); (ii) an inter-scan motion reference scan of the ROI to acquire a reference inter-scan dataset indicating a reference navigator location in the ROI; and (iii) scans of the ROI to acquire k-space data. Prior to one or more of the scans, a motion correction process is performed that includes (a) performing an inter-scan motion tracking scan to acquire a tracking inter-scan dataset indicating an updated reference navigator location; (b) determining an estimation of inter-scan patient motion based on a comparison between the reference inter-scan and tracking inter-scan datasets; and (c) updating the FOV relative to the landmarks based on that estimation. Images of the ROI may be generated using the k-space data acquired with each of the scans.

MR-based navigators for inter-scan and intra-scan motion correction

A system determines motion correction data for use in diffusion MR imaging using an RF signal generator and magnetic field gradient generator which sequentially acquire in a single first direction through a volume, first and second slice sets individually comprising multiple individual diffusion image slices. The first set of slices and the second set of slices are spatially interleaved within the volume, by providing in acquiring the second slice set, a low flip angle RF pulse successively followed by a non-diffusion image data readout magnetic field gradient for acquisition of data representing a two dimensional (2D) non-diffusion image used for motion detection of the first slice set successively followed by, a first diffusion imaging RF pulse followed by a first diffusion imaging phase encoding magnetic field gradient for preparation for acquiring data representing a diffusion image slice of the second slice set.

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Somerville, MA, United States of America

Matthew Tisdall