Case Western Reserve University

The General Hospital Corporation

Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Yun Jiang

Mark A Griswold

Dan Ma

Vikas Gulani

Katherine Wright

Chaitra Badve

Kawin Setsompop

Mathias Nittka

Jeffrey L Sunshine

Anagha Deshmane

Alice Yang

Gregor Korzdorfer

Peter Speier

Lawrence Leroy Wald

Susann Brady-Kalnay

Chris Flask

Luis Hernandez-Garcia

Huihui Ye

Ying Gao

Renate Jerecic

Lan Lu

A method for performing magnetic resonance fingerprinting includes acquiring a plurality of MR image datasets using at least two pulse sequence types, the plurality of MR image datasets representing signal evolutions for image elements in a region of interest, comparing the plurality of MR image datasets to a dictionary of signal evolutions to identify at least one parameter of the MR image datasets and generating a report indicating the at least one parameter of the MR image datasets.

System and method for magnetic resonance fingerprinting using a plurality of pulse sequence types

Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with NMR fingerprinting are described. One example NMR apparatus includes an NMR logic that repetitively and variably samples a (k, t, E) space associated with an object to acquire a set of NMR signals that are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. Sampling is performed in response to a diffusion-weighted double-echo pulse sequence. Sampling acquires transient-state signals of the double-echo sequence. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic that produces an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals, and a characterization logic that characterizes a resonant species in the object as a result of comparing acquired signals to reference signals.

Diffusion-weighted double-echo magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF)

A system and method is provided for acquisition of magnetic resonance fingerprinting ('MRF') data that includes determining a non-locally sequential sampling pattern for a Cartesian grid of k-space, performing a series of sequence blocks using acquisition parameters that vary between sequence blocks to acquire MRF data from a subject using the Cartesian grid of k-space and the determined non-locally sequential sampling pattern, assembling the MRF data into a series of signal evolutions, comparing the series of signal evolutions to a dictionary of known signal evolutions to determine tissue properties of the subject, and generating a report indicating the tissue properties of the subject.

System and method for magnetic resonance fingerprinting with non-locally sequential sampling of k-space

A system and method for performing magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is provided that includes performing a pulse sequence that is sensitive to field inhomogeneities to acquire a series of signal evolutions form a region of interest (ROI) of the subject to form MRF data. The method also includes varying field inhomogeneities across the ROI to acquire the series of signal evolutions, comparing the MRF data with an MRF dictionary to determine at least one tissue property of the subject in the ROI, and producing at least one map of the at least one tissue property.

System and method for controlling effects of magnetic field inhomogeneities on magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF)

Example embodiments associated with characterizing a sample using NMR fingerprinting are described. One example NMR apparatus includes an NMR logic that repetitively and variably samples a (k, t, E) space associated with an object to acquire a set of NMR signals that are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic that produces an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals and a characterization logic that characterizes a tissue in the object as a result of comparing acquired signals to reference signals. Example embodiments facilitate distinguishing prostate cancer tissue from normal peripheral zone tissue based on quantitative data acquired using NMR fingerprinting in combination with apparent diffusion co-efficient (ADC) values or perfusion values acquired using DWI-MRI or DCE-MRI.

Quantitative prostate cancer imaging with magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF)

A magnetic resonance fingerprinting ('MRF') framework that implements simultaneous multislice acquisition techniques with a Hadamard RF-encoding to simultaneously acquire magnetic resonance data from multiple slices simultaneously is described. As one non-limiting example, magnetic resonance data can be simultaneously acquired from four different slices. In other embodiments, however, the Hadamard encoding can be condensed into one or two acquisitions, rather than four.

System and method for simultaneous multislice magnetic resonance fingerprinting with variable radio frequency encoding

Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with NMR fingerprinting are described. One example NMR apparatus includes an NMR logic that repetitively and variably samples a (k, t, E) space associated with an object to acquire a set of NMR signals that are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic that produces an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals, and a characterization logic that characterizes a resonant species in the object as a result of comparing acquired signals to reference signals. The NMR signal evolution may be assigned to a cluster based on the characterization of the resonant species. Cluster overlay maps may be produced simultaneously based, at least in part, on the clustering. The clusters may be associated with different tissue types.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) fingerprinting tissue classification and image segmentation

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF). The method including steps comprising acquiring a plurality of MRF signals from a plurality of excitation volumes within a subject, wherein at least two of the plurality of excitation volumes differ in location within the subject, and wherein each of the excitation volumes partially overlap to form an overlap volume. The method also includes comparing the plurality of MRF signals acquired from the overlap volume with a dictionary of signal evolutions, determining one or more physical parameters of the overlap volume within the subject, and generating a report at least indicating the one or more physical parameters of the overlap volume within the subject.

System and method for reduced field of view MR fingerprinting for parametric mapping

Example embodiments associated with NMR fingerprinting are described. One example NMR apparatus includes an NMR logic that repetitively and variably samples a (k, t, E) space associated with an object to acquire a set of NMR signals that are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. Sampling is performed in response to a fast imaging with steady state free precession (MRF-FISP) pulse sequence having an unbalanced gradient that dephases transverse magnetization. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic that produces an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals, and a characterization logic that characterizes a resonant species in the object as a result of comparing acquired signals to reference signals. The unbalanced gradient in the MRF-FISP pulse sequence reduces sensitivity to Bin homogeneity.

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting with steady state precession (MRF-FISP)

A system and method is provided for operating a high-field magnetic resonance (MR) system includes performing a series of data acquisition modules without respiratory gating. Each data acquisition module is formed of a steady-state free precession pulse sequence. Performing the series of data acquisition modules includes varying at least one of an amplitude of an excitation pulse or a repetition time of the steady-state free precession pulse sequence between adjacent data acquisition modules in the series of data acquisition modules to acquire a series of MR data with random or pseudo-random imaging acquisition parameters. The series of MR data is compared to a dictionary of signal evolution profiles to determine a match between the series of MR data with at least one signal evolution profile in the dictionary indicating at least one quantitative parameter in the subject.

System and method for magnetic resonance fingerprinting at high field strengths

Example apparatus and methods perform magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) for arterial spin labeling (ASL) based parameter quantification. ASL with MRF produces a nuclear magnetic resonance signal time course from which simultaneous quantification of ASL perfusion-related parameters can be achieved. The parameters may include cerebral blood flow, transit time, T1, or other parameters. The quantification uses values from a dictionary of signal time courses that were generated or augmented using Bloch simulation, knowledge of the sequence, or previous observations. The dictionary may account for inflow or outflow of labeled spins and may model arterial input. An ASL-MRF pulse sequence may differ from conventional pulse sequences. For example, an ASL-MRF pulse sequence may include non-uniform control pulses, non-uniform label pulses, non-uniform post labeling delay time, non-uniform background suppression pulses, non-uniform acquisition repetition time, or non-uniform acquisition flip angle.

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) with magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF)

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) with simultaneous multivolume acquisition (SMVA) is described. One example nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus includes an NMR logic that repetitively and variably samples (k, t, E) spaces associated with different volumes (e.g., slices) in an object to simultaneously acquire sets of NMR signals that are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) spaces. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic that produces an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals and compares the NMR signal evolution to reference signal evolutions. Since different volumes are excited differently, resulting signal evolutions can be acquired simultaneously from the different volumes and NMR parameters may be simultaneously determined for the multiple volumes, which reduces acquisition time and parameter map creation time.

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) with simultaneous multivolume acquisition

Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with optimizing sounds produced during nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) fingerprinting are described. One example NMR apparatus includes an NMR logic to repetitively and variably sample a (k, t, E) space associated with a patient to acquire a set of NMR signals. Members of the set of NMR signals are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The varying parameters may include flip angle, echo time, RF amplitude, and other parameters. The parameters are varied in different acquisition blocks to facilitate matching sounds produced in response to the acquisition blocks to a desired set of sounds. The desired set of sounds may be a musical piece.

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Cleveland Heights, OH, United States of America

Yun Jiang