WARF TECHNOLOGIES

Current MRI techniques to obtain images of rapidly changing anatomies such as the beating heart or to monitor the flow of fluids such as contrast agents through organs and peripheral vasculature acquire less information than normally is utilized for image reconstruction. As a result, the absent data must be estimated in some way for high-quality image reconstruction. It is difficult to obtain temporal and spatial resolution that is sufficient for diagnosis using accelerated imaging techniques. A need exists for improved methods of data acquisition, estimation and reconstruction in time-resolved MRI.

UW–Madison researchers have developed a system and method for improved accelerated magnetic resonance data collection and image synthesis utilizing parallel image reconstruction. A set of magnetic resonance data is acquired over a time frame of interest with a non-uniform sampling pattern on a predefined area of data space. Parallel image reconstruction is used to generate an initial image from the magnetic resonance data. The predefined area of data space comprises a uniform pattern of locations that are to be sampled and locations that are not to be sampled. The non-uniform sampling pattern comprises a pseudo-random sampling pattern that samples locations toward the center of the data space with greater frequency than those further from the center. Parallel imaging reconstruction is performed on a coil-by-coil basis to suppress aliasing artifacts and is calibrated specifically for the uniform sampling pattern. Back projection reconstruction may be used to generate a reconstructed image for the time frame of interest if additional acquisition sequences at respective time frames are used to acquire additional sets of magnetic resonance data.

• Accelerated magnetic resonance data collection and image reconstruction

• Improves temporal and spatial resolution, resulting in high-quality images for accurate diagnosis
• Provides improvement to existing imaging processes by integrating algorithms into MRI software without requiring additional hardware

Tech Fields

• Medical Imaging : MRI