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Drago JM, Guerin B, Stockmann JP, Wald LL. Multiphoton parallel transmission (MP-pTx): Pulse design methods and numerical validation. Magn Reson Med 2024; 92:1376-1391. [PMID: 38899391 PMCID: PMC11262987 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.30116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE We propose and evaluate multiphoton parallel transmission (MP-pTx) to mitigate flip angle inhomogeneities in high-field MRI. MP-pTx is an excitation method that utilizes a single, conventional birdcage coil supplemented with low-frequency (kHz) irradiation from a multichannel shim array and/or gradient channels. SAR analysis is simplified to that of a conventional birdcage coil, because only the radiofrequency (RF) field from the birdcage coil produces significant SAR. METHODS MP-pTx employs an off-resonance RF pulse from a conventional birdcage coil supplemented with oscillatingz $$ z $$ -directed fields from a multichannel shim array and/or the gradient coils. We simulate the ability of MP-pTx to create uniform nonselective brain excitations at 7 T using realisticB 1 + $$ {\mathrm{B}}_1^{+} $$ andΔ B 0 $$ \Delta {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ field maps. The RF, shim array, and gradient waveform's amplitudes and phases are optimized using a genetic algorithm followed by sequential quadratic programming. RESULTS A 1 ms MP-pTx excitation using a 32-channel shim array with current constrained to less than 50 Amp-turns reduced the transverse magnetization's normalized root-mean-squared error from 29% for a conventional birdcage excitation to 6.6% and was nearly 40% better than a 1 ms birdcage coil 5 kT-point excitation with optimized kT-point locations and comparable pulse power. CONCLUSION The MP-pTx method resembles conventional pTx in its goals and approach but replaces the parallel RF channels with cheaper, low-frequency shim channels. The method mitigates high-field flip angle inhomogeneities to a level better than 3 T CP-mode and comparable to 7 T pTx while retaining the straightforward SAR characteristics of conventional birdcage excitations, as low-frequency shim array fields produce negligible SAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M. Drago
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- A.A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bastien Guerin
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- A.A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jason P. Stockmann
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- A.A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lawrence L. Wald
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- A.A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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Orzada S, Fiedler TM, Ladd ME. Hybrid algorithms for SAR matrix compression and the impact of post-processing on SAR calculation complexity. Magn Reson Med 2024. [PMID: 39056341 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.30235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study proposes faster virtual observation point (VOP) compression as well as post-processing algorithms for specific absorption rate (SAR) matrix compression. Furthermore, it shows the relation between the number of channels and the computational burden for VOP-based SAR calculation. METHODS The proposed new algorithms combine the respective benefits of two different criteria for determining upper boundedness of SAR matrices by the VOPs. Comparisons of the old and new algorithms are performed for head coil arrays with various channel counts. The new post-processing algorithm is used to post-process the VOP sets of nine arrays, and the number of VOPs for a fixed median relative overestimation is compared. RESULTS The new algorithms are faster than the old algorithms by a factor of two to more than 10. The compression efficiency (number of VOPs relative to initial number of SAR matrices) is identical. For a fixed median relative overestimation, the number of VOPs increases logarithmically with the number of RF coil channels when post-processing is applied. CONCLUSION The new algorithms are much faster than previous algorithms. Post-processing is very beneficial for online SAR supervision of MRI systems with high channel counts, since for a given number of VOPs the relative SAR overestimation can be lowered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Orzada
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas M Fiedler
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark E Ladd
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
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Schmidt S, He X, Metzger GJ. Universal modes: Calibration-free time-interleaved acquisition of modes. Magn Reson Med 2024; 92:43-56. [PMID: 38303151 PMCID: PMC11055664 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.30032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To introduce universal modes by applying the universal pulse concept to time-interleaved acquisition of modes (TIAMO), thereby achieving calibration-freeB 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ inhomogeneity mitigation for body imaging at ultra-high fields. METHODS Two databases of different RF arrays were used to demonstrate the feasibility of universal modes. The first comprised 31 cardiac in vivo data sets acquired at 7T while the second consisted of 6 simulated 10.5T pelvic data sets. Subject-specific solutions and universal modes were computed and subsequently evaluated alongside predefined default modes. For the cardiac database, subdivision into subpopulations was investigated. The optimization was performed using least-squares (LS) TIAMO and acquisition modes optimized for refocused echoes (AMORE). Finally, universal modes based on simulated pelvis data were applied in vivo at 10.5T. RESULTS In all studied cases, the universal modes yield improvements over the predefined default modes of up to 51% (cardiac) and 30% (pelvic) in terms of median excitation error when using two modes. The subpopulation-specific cardiac solutions revealed a further improvement of universal modes at the expense of increased errors when applied outside the appropriate subpopulation. Direct application of simulation-based universal modes in vivo resulted in up to a 14% reduction in excitation error compared to default modes and up to a 34% reduction in peak 10 g local specific absorption rate (SAR) compared to subject-specific solutions. CONCLUSIONS Universal modes are feasible for calibration-freeB 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ inhomogeneity mitigation at ultra-high fields. In addition, simulation-based solutions can be applied directly in vivo, eliminating the need for large in vivo databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Schmidt
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Xiaoxuan He
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gregory J. Metzger
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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4
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Zhang M, Rodgers CT. Bayesian optimization of gradient trajectory for parallel-transmit pulse design. Magn Reson Med 2024; 91:2358-2373. [PMID: 38193277 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.30007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Spoke pulses improve excitation homogeneity in parallel-transmit MRI. We propose an efficient global optimization algorithm, Bayesian optimization of gradient trajectory (BOGAT), for single-slice and simultaneous multislice imaging. THEORY AND METHODS BOGAT adds an outer loop to optimize kT-space positions. For each position, the RF coefficients are optimized (e.g., with magnitude least squares) and the cost function evaluated. Bayesian optimization progressively estimates the cost function. It automatically chooses the kT-space positions to sample, to achieve fast convergence, often coming close to the globally optimal spoke positions. We investigated the typical features of spokes cost functions by a grid search with field maps comprising 85 slabs from 14 volunteers. We tested BOGAT in this database, and prospectively in a phantom and in vivo. We compared the vendor-provided Fourier transform approach with the same magnitude least squares RF optimizer. RESULTS The cost function is nonconvex and seen empirically to be piecewise smooth with discontinuities where the underlying RF optimum changes sharply. BOGAT converged to within 10% of the global minimum cost within 30 iterations in 93% of slices in our database. BOGAT achieved up to 56% lower flip angle RMS error (RMSE) or 55% lower pulse energy in phantoms versus the Fourier transform approach, and up to 30% lower RMSE and 29% lower energy in vivo with 7.8 s extra computation. CONCLUSION BOGAT efficiently estimated near-global optimum spoke positions for the two-spoke tests, reducing flip-angle RMSE and/or pulse energy in a computation time (˜10 s), which is suitable for online optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghao Zhang
- Wolfson Brain Imaging Center, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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Petzold J, Schmitter S, Silemek B, Winter L, Speck O, Ittermann B, Seifert F. Investigation of alternative RF power limit control methods for 0.5T, 1.5T, and 3T parallel transmission cardiac imaging: A simulation study. Magn Reson Med 2024; 91:1659-1675. [PMID: 38031517 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate safety and performance aspects of parallel-transmit (pTx) RF control-modes for a body coil atB 0 ≤ 3 T $$ {B}_0\le 3\mathrm{T} $$ . METHODS Electromagnetic simulations of 11 human voxel models in cardiac imaging position were conducted forB 0 = 0.5 T $$ {B}_0=0.5\mathrm{T} $$ ,1.5 T $$ 1.5\mathrm{T} $$ and3 T $$ 3\mathrm{T} $$ and a body coil with a configurable number of transmit channels (1, 2, 4, 8, 16). Three safety modes were considered: the 'SAR-controlled mode' (SCM), where specific absorption rate (SAR) is limited directly, a 'phase agnostic SAR-controlled mode' (PASCM), where phase information is neglected, and a 'power-controlled mode' (PCM), where the voltage amplitude for each channel is limited. For either mode, safety limits were established based on a set of 'anchor' simulations and then evaluated in 'target' simulations on previously unseen models. The comparison allowed to derive safety factors accounting for varying patient anatomies. All control modes were compared in terms of theB 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ amplitude and homogeneity they permit under their respective safety requirements. RESULTS Large safety factors (approximately five) are needed if only one or two anchor models are investigated but they shrink with increasing number of anchors. The achievableB 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ is highest for SCM but this advantage is reduced when the safety factor is included. PCM appears to be more robust against variations of subjects. PASCM performance is mostly in between SCM and PCM. Compared to standard circularly polarized (CP) excitation, pTx offers minorB 1 + $$ {B}_1^{+} $$ improvements if local SAR limits are always enforced. CONCLUSION PTx body coils can safely be used atB 0 ≤ 3 T $$ {B}_0\le 3\mathrm{T} $$ . Uncertainties in patient anatomy must be accounted for, however, by simulating many models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Petzold
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
- Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schmitter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Berk Silemek
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Lukas Winter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Speck
- Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Ittermann
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Seifert
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
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Eisen CK, Liebig P, Herrler J, Ritter D, Lévy S, Uder M, Nagel AM, Grodzki D. Fast online spectral-spatial pulse design for subject-specific fat saturation in cervical spine and foot imaging at 1.5 T. MAGMA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 37:257-272. [PMID: 38366129 PMCID: PMC10995033 DOI: 10.1007/s10334-024-01149-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compensate subject-specific field inhomogeneities and enhance fat pre-saturation with a fast online individual spectral-spatial (SPSP) single-channel pulse design. METHODS The RF shape is calculated online using subject-specific field maps and a predefined excitation k-space trajectory. Calculation acceleration options are explored to increase clinical viability. Four optimization configurations are compared to a standard Gaussian spectral selective pre-saturation pulse and to a Dixon acquisition using phantom and volunteer (N = 5) data at 1.5 T with a turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence. Measurements and simulations are conducted across various body parts and image orientations. RESULTS Phantom measurements demonstrate up to a 3.5-fold reduction in residual fat signal compared to Gaussian fat saturation. In vivo evaluations show improvements up to sixfold for dorsal subcutaneous fat in sagittal cervical spine acquisitions. The versatility of the tailored trajectory is confirmed through sagittal foot/ankle, coronal, and transversal cervical spine experiments. Additional measurements indicate that excitation field (B1) information can be disregarded at 1.5 T. Acceleration methods reduce computation time to a few seconds. DISCUSSION An individual pulse design that primarily compensates for main field (B0) inhomogeneities in fat pre-saturation is successfully implemented within an online "push-button" workflow. Both fat saturation homogeneity and the level of suppression are improved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Karl Eisen
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Patrick Liebig
- Magnetic Resonance, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Herrler
- Magnetic Resonance, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dieter Ritter
- Magnetic Resonance, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Simon Lévy
- MR Research Collaborations, Siemens Healthcare Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael Uder
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Armin Michael Nagel
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Grodzki
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
- Magnetic Resonance, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Erlangen, Germany
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Wu CY, Jin J, Dixon C, Maillet D, Barth M, Cloos MA. Velocity selective spin labeling using parallel transmission. Magn Reson Med 2024; 91:1576-1585. [PMID: 38044841 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ultra-high field (UHF) provides improved SNR which greatly benefits SNR starved imaging techniques such as perfusion imaging. However, transmit field (B1 + ) inhomogeneities commonly observed at UHF hinders the excitation uniformity. Here we show how replacing standard excitation pulses with parallel transmit pulses can improve efficiency of velocity selective labeling. METHODS The standard tip-down and tip-up excitation pulses found in a velocity selective preparation module were replaced with tailored non-selective kT -points pulse solutions. Bloch simulations and experimental validation on a custom-built flow phantom and in vivo was performed to evaluate different pulse configurations in circularly polarized mode (CP-mode) and parallel transmit (pTx) mode. RESULTS Tailored pTx pulses significantly improved velocity selective labeling fidelity and signal uniformity. The transverse magnetization normalized RMS error was reduced from 0.489 to 0.047 when compared to standard rectangular pulses played in CP-mode. Simulations showed that manipulation of time symmetry in the tailored pTx pulses is vital in minimizing residual magnetization. In addition, in vivo experiments achieved a 44% lower RF power output and a shorter pulse duration when compared to using adiabatic pulses in CP-mode. CONCLUSION Using tailored pTx pulses for excitation within a velocity selective labeling preparation mitigated transmit field artifacts and improved SNR and contrast fidelity. The improvement in labeling efficiency highlights the potential of using pTx to improve robustness and accessibility of flow-based sequences such as velocity selective spin labeling at ultra-high field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Yin Wu
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jin Jin
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Siemens Healthcare Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Carl Dixon
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Donald Maillet
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Markus Barth
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Martijn A Cloos
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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Kazemivalipour E, Wald LL, Guerin B. Comparison of tight-fitting 7T parallel-transmit head array designs using excitation uniformity and local specific absorption rate metrics. Magn Reson Med 2024; 91:1209-1224. [PMID: 37927216 PMCID: PMC10848211 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We model the performance of parallel transmission (pTx) arrays with 8, 16, 24, and 32 channels and varying loop sizes built on a close-fitting helmet for brain imaging at 7 T and compare their local specific absorption rate (SAR) and flip-angle performances to that of birdcage coil (used as a baseline) and cylindrical 8-channel and 16-channel pTx coils (single-row and dual-row). METHODS We use the co-simulation approach along with MATLAB scripting for batch-mode simulation of the coils. For each coil, we extracted B1 + maps and SAR matrices, which we compressed using the virtual observation points algorithm, and designed slice-selective RF shimming pTx pulses with multiple local SAR and peak power constraints to generate L-curves in the transverse, coronal, and sagittal orientations. RESULTS Helmet designs outperformed cylindrical pTx arrays at a constant number of channels in the flip-angle uniformity at a constant local SAR metric: up to 29% for 8-channel arrays, and up to 34% for 16-channel arrays, depending on the slice orientation. For all helmet arrays, increasing the loop diameter led to better local SAR versus flip-angle uniformity tradeoffs, although this effect was more pronounced for the 8-channel and 16-channel systems than the 24-channel and 32-channel systems, as the former have more limited degrees of freedom and therefore benefit more from loop-size optimization. CONCLUSION Helmet pTx arrays significantly outperformed cylindrical arrays with the same number of channels in local SAR and flip-angle uniformity metrics. This improvement was especially pronounced for non-transverse slice excitations. Loop diameter optimization for helmets appears to favor large loops, compatible with nearest-neighbor decoupling by overlap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Kazemivalipour
- A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lawrence L. Wald
- A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bastien Guerin
- A. A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Tyshchenko I, Lévy S, Jin J, Tahayori B, Blunck Y, Johnston LA. What can we gain from subpopulation universal pulses? A simulation-based study. Magn Reson Med 2024; 91:570-582. [PMID: 37849035 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of the study was to explore a novel methodology for designing universal pulses (UPs) that balances the benefits of a calibration-free approach with subject-specific online pulse design. METHODS The proposed method involves segmenting the population into subpopulations with variability in anatomical shapes and positions reduced to 75%, 50%, and 25% of their original values while keeping the mean values unchanged. An additional 25% extreme case with a large volume of interest and shifted position was included. For each group, a 5kT-points universal inversion pulse was designed and assessed by the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) on the target longitudinal magnetization profile. The performance was compared to the conventional one-size-fits-all approach. A total of 132 electromagnetic simulations were executed to generate representative anatomies and specific absorption rate (SAR) distributions in a three-dimensional parameter space comprised of head breadth, head length, and Y-shift. The 99.9th percentile on the peak local SAR distribution was utilized to establish an intersubject variability safety margin. RESULTS UPs designed for subpopulations with decreased head shape and position variability reduced the anatomical safety margin by up to 20%. Furthermore, when a head was significantly different to the average case, the proposed approach improved the inversion homogeneity by up to 24%, compared to the conventional one-size-fits-all approach. CONCLUSION Subpopulation UPs present an opportunity to improve theB 1 + $$ {\mathrm{B}}_1^{+} $$ homogeneity and reduce anatomical SAR safety margins at 7T without additional acquisition time for calibration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor Tyshchenko
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon Lévy
- MR Research Collaborations, Siemens Healthcare Pty Ltd, Australia
| | - Jin Jin
- MR Research Collaborations, Siemens Healthcare Pty Ltd, Australia
| | - Bahman Tahayori
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - Yasmin Blunck
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leigh A Johnston
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne Brain Centre Imaging Unit, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Runderkamp BA, Roos T, van der Zwaag W, Strijkers GJ, Caan MWA, Nederveen AJ. Whole-liver flip-angle shimming at 7 T using parallel-transmit k T -point pulses and Fourier phase-encoded DREAM B 1 + mapping. Magn Reson Med 2024; 91:75-90. [PMID: 37799015 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To obtain homogeneous signal throughout the human liver at 7 T. Flip angle (FA) shimming in 7T whole-liver imaging was performed through parallel-transmit kT -point pulses based on subject-specific multichannel absoluteB 1 + $$ {\mathrm{B}}_1^{+} $$ maps from Fourier phase-encoded dual refocusing echo acquisition mode (PE-DREAM). METHODS The optimal number of Fourier phase-encoding steps for PE-DREAMB 1 + $$ {\mathrm{B}}_1^{+} $$ mapping was determined for a 7T eight-channel parallel-transmission system. FA shimming experiments were performed in the liver of 7 healthy subjects with varying body mass index. In these subjects, firstB 0 $$ {\mathrm{B}}_0 $$ shimming and Fourier PE-DREAMB 1 + $$ {\mathrm{B}}_1^{+} $$ mapping were performed. Subsequently, three small-flip-angle 3D gradient-echo scans were acquired, comparing a circularly polarized (CP) mode, a phase shim, and a kT -point pulse. Resulting homogeneity was assessed and compared with estimated FA maps and distributions. RESULTS Fourier PE-DREAM with 13 phase-encoding steps resulted in a good tradeoff betweenB 1 + $$ {\mathrm{B}}_1^{+} $$ accuracy and scan time. Lower coefficient of variation values (average [min-max] across subjects) of the estimated FA in the volume of interest were observed using kT -points (7.4 [6.6%-8.0%]), compared with phase shimming (18.8 [12.9%-23.4%], p < 0.001) and CP (43.2 [39.4%-47.1%], p < 0.001). kT -points delivered whole-liver images with the nominal FA and the highest degree of homogeneity. CP and phase shimming resulted in either inaccurate or imprecise FA distributions. Here, locations having suboptimal FA in the estimated FA maps corresponded to liver areas suffering from inconsistent signal intensity and T1 -weighting in the gradient-echo scans. CONCLUSION Homogeneous whole-liver 3D gradient-echo acquisitions at 7 T can be obtained with eight-channel kT -point pulses calculated based on subject-specific multichannel absolute Fourier PE-DREAMB 1 + $$ {\mathrm{B}}_1^{+} $$ maps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bobby A Runderkamp
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas Roos
- Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Royal Netherlands Academy for Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- High-Field Research Group, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wietske van der Zwaag
- Spinoza Centre for Neuroimaging, Royal Netherlands Academy for Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, KNAW, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gustav J Strijkers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Matthan W A Caan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Aart J Nederveen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Petzold J, Schmitter S, Silemek B, Winter L, Speck O, Ittermann B, Seifert F. Towards an integrated radiofrequency safety concept for implant carriers in MRI based on sensor-equipped implants and parallel transmission. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2023; 36:e4900. [PMID: 36624556 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
To protect implant carriers in MRI from excessive radiofrequency (RF) heating it has previously been suggested to assess that hazard via sensors on the implant. Other work recommended parallel transmission (pTx) to actively mitigate implant-related heating. Here, both ideas are integrated into one comprehensive safety concept where native pTx safety (without implant) is ensured by state-of-the-art field simulations and the implant-specific hazard is quantified in situ using physical sensors. The concept is demonstrated by electromagnetic simulations performed on a human voxel model with a simplified spinal-cord implant in an eight-channel pTx body coil at 3 T . To integrate implant and native safety, the sensor signal must be calibrated in terms of an established safety metric (e.g., specific absorption rate [SAR]). Virtual experiments show that E -field and implant-current sensors are well suited for this purpose, while temperature sensors require some caution, and B 1 probes are inadequate. Based on an implant sensor matrix Q s , constructed in situ from sensor readings, and precomputed native SAR limits, a vector space of safe RF excitations is determined where both global (native) and local (implant-related) safety requirements are satisfied. Within this safe-excitation subspace, the solution with the best image quality in terms of B 1 + magnitude and homogeneity is then found by a straightforward optimization algorithm. In the investigated example, the optimized pTx shim provides a 3-fold higher mean B 1 + magnitude compared with circularly polarized excitation for a maximum implant-related temperature increase ∆ T imp ≤ 1 K . To date, sensor-equipped implants interfaced to a pTx scanner exist as demonstrator items in research labs, but commercial devices are not yet within sight. This paper aims to demonstrate the significant benefits of such an approach and how this could impact implant-related RF safety in MRI. Today, the responsibility for safe implant scanning lies with the implant manufacturer and the MRI operator; within the sensor concept, the MRI manufacturer would assume much of the operator's current responsibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Petzold
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
- Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schmitter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Berk Silemek
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Lukas Winter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Speck
- Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Ittermann
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Seifert
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
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12
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Hori H, Yamada Y, Nakano M, Ouchi T, Takasaki M, Iijima K, Taira T, Abe K, Iwamuro H. Improvement in Intraoperative Image Quality in Transcranial Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery Using Transmitter Gain Adjustment. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 2023; 101:223-231. [PMID: 37379811 PMCID: PMC10614472 DOI: 10.1159/000531009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery (TcMRgFUS) has the advantage of allowing immediate evaluation of therapeutic effects after each sonication and intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to visualize the lesion. When the image shows that the lesion has missed the planned target and the therapeutic effects are insufficient, the target of the subsequent ablation can be finely adjusted based on the image. The precision of this adjustment is determined by the image quality. However, the current intraoperative image quality with a 3.0T MRI system is insufficient for precisely detecting the lesion. Thus, we developed and validated a method for improving intraoperative image quality. METHODS Because intraoperative image quality is affected by transmitter gain (TG), we acquired T2-weighted images (T2WIs) with two types of TG: the automatically adjusted TG (auto TG) and the manually adjusted TG (manual TG). To evaluate the character of images with 2 TGs, the actual flip angle (FA), the image uniformity, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were measured using a phantom. Then, to assess the quality of intraoperative images, T2WIs with both TGs were acquired during TcMRgFUS for 5 patients. The contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the lesion was retrospectively estimated. RESULTS The images of the phantom with the auto TG showed substantial variations between the preset and actual FAs (p < 0.01), whereas on the images with the manual TG, there were no variations between the two FAs (p > 0.05). The total image uniformity was considerably lower with the manual TG than with the auto TG (p < 0.01), indicating that the image's signal values with the manual TG were more uniform. The manual TG produced significantly higher SNRs than the auto TG (p < 0.01). In the clinical study, the lesions were clearly detected in intraoperative images with the manual TG, but they were difficult to identify in images with the auto TG. The CNR of lesions in images with manual TG was considerably higher than in images with auto TG (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION Regarding intraoperative T2WIs using a 3.0T MRI system during TcMRgFUS, the manual TG method improved image quality and delineated the ablative lesion more clearly than the current method with auto TG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Hori
- Department of FUS Center, Moriyama Neurosurgical Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yusuke Yamada
- Department of Radiology, Hokkaido Ohno Memorial Hospital, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Masayuki Nakano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shin-Yurigaoka General Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ouchi
- Department of Neurology, Shin-Yurigaoka General Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Masahito Takasaki
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shin-Yurigaoka General Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Ken Iijima
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Saitama Sekishinkai Hospital, Saitama, Japan
| | - Takaomi Taira
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiichi Abe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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13
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Williams SN, McElhinney P, Gunamony S. Ultra-high field MRI: parallel-transmit arrays and RF pulse design. Phys Med Biol 2023; 68. [PMID: 36410046 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aca4b7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This paper reviews the field of multiple or parallel radiofrequency (RF) transmission for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Currently the use of ultra-high field (UHF) MRI at 7 tesla and above is gaining popularity, yet faces challenges with non-uniformity of the RF field and higher RF power deposition. Since its introduction in the early 2000s, parallel transmission (pTx) has been recognized as a powerful tool for accelerating spatially selective RF pulses and combating the challenges associated with RF inhomogeneity at UHF. We provide a survey of the types of dedicated RF coils used commonly for pTx and the important modeling of the coil behavior by electromagnetic (EM) field simulations. We also discuss the additional safety considerations involved with pTx such as the specific absorption rate (SAR) and how to manage them. We then describe the application of pTx with RF pulse design, including a practical guide to popular methods. Finally, we conclude with a description of the current and future prospects for pTx, particularly its potential for routine clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney N Williams
- Imaging Centre of Excellence, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Paul McElhinney
- Imaging Centre of Excellence, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Shajan Gunamony
- Imaging Centre of Excellence, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.,MR CoilTech Limited, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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14
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Orzada S, Akash S, Fiedler TM, Kratzer FJ, Ladd ME. An investigation into the dependence of virtual observation point‐based specific absorption rate calculation complexity on number of channels. Magn Reson Med 2022; 89:469-476. [DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Orzada
- Medical Physics in Radiology German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI University Duisburg‐Essen Essen Germany
- Radiation Oncology University Hospital Heidelberg Heidelberg Germany
| | - Safi Akash
- Medical Physics in Radiology German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg Germany
| | - Thomas M. Fiedler
- Medical Physics in Radiology German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg Germany
| | - Fabian J. Kratzer
- Medical Physics in Radiology German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg Germany
| | - Mark E. Ladd
- Medical Physics in Radiology German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI University Duisburg‐Essen Essen Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy Heidelberg University Heidelberg Germany
- Faculty of Medicine Heidelberg University Heidelberg Germany
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15
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Leitão D, Tomi-Tricot R, Bridgen P, Wilkinson T, Liebig P, Gumbrecht R, Ritter D, Giles SL, Baburamani A, Sedlacik J, Hajnal JV, Malik SJ. Parallel transmit pulse design for saturation homogeneity (PUSH) for magnetization transfer imaging at 7T. Magn Reson Med 2022; 88:180-194. [PMID: 35266204 PMCID: PMC9315051 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This work proposes a novel RF pulse design for parallel transmit (pTx) systems to obtain uniform saturation of semisolid magnetization for magnetization transfer (MT) contrast in the presence of transmit field B1+ inhomogeneities. The semisolid magnetization is usually modeled as being purely longitudinal, with the applied B1+ field saturating but not rotating its magnetization; thus, standard pTx pulse design methods do not apply. THEORY AND METHODS Pulse design for saturation homogeneity (PUSH) optimizes pTx RF pulses by considering uniformity of root-mean squared B1+ , B1rms , which relates to the rate of semisolid saturation. Here we considered designs consisting of a small number of spatially non-selective sub-pulses optimized over either a single 2D plane or 3D. Simulations and in vivo experiments on a 7T Terra system with an 8-TX Nova head coil in five subjects were carried out to study the homogenization of B1rms and of the MT contrast by acquiring MT ratio maps. RESULTS Simulations and in vivo experiments showed up to six and two times more uniform B1rms compared to circular polarized (CP) mode for 2D and 3D optimizations, respectively. This translated into 4 and 1.25 times more uniform MT contrast, consistently for all subjects, where two sub-pulses were enough for the implementation and coil used. CONCLUSION The proposed PUSH method obtains more uniform and higher MT contrast than CP mode within the same specific absorption rate (SAR) budget.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Leitão
- Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Pip Bridgen
- Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Tom Wilkinson
- Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | - Sharon L Giles
- Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ana Baburamani
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jan Sedlacik
- Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Joseph V Hajnal
- Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Shaihan J Malik
- Biomedical Engineering Department, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.,Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
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16
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He X, Schmidt S, Zbýň Š, Haluptzok T, Moeller S, Metzger GJ. Improved TSE imaging at ultrahigh field using nonlocalized efficiency RF shimming and acquisition modes optimized for refocused echoes (AMORE). Magn Reson Med 2022; 88:1702-1719. [PMID: 35692053 PMCID: PMC9339473 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To develop and evaluate a novel RF shimming optimization strategy tailored to improve the transmit efficiency in turbo spin echo imaging when performing time‐interleaved acquisition of modes (TIAMO) at ultrahigh fields. Theory and Methods A nonlocalized efficiency shimming cost function is proposed and extended to perform TIAMO using acquisition modes optimized for refocused echoes (AMORE). The nonlocalized efficiency shimming was demonstrated in brain and knee imaging at 7 Tesla. Phantom and in vivo torso imaging studies were performed to compare the performance between AMORE and previously proposed TIAMO mode optimizations with and without localized constraints in turbo spin echo and gradient echo acquisitions. Results The proposed nonlocalized efficiency RF shimming produced a circularly polarized‐like field with fewer signal dropouts in the brain and knee. For larger targets, AMORE was used and required a significantly lower transmitter voltage to produce a similar contrast to existing TIAMO mode design approaches for turbo spin echo as well as gradient echo acquisitions. In vivo, AMORE effectively reduced signal dropout in the interior torso while providing more uniform contrast with reduced transmit power. A local constraint further improved performance for a target region while maintaining performance in the larger FOV. Conclusion AMORE based on the presented nonlocalized efficiency shimming cost function demonstrated improved contrast and SNR uniformity as well as increased transmit efficiency for both gradient echo and turbo spin echo acquisitions. Click here for author‐reader discussions
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan He
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Simon Schmidt
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Štefan Zbýň
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Tobey Haluptzok
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Steen Moeller
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Gregory J Metzger
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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17
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Fiedler TM, Orzada S, Flöser M, Rietsch SHG, Schmidt S, Stelter JK, Wittrich M, Quick HH, Bitz AK, Ladd ME. Performance and safety assessment of an integrated transmit array for body imaging at 7 T under consideration of specific absorption rate, tissue temperature, and thermal dose. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2022; 35:e4656. [PMID: 34962689 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the performance of an integrated body-imaging array for 7 T with 32 radiofrequency (RF) channels under consideration of local specific absorption rate (SAR), tissue temperature, and thermal dose limits was evaluated and the imaging performance was compared with a clinical 3 T body coil. Thirty-two transmit elements were placed in three rings between the bore liner and RF shield of the gradient coil. Slice-selective RF pulse optimizations for B1 shimming and spokes were performed for differently oriented slices in the body under consideration of realistic constraints for power and local SAR. To improve the B1+ homogeneity, safety assessments based on temperature and thermal dose were performed to possibly allow for higher input power for the pulse optimization than permissible with SAR limits. The results showed that using two spokes, the 7 T array outperformed the 3 T birdcage in all the considered regions of interest. However, a significantly higher SAR or lower duty cycle at 7 T is necessary in some cases to achieve similar B1+ homogeneity as at 3 T. The homogeneity in up to 50 cm-long coronal slices can particularly benefit from the high RF shim performance provided by the 32 RF channels. The thermal dose approach increases the allowable input power and the corresponding local SAR, in one example up to 100 W/kg, without limiting the exposure time necessary for an MR examination. In conclusion, the integrated antenna array at 7 T enables a clinical workflow for body imaging and comparable imaging performance to a conventional 3 T clinical body coil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas M Fiedler
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Orzada
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martina Flöser
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan H G Rietsch
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Simon Schmidt
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonathan K Stelter
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marco Wittrich
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Andreas K Bitz
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Electromagnetic Theory and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, FH Aachen - University of Applied Sciences, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mark E Ladd
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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18
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Eberhardt B, Poser BA, Shah NJ, Felder J. B1 field map synthesis with generative deep learning used in the design of parallel-transmit RF pulses for ultra-high field MRI. Z Med Phys 2022; 32:334-345. [PMID: 35144850 PMCID: PMC9948838 DOI: 10.1016/j.zemedi.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Spoke trajectory parallel transmit (pTX) excitation in ultra-high field MRI enables B1+ inhomogeneities arising from the shortened RF wavelength in biological tissue to be mitigated. To this end, current RF excitation pulse design algorithms either employ the acquisition of field maps with subsequent non-linear optimization or a universal approach applying robust pre-computed pulses. We suggest and evaluate an intermediate method that uses a subset of acquired field maps combined with generative machine learning models to reduce the pulse calibration time while offering more tailored excitation than robust pulses (RP). The possibility of employing image-to-image translation and semantic image synthesis machine learning models based on generative adversarial networks (GANs) to deduce the missing field maps is examined. Additionally, an RF pulse design that employs a predictive machine learning model to find solutions for the non-linear (two-spokes) pulse design problem is investigated. As a proof of concept, we present simulation results obtained with the suggested machine learning approaches that were trained on a limited data-set, acquired in vivo. The achieved excitation homogeneity based on a subset of half of the B1+ maps acquired in the calibration scans and half of the B1+ maps synthesized with GANs is comparable with state of the art pulse design methods when using the full set of calibration data while halving the total calibration time. By employing RP dictionaries or machine-learning RF pulse predictions, the total calibration time can be reduced significantly as these methods take only seconds or milliseconds per slice, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Eberhardt
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jüich, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Benedikt A. Poser
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - N. Jon Shah
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jüich, Germany,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 11, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany,Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany,JARA-BRAIN, Translational Medicine, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jörg Felder
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 4, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jüich, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
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19
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Orzada S, Fiedler TM, Quick HH, Ladd ME. Post-processing algorithms for specific absorption rate compression. Magn Reson Med 2021; 86:2853-2861. [PMID: 34216047 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Compression of local specific absorption rate (SAR) matrices is essential for enabling SAR monitoring and efficient pulse calculation in parallel transmission. Improvements in compression result in lower error margin and/or lower number of virtual observation points (VOPs). The purpose of this work is to introduce two algorithms for post-processing of already compressed VOP sets. One calculates individual overestimation matrices for the VOPs to reduce overestimation, the other identifies redundant VOPs. METHODS The first algorithm was evaluated for VOP sets calculated for three different transmit arrays with either 8 or 16 channels. For each array, two different overestimation matrices were used to generate the VOP sets. Each post-processed VOP set was evaluated using one million random excitation vectors and the results compared to the VOP set before post-processing. The second algorithm was evaluated by utilizing the same random excitation vectors and comparing the results after removal of the redundant VOPs with the results before removal to verify that these were identical. RESULTS The first algorithm reduced the mean overestimation by up to four fifths compared to the original set, while keeping the number of VOPs constant. The second algorithm decreased the number of VOPs generated by a compression with Eichfelder and Gebhardt's algorithm by more than 40% in 40% of the investigated cases and by more than 20% in 73% of the investigated cases. CONCLUSION Two post-processing algorithms are presented that enhance previously compressed VOP sets by improving the accuracy per number of VOPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Orzada
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas M Fiedler
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Mark E Ladd
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.,Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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20
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Geldschläger O, Bosch D, Glaser S, Henning A. Local excitation universal parallel transmit pulses at 9.4T. Magn Reson Med 2021; 86:2589-2603. [PMID: 34180089 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To demonstrate that the concept of "universal pTx pulses" is applicable to local excitation applications. METHODS A database of B0 / B 1 + maps from eight different subjects was acquired at 9.4T. Based on these maps, universal pulses that aim at local excitation of the visual cortex area in the human brain (with a flip angle of 90° or 7°) were calculated. The remaining brain regions should not experience any excitation. The pulses were designed with an extension of the "spatial domain method." A 2D and a 3D target excitation pattern were tested, respectively. The pulse performance was examined on non-database subjects by Bloch simulations and in vivo at 9.4T using a GRE anatomical MRI and a presaturated TurboFLASH B 1 + mapping sequence. RESULTS The calculated universal pulses show excellent performance in simulations and in vivo on subjects that were not contained in the design database. The visual cortex region is excited, while the desired non-excitation areas produce the only minimal signal. In simulations, the pulses with 3D target pattern show a lack of excitation uniformity in the visual cortex region; however, in vivo, this inhomogeneity can be deemed acceptable. A reduced field of view application of the universal pulse design concept was performed successfully. CONCLUSIONS The proposed design approach creates universal local excitation pulses for a flip angle of 7° and 90°, respectively. Providing universal pTx pulses for local excitation applications prospectively abandons the need for time-consuming subject-specific B0 / B 1 + mapping and pTx-pulse calculation during the scan session.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ole Geldschläger
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dario Bosch
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany.,Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Steffen Glaser
- Department for Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Anke Henning
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance Center, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany.,Advanced Imaging Research Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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21
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Paez A, Gu C, Cao Z. Robust RF shimming and small-tip-angle multispoke pulse design with finite-difference regularization. Magn Reson Med 2021; 86:1472-1481. [PMID: 33934406 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE A new regularizer is proposed for the magnitude least-squares optimization algorithm, to ensure robust parallel transmit RF shimming and small-tip-angle multispoke pulse designs for ultrahigh-field MRI. METHODS A finite-difference regularization term is activated as an additional regularizer in the iterative magnitude-least-squares based pulse design algorithm when an unwanted flip angle null distribution is detected. Both simulated and experimental B 1 + maps from different transmit arrays and different human subjects at 7 T were used to evaluate the proposed algorithm. The algorithm was further demonstrated in experiment with dynamic multislice RF shimming for a single-shot gradient-echo EPI for human functional MRI at 7 T. RESULTS The proposed finite-difference regularizer effectively prevented excitation null to be formed for RF shimming and small-tip-angle multispoke pulses, and improved the latter with a monotonic trade-off relationship between flip angle error and RF power. The proposed algorithm was demonstrated to be effective with several head-array geometries by simulation and with a commercial head array with 12 healthy human subjects by experiment. During a functional MRI scan at 7 T with dynamic RF shimming, the proposed algorithm ensured high image SNR throughout the human brain, compared with near-complete local signal loss by the conventional magnitude-least-squares algorithm. CONCLUSION Using finite-difference regularization to avoid unwanted solutions, the robustness of RF shimming and small-tip-angle multispoke pulse design algorithms are improved, with better flip angle homogeneity and a monotonic trade-off relationship between flip angle error and RF power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Paez
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Chunming Gu
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Zhipeng Cao
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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22
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Berrington A, Považan M, Mirfin C, Bawden S, Park YW, Marsh DC, Bowtell R, Gowland PA. Calibration-free regional RF shims for MRS. Magn Reson Med 2021; 86:611-624. [PMID: 33749010 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Achieving a desired RF transmit field ( B 1 + ) in small regions of interest is critical for single-voxel MRS at ultrahigh field. Radio-frequency (RF) shimming, using parallel transmission, requires B 1 + mapping and optimization, which limits its ease of use. This work aimed to generate calibration-free RF shims for predefined target regions of interest, which can be applied to any participant, to produce a desired absolute magnitude B 1 + (| B 1 + |). METHODS The RF shims were found offline by joint optimization on a database comprising B 1 + maps from 11 subjects, considering regions of interest in occipital cortex, hippocampus and posterior cingulate, as well as whole brain. The | B 1 + | achieved was compared with a tailored shimming approach, and MR spectra were acquired using tailored and calibration-free shims in 4 participants. Global and local 10g specific-absorption-rate deposition were estimated using Duke and Ella dielectric models. RESULTS There was no difference in the mean | B 1 + | produced using calibration-free versus tailored RF shimming in the occipital cortex (p = .15), hippocampus (p = .5), or posterior cingulate (p = .98), although differences were observed in the RMS error | B 1 + |. Spectra acquired using calibration-free shims had similar SNR and low residual water signal. Under identical power settings, specific-absorption-rate deposition was lower compared with operating in quadrature mode. For example, the total head specific absorption rate was around 35% less for the occipital cortex. CONCLUSION This work demonstrates that static RF shims, optimized offline for small regions, avoid the need for B 1 + mapping and optimization for each region of interest and participant. Furthermore, power settings may be increased when using calibration-free shims, to better take advantage of RF shimming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Berrington
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Michal Považan
- Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christopher Mirfin
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Stephen Bawden
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Young Woo Park
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Daniel C Marsh
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Richard Bowtell
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Penny A Gowland
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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23
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Orzada S, Fiedler TM, Quick HH, Ladd ME. Local SAR compression algorithm with improved compression, speed, and flexibility. Magn Reson Med 2021; 86:561-568. [PMID: 33634530 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Local specific absorption rate (SAR) compression algorithms are essential for enabling online SAR monitoring in parallel transmission. A better compression resulting in a lower number of virtual observation points improves speed of SAR calculation for online supervision and pulse design. METHOD An iterative expansion of an existing algorithm presented by Lee et al is proposed in this work. The original algorithm is used within a loop, making use of the virtual observation points from the previous iteration as the starting subvolume, while decreasing the overestimation with each iteration. This algorithm is evaluated on the SAR matrices of three different simulated arrays. RESULT The number of virtual observation points is approximately halved with the new algorithm, while at the same time the compression time is reduced with speed-up factors of up to 2.5. CONCLUSION The new algorithm improves the original algorithm in terms of compression rate and speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Orzada
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas M Fiedler
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Mark E Ladd
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.,Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.,Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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24
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Herrler J, Liebig P, Gumbrecht R, Ritter D, Schmitter S, Maier A, Schmidt M, Uder M, Doerfler A, Nagel AM. Fast online-customized (FOCUS) parallel transmission pulses: A combination of universal pulses and individual optimization. Magn Reson Med 2021; 85:3140-3153. [PMID: 33400302 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To mitigate spatial flip angle (FA) variations under strict specific absorption rate (SAR) constraints for ultra-high field MRI using a combination of universal parallel transmit (pTx) pulses and fast subject-specific optimization. METHODS Data sets consisting of B0 , B 1 + maps, and virtual observation point (VOP) data were acquired from 72 subjects (study groups of 48/12 healthy Europeans/Asians and 12 Europeans with pathological or incidental findings) using an 8Tx/32Rx head coil on a 7T whole-body MR system. Combined optimization values (COV) were defined as combination of spiral-nonselective (SPINS) trajectory parameters and an energy regularization weight. A set of COV was optimized universally by simulating the individual RF pulse optimizations of 12 training data sets (healthy Europeans). Subsequently, corresponding universal pulses (UPs) were calculated. Using COV and UPs, individually optimized pulses (IOPs) were calculated during the sequence preparation phase (maximum 15 s). Two different UPs and IOPs were evaluated by calculating their normalized root-mean-square error (NRMSE) of the FA and SAR in simulations of all data sets. Seven additional subjects were examined using an MPRAGE sequence that uses the designed pTx excitation pulses and a conventional adiabatic inversion. RESULTS All pTx pulses resulted in decreased mean NRMSE compared to a circularly polarized (CP) pulse (CP = ~28%, UPs = ~17%, and IOPs = ~12%). UPs and IOPs improved homogeneity for all subjects. Differences in NRMSE between study groups were much lower than differences between different pulse types. CONCLUSION UPs can be used to generate fast online-customized (FOCUS) pulses gaining lower NRMSE and/or lower SAR values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Herrler
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Sebastian Schmitter
- Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Maier
- Department of Computer Science, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany
| | - Manuel Schmidt
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Uder
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arnd Doerfler
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Armin M Nagel
- Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.,Institute of Medical Physics, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.,Division of Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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25
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Eberhardt B, Poser BA, Shah NJ, Felder J. Application of Evolution Strategies to the Design of SAR Efficient Parallel Transmit Multi-Spoke Pulses for Ultra-High Field MRI. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2020; 39:4225-4236. [PMID: 32763849 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2020.3013982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We present an evolution-strategy based approach to solve the magnitude least squares (MLS) design problem of low flip-angle slice-selective parallel transmit RF pulses for ultra-high field MRI using SAR and peak-RF-constraints. A combined transmit k-space trajectory and RF pulse weight optimization is proposed in two algorithmic steps. The first step is a coarse grid search to find an initial solution that fulfills all constraints for the subsequent multistage optimization. This avoids convergence to the next nearest local minimum. The second step attempts to refine the results using multiple evolution strategies. We compare the performance of our approach with the non-convex optimization methods described in the literature. The proposed algorithm converges for phantom and in vivo data and only requires an initial estimate of the range of suitable regularization parameters. It demonstrates improved excitation homogeneity compared to published spoke-design methods and allows optimization for homogeneity with a subsequent reduction in the SAR burden. Moreover, excitation homogeneity and the SAR burden can be balanced against each other, enabling a further reduction in SAR at the cost of minor relaxations in excitation homogeneity. This feature makes the algorithm a good candidate for SAR limited sequences in ultra-high field imaging. The algorithm is validated using phantom and in vivo measurements obtained with a 16-channel transmit array at 9.4T.
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26
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Abbasi-Rad S, O'Brien K, Kelly S, Vegh V, Rodell A, Tesiram Y, Jin J, Barth M, Bollmann S. Improving FLAIR SAR efficiency at 7T by adaptive tailoring of adiabatic pulse power through deep learning B 1 + estimation. Magn Reson Med 2020; 85:2462-2476. [PMID: 33226685 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to demonstrate a method for specific absorption rate (SAR) reduction for 2D T2 -FLAIR MRI sequences at 7 T by predicting the required adiabatic radiofrequency (RF) pulse power and scaling the RF amplitude in a slice-wise fashion. METHODS We used a time-resampled frequency-offset corrected inversion (TR-FOCI) adiabatic pulse for spin inversion in a T2 -FLAIR sequence to improve B 1 + homogeneity and calculated the pulse power required for adiabaticity slice-by-slice to minimize the SAR. Drawing on the implicit B 1 + inhomogeneity in a standard localizer scan, we acquired 3D AutoAlign localizers and SA2RAGE B 1 + maps in 28 volunteers. Then, we trained a convolutional neural network (CNN) to estimate the B 1 + profile from the localizers and calculated pulse scale factors for each slice. We assessed the predicted B 1 + profiles and the effect of scaled pulse amplitudes on the FLAIR inversion efficiency in oblique transverse, sagittal, and coronal orientations. RESULTS The predicted B 1 + amplitude maps matched the measured ones with a mean difference of 9.5% across all slices and participants. The slice-by-slice scaling of the TR-FOCI inversion pulse was most effective in oblique transverse orientation and resulted in a 1 min and 30 s reduction in SAR induced delay time while delivering identical image quality. CONCLUSION We propose a SAR reduction technique based on the estimation of B 1 + profiles from standard localizer scans using a CNN and show that scaling the inversion pulse power slice-by-slice for FLAIR sequences at 7T reduces SAR and scan time without compromising image quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahrokh Abbasi-Rad
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kieran O'Brien
- Siemens Healthcare Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Samuel Kelly
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Viktor Vegh
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anders Rodell
- Siemens Healthcare Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yasvir Tesiram
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jin Jin
- Siemens Healthcare Pty Ltd, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Markus Barth
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Steffen Bollmann
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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27
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Oran OF, Klassen LM, Gilbert KM, Gati JS, Menon RS. Elimination of low-inversion-efficiency induced artifacts in whole-brain MP2RAGE using multiple RF-shim configurations at 7 T. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2020; 33:e4387. [PMID: 32749022 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The magnetization-prepared two-rapid-gradient-echo (MP2RAGE) sequence is used for structural T1 -weighted imaging and T1 mapping of the human brain. In this sequence, adiabatic inversion RF pulses are commonly used, which require the B1+ magnitude to be above a certain threshold. Achieving this threshold in the whole brain may not be possible at ultra-high fields because of the short RF wavelength. This results in low-inversion regions especially in the inferior brain (eg cerebellum and temporal lobes), which is reflected as regions of bright signal in MP2RAGE images. This study aims at eliminating the low-inversion-efficiency induced artifacts in MP2RAGE images at 7 T. The proposed technique takes advantage of parallel RF transmission systems by splitting the brain into two overlapping slabs and calculating the complex weights of transmit channels (ie RF shims) on these slabs for excitation and inversion independently. RF shims were calculated using fast methods implemented in the standard workflow. The excitation RF pulse was designed to obtain slabs with flat plateaus and sharp edges. These slabs were joined into a single volume during the online image reconstruction. The two-slab strategy naturally results in a signal-to-noise ratio loss; however, it allowed the use of independent shims to make the B1+ field exceed the adiabatic threshold in the inferior brain, eliminating regions of low inversion efficiency. Accordingly, the normalized root-mean-square errors in the inversion were reduced to below 2%. The two-slab strategy was found to outperform subject-specific kT -point inversion RF pulses in terms of inversion error. The proposed strategy is a simple yet effective method to eliminate low-inversion-efficiency artifacts; consequently, MP2RAGE-based, artifact-free T1 -weighted structural images were obtained in the whole brain at 7 T.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer F Oran
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - L Martyn Klassen
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kyle M Gilbert
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Joseph S Gati
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ravi S Menon
- Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
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28
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Roberts NT, Hinshaw LA, Colgan TJ, Ii T, Hernando D, Reeder SB. B 0 and B 1 inhomogeneities in the liver at 1.5 T and 3.0 T. Magn Reson Med 2020; 85:2212-2220. [PMID: 33107109 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this work is to characterize the magnitude and variability of B0 and B1 inhomogeneities in the liver in large cohorts of patients at both 1.5 T and 3.0 T. METHODS Volumetric B0 and B1 maps were acquired over the liver of patients presenting for routine abdominal MRI. Regions of interest were drawn in the nine Couinaud segments of the liver, and the average value was recorded. Magnitude and variation of measured averages in each segment were reported across all patients. RESULTS A total of 316 B0 maps and 314 B1 maps, acquired at 1.5 T and 3.0 T on a variety of GE Healthcare MRI systems in 630 unique exams, were identified, analyzed, and, in the interest of reproducible research, de-identified and made public. Measured B0 inhomogeneities ranged (5th-95th percentiles) from -31.7 Hz to 164.0 Hz for 3.0 T (-14.5 Hz to 81.3 Hz at 1.5 T), while measured B1 inhomogeneities (ratio of actual over prescribed flip angle) ranged from 0.59 to 1.13 for 3.0 T (0.83 to 1.11 at 1.5 T). CONCLUSION This study provides robust characterization of B0 and B1 inhomogeneities in the liver to guide the development of imaging applications and protocols. Field strength, bore diameter, and sex were determined to be statistically significant effects for both B0 and B1 uniformity. Typical clinical liver imaging at 3.0 T should expect B0 inhomogeneities ranging from approximately -100 Hz to 250 Hz (-50 Hz to 150 Hz at 1.5 T) and B1 inhomogeneities ranging from approximately 0.4 to 1.3 (0.7 to 1.2 at 1.5 T).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan T Roberts
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Louis A Hinshaw
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Timothy J Colgan
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Takanori Ii
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Radiology, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Diego Hernando
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Scott B Reeder
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.,Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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29
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Orzada S, Fiedler TM, Bitz AK, Ladd ME, Quick HH. Local SAR compression with overestimation control to reduce maximum relative SAR overestimation and improve multi-channel RF array performance. MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2020; 34:153-163. [PMID: 32964299 PMCID: PMC7910258 DOI: 10.1007/s10334-020-00890-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Objective In local SAR compression algorithms, the overestimation is generally not linearly dependent on actual local SAR. This can lead to large relative overestimation at low actual SAR values, unnecessarily constraining transmit array performance. Method Two strategies are proposed to reduce maximum relative overestimation for a given number of VOPs. The first strategy uses an overestimation matrix that roughly approximates actual local SAR; the second strategy uses a small set of pre-calculated VOPs as the overestimation term for the compression. Result Comparison with a previous method shows that for a given maximum relative overestimation the number of VOPs can be reduced by around 20% at the cost of a higher absolute overestimation at high actual local SAR values. Conclusion The proposed strategies outperform a previously published strategy and can improve the SAR compression where maximum relative overestimation constrains the performance of parallel transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Orzada
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University Duisburg-Essen, Kokereiallee 7, 45141, Essen, Germany. .,High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany.
| | - Thomas M Fiedler
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas K Bitz
- Electromagnetic Theory and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, FH Aachen, University of Applied Sciences, 52066, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mark E Ladd
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University Duisburg-Essen, Kokereiallee 7, 45141, Essen, Germany.,Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 226, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 672, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Harald H Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, University Duisburg-Essen, Kokereiallee 7, 45141, Essen, Germany.,High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany
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30
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Jamil R, Mauconduit F, Gras V, Boulant N. General gradient delay correction method in bipolar multispoke RF pulses using trim blips. Magn Reson Med 2020; 85:1004-1012. [PMID: 32851654 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To correct with gradient trim blips for gradient delays in bipolar-spoke RF pulses in slice-selective and slab-selective excitations, compatible with tilted acquisitions and anisotropic delays. THEORY The effect of small gradient delays with respect to RF pulses results in a dephasing of the second RF spoke, proportional to the slab-selection gradient amplitude and the distance of the slice center from the magnet isocenter. Accordingly, adding a trim blip along the corresponding logical gradient axis between the two spokes compensates for the same dephasing, and therefore cancels the gradient delay effects, regardless of position and orientation. METHODS Gradient delays on different axes were first measured on a 7T system based on an imaging method. Parallel transmission universal bipolar spokes were designed offline to mitigate the RF field inhomogeneity problem in the human brain. Trim blips were used to compensate for the known delays, which was validated with flip angle and temporal SNR measurements on two different volunteers at 7 T. RESULTS Pulses corrected with trim blips greatly reduced gradient delay effects. Acquisitions made with corrected and noncorrected pulses showed good fidelity with simulations. CONCLUSIONS Unlike time or phase-shifting approaches, trim blip-based methods apply to all possible bipolar spoke scenarios such as slice excitations, slab excitations, and anisotropy in the gradient delays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Redouane Jamil
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, BAOBAB, NeuroSpin, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Franck Mauconduit
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, BAOBAB, NeuroSpin, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Vincent Gras
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, BAOBAB, NeuroSpin, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Nicolas Boulant
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, BAOBAB, NeuroSpin, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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31
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Van Damme L, Mauconduit F, Chambrion T, Boulant N, Gras V. Universal nonselective excitation and refocusing pulses with improved robustness to off-resonance for Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 7 Tesla with parallel transmission. Magn Reson Med 2020; 85:678-693. [PMID: 32755064 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE In MRI at ultra-high field, the k T -point and spiral nonselective (SPINS) pulse design techniques can be advantageously combined with the parallel transmission (pTX) and universal pulse techniques to create uniform excitation in a calibration-free manner. However, in these approaches, pulse duration is typically increased as compared to standard hard pulses, and excitation quality in regions exhibiting large resonance frequency offsets often suffer. This limitation is inherent to structure of k T -point or SPINS pulse, and likely can be mitigated using parameterization-free pulse design approaches. METHODS The Gradient Ascent Pulse Engineering (GRAPE) algorithm was used to design parameterization-free RF and magnetic field gradient (MFG) waveforms for creating 8 ∘ excitation, up to 105 ∘ scalable refocusing and inversion, nonselectively across the brain. Simulations were performed to provide flip angle normalized root-mean-squares error (FA-NRMSE) estimations for the 8 ∘ and the 180 ∘ k T -point, SPINS, and GRAPE pulses. GRAPE pulses were tested experimentally with anatomical head scans at 7T. RESULTS As compared to k T -points and SPINS, GRAPE provided substantial improvement of excitation, refocusing, and inversion quality at off-resonance while at least preserving the same global FA-NRMSE performance. As compared to k T -points, GRAPE allowed for a substantial reduction of the pulse duration for the 8 ∘ excitation and the 105 ∘ refocusing. CONCLUSIONS Parameterization-free universal nonselective pTX-pulses were successfully computed using GRAPE. Performance gains as compared to k T -points were validated numerically and experimentally for three imaging protocols. In its current implementation, the computational burden of GRAPE limits its use to applications where pulse computations are not subject to time constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Van Damme
- Institut Elie Cartan, Université de Nancy, Nancy, France.,CEA, CNRS, BAOBAB, NeuroSpin, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - F Mauconduit
- CEA, CNRS, BAOBAB, NeuroSpin, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - T Chambrion
- Institut Elie Cartan, Université de Nancy, Nancy, France.,INRIA Nancy Grand Est, Vandœuvre, France
| | - N Boulant
- CEA, CNRS, BAOBAB, NeuroSpin, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - V Gras
- CEA, CNRS, BAOBAB, NeuroSpin, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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32
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Velocity encoding and velocity compensation for multi-spoke RF excitation. Magn Reson Imaging 2020; 66:69-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2019.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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33
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Comparison of SMS-EPI and 3D-EPI at 7T in an fMRI localizer study with matched spatiotemporal resolution and homogenized excitation profiles. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225286. [PMID: 31751410 PMCID: PMC6872176 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The simultaneous multi-slice EPI (SMS-EPI, a.k.a. MB-EPI) sequence has met immense popularity recently in functional neuroimaging. A still less common alternative is the use of 3D-EPI, which offers similar acceleration capabilities. The aim of this work was to compare the SMS-EPI and the 3D-EPI sequences in terms of sampling strategies for the detection of task-evoked activations at 7T using detection theory. To this end, the spatial and temporal resolutions of the sequences were matched (1.6 mm isotropic resolution, TR = 1200 ms) and their excitation profiles were homogenized by means of calibration-free parallel-transmission (Universal Pulses). We used a fast-event “localizer” paradigm of 5:20 min in order to probe sensorimotor functions (visual, auditory and motor tasks) as well as higher level functions (language comprehension, mental calculation), where results from a previous large-scale study at 3T (N = 81) served as ground-truth reference for the brain areas implicated in each cognitive function. In the current study, ten subjects were scanned while their activation maps were generated for each cognitive function with the GLM analysis. The SMS-EPI and 3D-EPI sequences were compared in terms of raw tSNR, t-score testing for the mean signal, activation strength and accuracy of the robust sensorimotor functions. To this end, the sensitivity and specificity of these contrasts were computed by comparing their activation maps to the reference brain areas obtained in the 3T study. Estimated flip angle distributions in the brain reported a normalized root mean square deviation from the target value below 10% for both sequences. The analysis of the t-score testing for the mean signal revealed temporal noise correlations, suggesting the use of this metric instead of the traditional tSNR for testing fMRI sequences. The SMS-EPI and 3D-EPI thereby yielded similar performance from a detection theory perspective.
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Gao Y, Han J, Zhu Y, Wang J, Wei X, Xin X. Channel-combination method for phase-based |B 1+| mapping techniques. Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 65:1-7. [PMID: 31670236 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to propose a channel combination method for |B1+| mapping methods using phase difference to reconstruct |B1+| map. THEORY AND METHODS Phase-based |B1+| mapping methods commonly consider the phase difference of two scans to measure |B1+|. Multiple receiver coils acquire a number of images and the phase difference at each channel is theoretically the same in the absence of noise. Affected by noise, phase difference is approximately governed by Gaussian distribution. Considering data from all channels as samples, estimation can be achieved by maximum likelihood method. With this method, all phase differences at each channel are combined into one. In this study, the proposed method is applied with Bloch-Siegert shift |B1+| mapping method. Simulations are performed to illustrate the phase difference distribution and demonstrate the feasibility and facility of the proposed method. Phantom and vivo experiments are carried out at 1.5 T scanner equipped with 8-channel receiver coil. In all experiments, the proposed method is compared with weighted averaging (WA) method. RESULTS Simulations revealed appropriateness of approximating the distribution of phase difference to Gaussian distribution. Compared with WA method, the proposed method reduces errors of |B1+| calculation. Phantom and vivo experiments provide further validation. CONCLUSION Considering phase noise distribution, the proposed method achieves channel combination by finding the estimation from data acquired by multiple receivers coil. The proposed method reduces |B1+| reconstruction errors caused by noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunyu Gao
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, No. 1023-1063 Shatai South Road, Baiyun district, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province 510515, China
| | - Jijun Han
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, No. 1023-1063 Shatai South Road, Baiyun district, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province 510515, China
| | - Yurong Zhu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, No. 1023-1063 Shatai South Road, Baiyun district, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province 510515, China
| | - Jiajia Wang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, No. 1023-1063 Shatai South Road, Baiyun district, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province 510515, China
| | - Xinhua Wei
- Department of Radiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, No. 1 Panfu Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City, Guangzhou Province 510180, China
| | - Xuegang Xin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, No. 1023-1063 Shatai South Road, Baiyun district, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province 510515, China; School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Centre, Panyu District, Guangzhou City, Guangzhou Province 510006, China.
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Orzada S, Solbach K, Gratz M, Brunheim S, Fiedler TM, Johst S, Bitz AK, Shooshtary S, Abuelhaija A, Voelker MN, Rietsch SHG, Kraff O, Maderwald S, Flöser M, Oehmigen M, Quick HH, Ladd ME. A 32-channel parallel transmit system add-on for 7T MRI. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222452. [PMID: 31513637 PMCID: PMC6742215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE A 32-channel parallel transmit (pTx) add-on for 7 Tesla whole-body imaging is presented. First results are shown for phantom and in-vivo imaging. METHODS The add-on system consists of a large number of hardware components, including modulators, amplifiers, SAR supervision, peripheral devices, a control computer, and an integrated 32-channel transmit/receive body array. B1+ maps in a phantom as well as B1+ maps and structural images in large volunteers are acquired to demonstrate the functionality of the system. EM simulations are used to ensure safe operation. RESULTS Good agreement between simulation and experiment is shown. Phantom and in-vivo acquisitions show a field of view of up to 50 cm in z-direction. Selective excitation with 100 kHz sampling rate is possible. The add-on system does not affect the quality of the original single-channel system. CONCLUSION The presented 32-channel parallel transmit system shows promising performance for ultra-high field whole-body imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Orzada
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Klaus Solbach
- RF & Microwave Technology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Marcel Gratz
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Sascha Brunheim
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Thomas M. Fiedler
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sören Johst
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Andreas K. Bitz
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Electromagnetic Theory and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, FH Aachen – University of Applied Sciences, Aachen, Germany
| | - Samaneh Shooshtary
- RF & Microwave Technology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Ashraf Abuelhaija
- RF & Microwave Technology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian N. Voelker
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefan H. G. Rietsch
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Oliver Kraff
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefan Maderwald
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Martina Flöser
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mark Oehmigen
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Harald H. Quick
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- High-Field and Hybrid MR Imaging, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Mark E. Ladd
- Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Physics and Astronomy and Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Saib G, Gras V, Mauconduit F, Boulant N, Vignaud A, Brugières P, Le Bihan D, Le Brusquet L, Amadon A. Time-of-flight angiography at 7T using TONE double spokes with parallel transmission. Magn Reson Imaging 2019; 61:104-115. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2019.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Gras V, Poser BA, Wu X, Tomi-Tricot R, Boulant N. Optimizing BOLD sensitivity in the 7T Human Connectome Project resting-state fMRI protocol using plug-and-play parallel transmission. Neuroimage 2019; 195:1-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
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Tomi‐Tricot R, Gras V, Thirion B, Mauconduit F, Boulant N, Cherkaoui H, Zerbib P, Vignaud A, Luciani A, Amadon A. SmartPulse, a machine learning approach for calibration‐free dynamic RF shimming: Preliminary study in a clinical environment. Magn Reson Med 2019; 82:2016-2031. [DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Vincent Gras
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France
| | | | | | - Nicolas Boulant
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France
| | - Hamza Cherkaoui
- Parietal, Inria Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France
| | - Pierre Zerbib
- Department of Radiology AP‐HP, CHU Henri Mondor Créteil France
| | | | - Alain Luciani
- Department of Radiology AP‐HP, CHU Henri Mondor Créteil France
- Université Paris‐Est Créteil Val de Marne Créteil France
- INSERM U955, Team 18, Molecular Virology and Immunology – Physiopathology and Therapeutic of Chronic Viral Hepatitis Créteil France
| | - Alexis Amadon
- NeuroSpin, CEA, Université Paris‐Saclay Gif‐sur‐Yvette France
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Pendse M, Stara R, Khalighi MM, Rutt B. IMPULSE: A scalable algorithm for design of minimum specific absorption rate parallel transmit RF pulses. Magn Reson Med 2019; 81:2808-2822. [PMID: 30426583 PMCID: PMC6372346 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Managing local specific absorption rate (SAR) in parallel transmission requires ensuring that the peak SAR over a large number of voxels (> 10 5 ) is below the regulatory limit. The safety risk to the patient depends on cumulative (not instantaneous) SAR thus making a joint design of all RF pulses in a sequence desirable. We propose the Iterative Minimization Procedure with Uncompressed Local SAR Estimate (IMPULSE), an efficient optimization formulation and algorithm that can handle uncompressed SAR matrices and optimize pulses for all slices jointly within a practical time frame. THEORY AND METHODS IMPULSE optimizes parallel transmit pulses for small-tip-angle slice selective excitation to minimize a single cost function incorporating multiple quantities (local SAR, global SAR, and per-channel power) averaged over the entire multislice scan subject to a strict constraint on excitation accuracy. Pulses for an 8-channel 7T head coil were designed with IMPULSE and compared with pulses designed using generic optimization algorithms and VOPs to assess the computation time and SAR performance benefits. RESULTS IMPULSE achieves lower SAR and shorter computation time compared with a VOP approach. Compared with the generic sequential quadratic programming algorithm, computation time is reduced by a factor of 5-6 by using IMPULSE. Using as many as 6 million local SAR terms, up to 120 slices can be designed jointly with IMPULSE within 45 s. CONCLUSIONS IMPULSE can handle significantly larger number of SAR matrices and slices than conventional optimization algorithms, enabling the use of uncompressed or partially compressed SAR matrices to design pulses for a multislice scan in a practical time frame.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihir Pendse
- Stanford University Department of Radiology, 1201 Welch Road Stanford, CA, 94305-5105, USA
| | - Riccardo Stara
- Stanford University Department of Radiology, 1201 Welch Road Stanford, CA, 94305-5105, USA
| | | | - Brian Rutt
- Stanford University Department of Radiology, 1201 Welch Road Stanford, CA, 94305-5105, USA
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Ladd ME, Bachert P, Meyerspeer M, Moser E, Nagel AM, Norris DG, Schmitter S, Speck O, Straub S, Zaiss M. Pros and cons of ultra-high-field MRI/MRS for human application. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2018; 109:1-50. [PMID: 30527132 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 267] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopic techniques are widely used in humans both for clinical diagnostic applications and in basic research areas such as cognitive neuroimaging. In recent years, new human MR systems have become available operating at static magnetic fields of 7 T or higher (≥300 MHz proton frequency). Imaging human-sized objects at such high frequencies presents several challenges including non-uniform radiofrequency fields, enhanced susceptibility artifacts, and higher radiofrequency energy deposition in the tissue. On the other side of the scale are gains in signal-to-noise or contrast-to-noise ratio that allow finer structures to be visualized and smaller physiological effects to be detected. This review presents an overview of some of the latest methodological developments in human ultra-high field MRI/MRS as well as associated clinical and scientific applications. Emphasis is given to techniques that particularly benefit from the changing physical characteristics at high magnetic fields, including susceptibility-weighted imaging and phase-contrast techniques, imaging with X-nuclei, MR spectroscopy, CEST imaging, as well as functional MRI. In addition, more general methodological developments such as parallel transmission and motion correction will be discussed that are required to leverage the full potential of higher magnetic fields, and an overview of relevant physiological considerations of human high magnetic field exposure is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark E Ladd
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Peter Bachert
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Faculty of Physics and Astronomy, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Martin Meyerspeer
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; MR Center of Excellence, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Ewald Moser
- Center for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; MR Center of Excellence, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Armin M Nagel
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Institute of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
| | - David G Norris
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Erwin L. Hahn Institute for MRI, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Schmitter
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB), Braunschweig and Berlin, Germany.
| | - Oliver Speck
- Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioural Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Sina Straub
- Medical Physics in Radiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Moritz Zaiss
- High-Field Magnetic Resonance Center, Max-Planck-Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany.
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Wu X, Auerbach EJ, Vu AT, Moeller S, Lenglet C, Schmitter S, Van de Moortele PF, Yacoub E, Uğurbil K. High-resolution whole-brain diffusion MRI at 7T using radiofrequency parallel transmission. Magn Reson Med 2018; 80:1857-1870. [PMID: 29603381 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Investigating the utility of RF parallel transmission (pTx) for Human Connectome Project (HCP)-style whole-brain diffusion MRI (dMRI) data at 7 Tesla (7T). METHODS Healthy subjects were scanned in pTx and single-transmit (1Tx) modes. Multiband (MB), single-spoke pTx pulses were designed to image sagittal slices. HCP-style dMRI data (i.e., 1.05-mm resolutions, MB2, b-values = 1000/2000 s/mm2 , 286 images and 40-min scan) and data with higher accelerations (MB3 and MB4) were acquired with pTx. RESULTS pTx significantly improved flip-angle detected signal uniformity across the brain, yielding ∼19% increase in temporal SNR (tSNR) averaged over the brain relative to 1Tx. This allowed significantly enhanced estimation of multiple fiber orientations (with ∼21% decrease in dispersion) in HCP-style 7T dMRI datasets. Additionally, pTx pulses achieved substantially lower power deposition, permitting higher accelerations, enabling collection of the same data in 2/3 and 1/2 the scan time or of more data in the same scan time. CONCLUSION pTx provides a solution to two major limitations for slice-accelerated high-resolution whole-brain dMRI at 7T; it improves flip-angle uniformity, and enables higher slice acceleration relative to current state-of-the-art. As such, pTx provides significant advantages for rapid acquisition of high-quality, high-resolution truly whole-brain dMRI data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoping Wu
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Edward J Auerbach
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - An T Vu
- Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases, VA Healthcare System, San Francisco, California
| | - Steen Moeller
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Christophe Lenglet
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Sebastian Schmitter
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.,Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Essa Yacoub
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Kâmil Uğurbil
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Williams SN, Nielsen JF, Fessler JA, Noll DC. Design of spectral-spatial phase prewinding pulses and their use in small-tip fast recovery steady-state imaging. Magn Reson Med 2018; 79:1377-1386. [PMID: 28671320 PMCID: PMC5752636 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.26794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Spectrally selective "prewinding" radiofrequency pulses can counteract B0 inhomogeneity in steady-state sequences, but can only prephase a limited range of off-resonance. We propose spectral-spatial small-tip angle prewinding pulses that increase the off-resonance bandwidth that can be successfully prephased by incorporating spatially tailored excitation patterns. THEORY AND METHODS We present a feasibility study to compare spectral and spectral-spatial prewinding pulses. These pulses add a prephasing term to the target magnetization pattern that aims to recover an assigned off-resonance bandwidth at the echo time. For spectral-spatial pulses, the design bandwidth is centered at the off-resonance frequency for each spatial location in a field map. We use these pulses in the small-tip fast recovery steady-state sequence, which is similar to balanced steady-state free precession. We investigate improvement of spectral-spatial pulses over spectral pulses using simulations and small-tip fast recovery scans of a gel phantom and human brain. RESULTS In simulation, spectral-spatial pulses yielded lower normalized root mean squared excitation error than spectral pulses. For both experiments, the spectral-spatial pulse images are also qualitatively better (more uniform, less signal loss) than the spectral pulse images. CONCLUSION Spectral-spatial prewinding pulses can prephase over a larger range of off-resonance than their purely spectral counterparts. Magn Reson Med 79:1377-1386, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney N Williams
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jon-Fredrik Nielsen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Fessler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Douglas C Noll
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Poser BA, Setsompop K. Pulse sequences and parallel imaging for high spatiotemporal resolution MRI at ultra-high field. Neuroimage 2018; 168:101-118. [PMID: 28392492 PMCID: PMC5630499 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Revised: 04/01/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The SNR and CNR benefits of ultra-high field (UHF) have helped push the envelope of achievable spatial resolution in MRI. For applications based on susceptibility contrast where there is a large CNR gain, high quality sub-millimeter resolution imaging is now being routinely performed, particularly in fMRI and phase imaging/QSM. This has enabled the study of structure and function of very fine-scale structures in the brain. UHF has also helped push the spatial resolution of many other MRI applications as will be outlined in this review. However, this push in resolution comes at a cost of a large encoding burden leading to very lengthy scans. Developments in parallel imaging with controlled aliasing and the move away from 2D slice-by-slice imaging to much more SNR-efficient simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) and 3D acquisitions have helped address this issue. In particular, these developments have revolutionized the efficiency of UHF MRI to enable high spatiotemporal resolution imaging at an order of magnitude faster acquisition. In addition to describing the main approaches to these techniques, this review will also outline important key practical considerations in using these methods in practice. Furthermore, new RF pulse design to tackle the B1+ and SAR issues of UHF and the increased SAR and power requirement of SMS RF pulses will also be touched upon. Finally, an outlook into new developments of smart encoding in more dimensions, particularly through using better temporal/across-contrast encoding and reconstruction will be described. Just as controlled aliasing fully exploits spatial encoding in parallel imaging to provide large multiplicative gains in accelerations, the complimentary use of these new approaches in temporal and across-contrast encoding are expected to provide exciting opportunities for further large gains in efficiency to further push the spatiotemporal resolution of MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt A Poser
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
| | - Kawin Setsompop
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
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Vargas MI, Martelli P, Xin L, Ipek O, Grouiller F, Pittau F, Trampel R, Gruetter R, Vulliemoz S, Lazeyras F. Clinical Neuroimaging Using 7 T MRI: Challenges and Prospects. J Neuroimaging 2017; 28:5-13. [PMID: 29205628 DOI: 10.1111/jon.12481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this article is to illustrate the principal challenges, from the medical and technical point of view, associated with the use of ultrahigh field (UHF) scanners in the clinical setting and to present available solutions to circumvent these limitations. We would like to show the differences between UHF scanners and those used routinely in clinical practice, the principal advantages, and disadvantages, the different UHFs that are ready be applied to routine clinical practice such as susceptibility-weighted imaging, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, 3-dimensional time of flight, magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo, magnetization-prepared 2 rapid acquisition gradient echo, and diffusion-weighted imaging, the technical principles of these sequences, and the particularities of advanced techniques such as diffusion tensor imaging, spectroscopy, and functional imaging at 7TMR. Finally, the main clinical applications in the field of the neuroradiology are discussed and the side effects are reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Isabel Vargas
- Division of Neuroradiology of Geneva University Hospitals and Geneva University, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Martelli
- Animal Imaging and Technology Core (AIT), Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lijing Xin
- Animal Imaging and Technology Core (AIT), Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ozlem Ipek
- Animal Imaging and Technology Core (AIT), Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Frederic Grouiller
- CIBM, Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Geneva Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Pittau
- Division of Neurology, Epileptology Unit, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Robert Trampel
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rolf Gruetter
- Animal Imaging and Technology Core (AIT), Center for Biomedical Imaging (CIBM), Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Serge Vulliemoz
- Division of Neurology, Epileptology Unit, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Francois Lazeyras
- CIBM, Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Geneva Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Radiology of Geneva University Hospitals and CIBM, Geneva, Switzerland
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Tomi-Tricot R, Gras V, Mauconduit F, Legou F, Boulant N, Gebhardt M, Ritter D, Kiefer B, Zerbib P, Rahmouni A, Vignaud A, Luciani A, Amadon A. B1
artifact reduction in abdominal DCE-MRI using kT
-points: First clinical assessment of dynamic RF shimming at 3T. J Magn Reson Imaging 2017; 47:1562-1571. [DOI: 10.1002/jmri.25908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Vincent Gras
- NeuroSpin/UNIRS, CEA, Paris-Saclay; Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex France
| | | | - François Legou
- Department of Radiology; AP-HP, CHU Henri Mondor; Cedex France
| | - Nicolas Boulant
- NeuroSpin/UNIRS, CEA, Paris-Saclay; Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex France
| | | | | | | | - Pierre Zerbib
- Department of Radiology; AP-HP, CHU Henri Mondor; Cedex France
| | - Alain Rahmouni
- Department of Radiology; AP-HP, CHU Henri Mondor; Cedex France
- Université Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne; Créteil Cedex France
| | | | - Alain Luciani
- Department of Radiology; AP-HP, CHU Henri Mondor; Cedex France
- Université Paris-Est Créteil Val de Marne; Créteil Cedex France
- INSERM Unité U955, Equipe 18, Molecular Virology and Immunology - Physiopathology and Therapeutic of Chronic Viral Hepatitis; Créteil France
| | - Alexis Amadon
- NeuroSpin/UNIRS, CEA, Paris-Saclay; Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex France
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Grissom WA, Setsompop K, Hurley SA, Tsao J, Velikina JV, Samsonov AA. Advancing RF pulse design using an open-competition format: Report from the 2015 ISMRM challenge. Magn Reson Med 2017; 78:1352-1361. [PMID: 27790754 PMCID: PMC5408273 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.26512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 09/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To advance the best solutions to two important RF pulse design problems with an open head-to-head competition. METHODS Two sub-challenges were formulated in which contestants competed to design the shortest simultaneous multislice (SMS) refocusing pulses and slice-selective parallel transmission (pTx) excitation pulses, subject to realistic hardware and safety constraints. Short refocusing pulses are needed for spin echo SMS imaging at high multiband factors, and short slice-selective pTx pulses are needed for multislice imaging in ultra-high field MRI. Each sub-challenge comprised two phases, in which the first phase posed problems with a low barrier of entry, and the second phase encouraged solutions that performed well in general. The Challenge ran from October 2015 to May 2016. RESULTS The pTx Challenge winners developed a spokes pulse design method that combined variable-rate selective excitation with an efficient method to enforce SAR constraints, which achieved 10.6 times shorter pulse durations than conventional approaches. The SMS Challenge winners developed a time-optimal control multiband pulse design algorithm that achieved 5.1 times shorter pulse durations than conventional approaches. CONCLUSION The Challenge led to rapid step improvements in solutions to significant problems in RF excitation for SMS imaging and ultra-high field MRI. Magn Reson Med 78:1352-1361, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A. Grissom
- Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kawin Setsompop
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Julia V. Velikina
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA
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47
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Ertan K, Atalar E. Simultaneous use of linear and nonlinear gradients for B 1+ inhomogeneity correction. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2017; 30:e3742. [PMID: 28543797 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.3742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The simultaneous use of linear spatial encoding magnetic fields (L-SEMs) and nonlinear spatial encoding magnetic fields (N-SEMs) in B1+ inhomogeneity problems is formulated and demonstrated with both simulations and experiments. Independent excitation k-space variables for N-SEMs are formulated for the simultaneous use of L-SEMs and N-SEMs by assuming a small tip angle. The formulation shows that, when N-SEMs are considered as an independent excitation k-space variable, numerous different k-space trajectories and frequency weightings differing in dimension, length, and energy can be designed for a given target transverse magnetization distribution. The advantage of simultaneous use of L-SEMs and N-SEMs is demonstrated by B1+ inhomogeneity correction with spoke excitation. To fully utilize the independent k-space formulations, global optimizations are performed for 1D, 2D RF power limited, and 2D RF power unlimited simulations and experiments. Three different cases are compared: L-SEMs alone, N-SEMs alone, and both used simultaneously. In all cases, the simultaneous use of L-SEMs and N-SEMs leads to a decreased standard deviation in the ROI compared with using only L-SEMs or N-SEMs. The simultaneous use of L-SEMs and N-SEMs results in better B1+ inhomogeneity correction than using only L-SEMs or N-SEMs due to the increased number of degrees of freedom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koray Ertan
- National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM), Bilkent University, Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Bilkent University, Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ergin Atalar
- National Magnetic Resonance Research Center (UMRAM), Bilkent University, Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Bilkent University, Bilkent, Ankara, Turkey
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48
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Gras V, Boland M, Vignaud A, Ferrand G, Amadon A, Mauconduit F, Le Bihan D, Stöcker T, Boulant N. Homogeneous non-selective and slice-selective parallel-transmit excitations at 7 Tesla with universal pulses: A validation study on two commercial RF coils. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183562. [PMID: 28827835 PMCID: PMC5565195 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Parallel transmission (pTx) technology, despite its great potential to mitigate the transmit field inhomogeneity problem in magnetic resonance imaging at ultra-high field (UHF), suffers from a cumbersome calibration procedure, thereby making the approach problematic for routine use. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate on two different 7T systems respectively equipped with 8-transmit-channel RF coils from two different suppliers (Rapid-Biomed and Nova Medical), the benefit of so-called universal pulses (UP), optimized to produce uniform excitations in the brain in a population of adults and making unnecessary the calibration procedures mentioned above. Non-selective and slice-selective UPs were designed to return homogeneous excitation profiles throughout the brain simultaneously on a group of ten subjects, which then were subsequently tested on ten additional volunteers in magnetization prepared rapid gradient echo (MPRAGE) and multi-slice gradient echo (2D GRE) protocols. The results were additionally compared experimentally with the standard non-pTx circularly-polarized (CP) mode, and in simulation with subject-specific tailored excitations. For both pulse types and both coils, the UP mode returned a better signal and contrast homogeneity than the CP mode. Retrospective analysis of the flip angle (FA) suggests that the FA deviation from the nominal FA on average over a healthy adult population does not exceed 11% with the calibration-free parallel-transmit pulses whereas it goes beyond 25% with the CP mode. As a result the universal pulses designed in this work confirm their relevance in 3D and 2D protocols with commercially available equipment. Plug-and-play pTx implementations henceforth become accessible to exploit with more flexibility the potential of UHF for brain imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Gras
- CEA/DRF/Joliot/NeuroSpin/Unirs, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Markus Boland
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | | | | | - Alexis Amadon
- CEA/DRF/Joliot/NeuroSpin/Unirs, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | | | | | - Tony Stöcker
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Nicolas Boulant
- CEA/DRF/Joliot/NeuroSpin/Unirs, Gif sur Yvette, France
- * E-mail:
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49
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Weingärtner S, Zimmer F, Metzger GJ, Uğurbil K, Van de Moortele PF, Akçakaya M. Motion-robust cardiac B1+ mapping at 3T using interleaved bloch-siegert shifts. Magn Reson Med 2017; 78:670-677. [PMID: 27599782 PMCID: PMC5340643 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.26395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 08/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop and evaluate a robust motion-insensitive Bloch-Siegert shift based B1+ mapping method in the heart. METHODS Cardiac Bloch-Siegert B1+ mapping was performed with interleaved positive and negative off-resonance shifts and diastolic spoiled gradient echo imaging in 12 heartbeats. Numerical simulations were performed to study the impact of respiratory motion. The method was compared with three-dimensional (3D) actual flip angle imaging (AFI) and two-dimensional (2D) saturated double angle method (SDAM) in phantom scans. Cardiac B1+ maps of three different views were acquired in six healthy volunteers using Bloch-Siegert and SDAM during breath-hold and free breathing. In vivo maps were evaluated for inter-view consistency using the correlation coefficients of the B1+ profiles along the lines of intersection between the views. RESULTS For the Bloch-Siegert sequence, numerical simulations indicated high similarity between breath-hold and free breathing scans, and phantom results indicated low deviation from the 3D AFI reference (normalized root mean square error [NRMSE] = 2.0%). Increased deviation was observed with 2D SDAM (NRMSE = 5.0%) due to underestimation caused by imperfect excitation slice profiles. Breath-hold and free breathing Bloch-Siegert in vivo B1+ maps were visually comparable with no significant difference in the inter-view consistency (P > 0.36). SDAM showed strongly impaired B1+ map quality during free breathing. Inter-view consistency was significantly lower than with the Bloch-Siegert method (breath-hold: P = 0.014, free breathing: P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION The proposed interleaved Bloch-Siegert sequence enables cardiac B1+ mapping with improved inter-view consistency and high resilience to respiratory motion. Magn Reson Med 78:670-677, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Weingärtner
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Fabian Zimmer
- Computer Assisted Clinical Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Gregory J Metzger
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kâmil Uğurbil
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Mehmet Akçakaya
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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50
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Hsu YC, Lattanzi R, Chu YH, Cloos MA, Sodickson DK, Lin FH. Mitigation of B1+ inhomogeneity using spatially selective excitation with jointly designed quadratic spatial encoding magnetic fields and RF shimming. Magn Reson Med 2017; 78:577-587. [PMID: 27696518 PMCID: PMC5538365 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.26397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The inhomogeneity of flip angle distribution is a major challenge impeding the application of high-field MRI. We report a method combining spatially selective excitation using generalized spatial encoding magnetic fields (SAGS) with radiofrequency (RF) shimming to achieve homogeneous excitation. This method can be an alternative approach to address the challenge of B1+ inhomogeneity using nonlinear gradients. METHODS We proposed a two-step algorithm that jointly optimizes the combination of nonlinear spatial encoding magnetic fields and the combination of multiple RF transmitter coils and then optimizes the locations, RF amplitudes, and phases of the spokes. RESULTS Our results show that jointly designed SAGS and RF shimming can provide a more homogeneous flip angle distribution than using SAGS or RF shimming alone. Compared with RF shimming alone, our approach can reduce the relative standard deviation of flip angle by 56% and 52% using phantom and human head data, respectively. CONCLUSION The jointly designed SAGS and RF shimming method can be used to achieve homogeneous flip angle distributions when fully parallel RF transmission is not available. Magn Reson Med 78:577-587, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Cheng Hsu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Riccardo Lattanzi
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR) and Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 1 Ave. New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Ying-Hua Chu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Martijn A. Cloos
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR) and Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 1 Ave. New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Daniel K. Sodickson
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR) and Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 660 1 Ave. New York, NY 10016 USA
| | - Fa-Hsuan Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering, Aalto University School of Science, Espoo, Finland
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