Using High-Pass Filter to Enhance Scan Specific Learning for MRI Reconstruction without Any Extra Training Data.

In accelerated MRI, the robust artificial-neural-network for k-space interpolation (RAKI) method is an attractive learning-based reconstruction that does not require additional training data. This study was focused on obtaining high quality MR images from regular under-sampled multi-coil k-space data using a high-pass filtered RAKI (HP-RAKI) reconstruction without any extra training data. MRI scan from human subjects was under-sampled with a regular pattern using skipped phase encoding and a fully sampled k-space center.

Improving accelerated MRI by deep learning with sparsified complex data.

Purpose: To obtain high-quality accelerated MR images with complex-valued reconstruction from undersampled k-space data.

Methods: The MRI scans from human subjects were retrospectively undersampled with a regular pattern using skipped phase encoding, leading to ghosts in zero-filling reconstruction. A complex difference transform along the phase-encoding direction was applied in image domain to yield sparsified complex-valued edge maps.

Motion resilience of the balanced steady-state free precession geometric solution.

Purpose: Many MRI sequences are sensitive to motion and its associated artifacts. The linearized geometric solution (LGS), a balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) off-resonance signal demodulation technique, is evaluated with respect to motion artifact resilience.

Theory And Methods: The mechanism and extent of LGS motion artifact resilience is examined in simulated, flow phantom, and in vivo clinical imaging.

A data-driven T relaxation analysis approach for myelin water imaging: Spectrum analysis for multiple exponentials via experimental condition oriented simulation (SAME-ECOS).

Purpose: The decomposition of multi-exponential decay data into a T spectrum poses substantial challenges for conventional fitting algorithms, including non-negative least squares (NNLS). Based on a combination of the resolution limit constraint and machine learning neural network algorithm, a data-driven and highly tailorable analysis method named spectrum analysis for multiple exponentials via experimental condition oriented simulation (SAME-ECOS) was proposed.

Theory And Methods: The theory of SAME-ECOS was derived.

Myelin water imaging data analysis in less than one minute.

Purpose: Based on a deep learning neural network (NN) algorithm, a super fast and easy to implement data analysis method was proposed for myelin water imaging (MWI) to calculate the myelin water fraction (MWF).

Methods: A NN was constructed and trained on MWI data acquired by a 32-echo 3D gradient and spin echo (GRASE) sequence. Ground truth labels were created by regularized non-negative least squares (NNLS) with stimulated echo corrections.

Combined geometric and algebraic solutions for removal of bSSFP banding artifacts with performance comparisons.

Purpose: Balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) imaging suffers from off-resonance artifacts such as signal modulation and banding. Solutions for removal of bSSFP off-resonance dependence are described and compared, and an optimal solution is proposed.

Theory And Methods: An Algebraic Solution (AS) that complements a previously described Geometric Solution (GS) is derived from four phase-cycled bSSFP datasets.

Improving image quality for skipped phase encoding and edge deghosting (SPEED) by exploiting several sparsifying transforms.

Purpose: To improve the image quality of skipped phase encoding and edge deghosting (SPEED) by exploiting several sparsifying transforms.

Methods: The SPEED technique uses a skipped phase encoding (PE) step to accelerate MRI scan. Previously, a difference transform (DT) along PE direction is used to obtain sparse ghosted-edge maps, which were modeled by a double layer ghost model and was then deghosted by a least square error solution.

Somatic mosaicism for the p.His1047Arg mutation in PIK3CA in a girl with mesenteric lipomatosis.

We describe a patient who presented with a localized growth of mature fat tissue, which was surgically removed. MRI imaging identified diffuse increase in visceral adipose tissue. Targeted deep sequencing of the resected tissue uncovered a p.

Banding artifact removal for bSSFP imaging with an elliptical signal model.

Purpose: Balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) imaging has broad clinical applications by virtue of its high time efficiency and desirable contrast. Unfortunately, banding artifact is often seen as a result of signal modulation due to B0 inhomogeneity. This study aims to develop an effective method for banding artifact suppression.

Accelerated MRI by SPEED with generalized sampling schemes.

Purpose: To enhance the fast imaging technique of skipped phase encoding (PE) and edge deghosting (SPEED) for more general sampling options, and thus more flexibility in implementations and applications.

Methods: SPEED uses skipped PE steps to accelerate MRI scan. Previously, the PE skip size was chosen from prime numbers only.

Accelerating phase contrast MR angiography by simplified skipped phase encoding and edge deghosting with array coil enhancement.

Purpose: The aim of this work is to investigate the feasibility of accelerating phase contrast magnetic resonance angiography (PC-MRA) by the fast imaging method of simplified skipped phase encoding and edge deghosting with array coil enhancement (S-SPEED-ACE).

Methods: The parallel imaging method of skipped phase encoding and edge deghosting with array coil enhancement (SPEED-ACE) is simplified for imaging sparse objects like phase contrast MRA. This approach is termed S-SPEED-ACE in which k-space is sparsely sampled with skipped phase encoding at every Nth step using multiple receiver coils simultaneously.

Applications of stimulated echo correction to multicomponent T2 analysis.

We propose a multicomponent fitting algorithm for multiecho T(2) data which allows for correction of T(2) distributions in the presence of stimulated echoes. Tracking the population of spins in many coherence pathways via the iterated method of the Extended Phase Graph algorithm allows for accurate quantification of echo magnitudes. The resulting decay curves allow for correction of errors due to nonideal refocusing pulses as a result of inhomogeneities in the B(1) transmit field.

Accelerating non-contrast-enhanced MR angiography with inflow inversion recovery imaging by skipped phase encoding and edge deghosting (SPEED).

Purpose: To accelerate non-contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) with inflow inversion recovery (IFIR) with a fast imaging method, Skipped Phase Encoding and Edge Deghosting (SPEED).

Materials And Methods: IFIR imaging uses a preparatory inversion pulse to reduce signals from static tissue, while leaving inflow arterial blood unaffected, resulting in sparse arterial vasculature on modest tissue background. By taking advantage of vascular sparsity, SPEED can be simplified with a single-layer model to achieve higher efficiency in both scan time reduction and image reconstruction.

Efficient multiple acquisitions by Skipped Phase Encoding and Edge Deghosting (SPEED) using shared spatial information.

The fast MRI method of Skipped Phase Encoding and Edge Deghosting (SPEED) is further developed to accelerate multiple acquisitions. In a single acquisition, SPEED first acquires three sparse ghosted edge maps with an undersampling factor of N/3, which are modeled with a double-layer structure and described by three equations with two unknown ghosts, each with a unique ghost order index. By minimizing least-square-error, a pair of ghost order indexes is determined.

Simplified skipped phase encoding and edge deghosting (SPEED) for imaging sparse objects with applications to MRA.

The fast imaging method named skipped phase encoding and edge deghosting (SPEED) has been demonstrated to reduce scan time considerably with typical magnetic resonance imaging data. In this work, SPEED is simplified with improved efficiency to accelerate the scan of sparse objects; we refer to this method as S-SPEED. S-SPEED partially samples k-space into two interleaved data sets, each with the same skip size of N but a different relative shift in phase encoding.

Correction for geometric distortion and N/2 ghosting in EPI by phase labeling for additional coordinate encoding (PLACE).

Echo-planar imaging (EPI) is vulnerable to geometric distortion and N/2 ghosting. These artifacts can be analyzed with an intuitive k-t space tool, and here we propose a simple method for their correction. In a slightly modified additional EPI acquisition, we sample the k-t space with a shift in k(y) by adding a small area to the phase-encoding (PE) gradient.

Highly accelerated MRI by skipped phase encoding and edge deghosting with array coil enhancement (SPEED-ACE).

The fast MRI method of skipped phase encoding and edge deghosting (SPEED) is further developed with array coil enhancement, and thus is termed SPEED-ACE. In SPEED-ACE, k space is sparsely sampled with skipped phase encoding at every Nth step using a set of receiver coils simultaneously, similar to SENSE, leading to sensitivity-weighted images with up to N layers of overlapping aliasing ghosts. The ghosted images are edge enhanced by a differential filter to yield ghosted edge maps, in which the ghost overlapping layers are greatly reduced since the sparseness of edges reduces the chance of ghost overlapping.

Two-point water-fat imaging with partially-opposed-phase (POP) acquisition: an asymmetric Dixon method.

A novel two-point water-fat imaging method is introduced. In addition to the in-phase acquisition, water and fat magnetization vectors are sampled at partially-opposed-phase (POP) rather than exactly antiparallel as in the original Dixon method. This asymmetric sampling encodes more valuable phase information for identifying water and fat.

Nonlinear phase correction with an extended statistical algorithm.

This paper presents a new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) phase correction method. The linear phase correction method using autocorrelation proposed by Ahn and Cho (AC method) is extended to handle nonlinear terms, which are often important for polynomial expansion of phase variation in MRI. The polynomial coefficients are statistically determined from a cascade series of n-pixel-shift rotational differential fields (RDFs).

Accelerating MRI by skipped phase encoding and edge deghosting (SPEED).

A fast imaging method called skipped phase encoding and edge deghosting (SPEED) is introduced. The k-space is sparsely sampled into three interleaved datasets, each with a skip-size N and a relative shift in phase encoding (PE). These datasets are separately reconstructed by 2DFT and edge-enhanced by a differential filter in the PE direction, resulting in edge maps with phase-shifted aliasing ghosts.

Quantitative evaluation of metal artifact reduction techniques.

Purpose: To develop a technique to quantify artifact, and to use it to compare the effectiveness of several approaches to metal artifact reduction, including view angle tilting and increasing the slice select and image bandwidths (BWs), in terms of metal artifact reduction, noise, and blur.

Materials And Methods: Nonmetallic replicas of two metal implants (stainless steel and titanium/chromium-cobalt femoral prostheses) were fabricated from wax, and MR images were obtained of each component immersed in water. The differences between the images of each metal prosthesis and its wax counterpart were measured.

Linear combination of multiecho data: short T2 component selection.

The myelin sheath, which is wrapped around the axons in the brain, can be affected by many diseases, resulting in cognitive and physical disability. Other work showed water in the myelin sheath has a T2 approximately 15 ms. The current standard technique to estimate the fraction of myelin water in vivo is to collect multiecho data and fit the decay curves using a nonnegative least-squares (NNLS) algorithm.

Understanding phase maps in MRI: a new cutline phase unwrapping method.

This paper describes phase maps. A review of the phase unwrapping problem is given. Different structures, in particular fringelines, cutlines, and poles, contained within a phase map are described and their origin and behavior investigated.