Systems and methods for imaging and quantifying tissue magnetism with magnetic resonance imaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016252597-A1
Application number	US-201615065803-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2016
Priority date	Jun 15, 2011
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for imaging and quantifying tissue magnetism with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method for MRI includes using an MRI system to acquire multiple image echoes of an object. The method also includes combining the image echoes. Further, the method includes generating an image of the object based on the combined image echoes for depicting a characteristic of the object.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the method comprising:
using an MRI system to acquire a plurality of image echoes of an object; combining the image echoes; and generating an image of the object based on the combined image echoes for depicting a characteristic of the object.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to apply a magnetic field to the object.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to acquire the image echoes at a single or a plurality of orientations of the object relative to a magnetic field generated by the MRI system.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to continuously acquire image data of the object.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to acquire the image echoes by one of spin wrap, interleaved spiral, partial and segmented echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectories.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to acquire each image echo by a segmented three-dimensional echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectory.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein combining the image echoes comprises applying one of multi-echo averaging and multi-echo weighted averaging to the image echoes.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the image of the object comprises generating an image of magnetic susceptibility based on the combined image echoes.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein generating the image of magnetic susceptibility comprises:
generating a phase image based on the combined image echoes; and applying a Laplacian operator to the phase image.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein applying the Laplacian operator comprises removing phase components originating from outside a field of view.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising applying a spherical mean value (SMV) filtering technique to clean background phase.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the image comprises:
partitioning a k-space of the combined image echoes into a trusted region and an ill-posed region; and one of applying a derivative and Fourier relationship and applying a compressed sensing technique to the combined image echoes.

13 . A magnetic resonance imaging (Mill) system comprising:
an Mill device configured to acquire a plurality of image echoes of an object; and an image generator configured to:
combine the image echoes; and
generate an image of the object based on the combined image echoes for depicting a characteristic of the object.

14 . The MRI system of claim 13 , wherein the Mill device is configured to apply a magnetic field to the object.

15 . The MRI system of claim 13 , wherein the Mill device is configured to acquire the image echoes at a single or a plurality of orientations of the object relative to a magnetic field generated by the MRI system.

16 . The MRI system of claim 13 , wherein the Mill device is configured to continuously acquire image data of the object.

17 . The MRI system of claim 13 , wherein the Mill device is configured to acquire the image echoes by one of spin wrap, interleaved spiral, and segmented echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectories.

18 . The MRI system of claim 13 , wherein the Mill device is configured to acquire each image echo by a segmented three-dimensional echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectory.

19 . The MRI system of claim 13 , wherein the image generator is configured to apply one of multi-echo averaging and multi-echo weighted averaging to the image echoes.

20 . The MRI system of claim 13 , wherein the image generator is configured to generate an image of magnetic susceptibility based on the combined image echoes.

Assignees

• Liu Chunlei
• Li Wei
• Wu Bing

Inventors

• Liu Chunlei
• Li Wei
• Wu Bing

Classifications

• G01R33/56536

  due to magnetic susceptibility variations · CPC title

• G01R33/5608

  Data processing and visualization specially adapted for MR, e.g. for feature analysis and pattern recognition on the basis of measured MR data, segmentation of measured MR data, edge contour detection on the basis of measured MR data, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of signal-to-noise ratio by means of noise filtering or apodization, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of resolution by means for deblurring, windowing, zero filling, or generation of gray-scaled images, colour-coded images or images displaying vectors instead of pixels (image data processing or generation, in general G06T) · CPC title

• G01R33/5616 Primary

  using gradient refocusing, e.g. EPI · CPC title

• G01R33/4818

  MR characterised by data acquisition along a specific k-space trajectory or by the temporal order of k-space coverage, e.g. centric or segmented coverage of k-space · CPC title

• A47L23/04 Primary

  Hand implements for shoe-cleaning, with or without applicators for shoe polish (ordinary brushes, with or without containers, A46B11/00) · CPC title