3d ute imaging using variable-te stack-of-spirals acquisition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017307705-A1
Application number	US-201715493842-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2017
Priority date	Apr 21, 2016
Publication date	Oct 26, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to ultrashort-echo-time (UTE) imaging. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring UTE imaging data associated with an area of interest of a subject. The acquiring comprises applying an imaging pulse sequence with a three-dimensional (3D) spiral acquisition and a nonselective excitation pulse. The method also includes reconstructing at least one image of the area of interest from the acquired UTE imaging data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for ultrashort-echo-time (UTE) imaging, comprising:
acquiring UTE imaging data associated with an area of interest of a subject, the acquiring comprising applying an imaging pulse sequence with a three-dimensional (3D) spiral acquisition and a nonselective excitation pulse; and reconstructing at least one image of the area of interest from the acquired UTE imaging data.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the 3D spiral acquisition comprises a variable echo time (TE) 3D stack-of-spirals acquisition.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the 3D stack-of-spirals acquisition uses a 3D spoiled gradient-echo sequence.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the minimum TE is about 50 μs.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the nonselective excitation pulse is a nonselective hard RF excitation pulse.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the area of interest of the subject comprises an area of the musculoskeletal system of the subject.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the area of interest of the subject comprises the lungs of the subject.

8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
based on the reconstructed at least one image, determining at least one physiological characteristic of the area of interest of the subject.

9 . A system for ultrashort-echo-time (UTE) imaging, comprising:
a data acquisition device configured to acquire UTE imaging data associated with an area of interest of a subject, the acquiring comprising applying an imaging pulse sequence with a three-dimensional (3D) spiral acquisition and a nonselective excitation pulse; and one or more processors coupled to the data acquisition device and configured to cause the system to perform functions comprising:
reconstructing at least one image of the area of interest from the acquired UTE imaging data.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the data acquisition device comprises a magnetic resonance imaging device.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the 3D spiral acquisition comprises a variable echo time (TE) 3D stack-of-spirals acquisition.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the 3D stack-of-spirals acquisition uses a 3D spoiled gradient-echo sequence.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the minimum TE is about 50 μs.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the nonselective excitation pulse is a nonselective hard RF excitation pulse.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the area of interest of the subject comprises an area of the musculoskeletal system of the subject.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the area of interest of the subject comprises the lungs of the subject.

17 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors coupled to the data acquisition device are configured to cause the system to perform functions that further comprise:
based on the reconstructed at least one image, determining at least one physiological characteristic of the area of interest of the subject.

18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause one or more computing devices to perform functions that comprise:
acquiring UTE imaging data associated with an area of interest of a subject, the acquiring comprising applying an imaging pulse sequence with a three-dimensional (3D) spiral acquisition and a nonselective excitation pulse; and reconstructing at least one image of the area of interest from the acquired UTE imaging data.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the 3D spiral acquisition comprises a variable echo time (TE) 3D stack-of-spirals acquisition.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the 3D stack-of-spirals acquisition uses a 3D spoiled gradient-echo sequence.

21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the minimum TE is about 50 μs.

22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the nonselective excitation pulse is a nonselective hard RF excitation pulse.

23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the area of interest of the subject comprises an area of the musculoskeletal system of the subject.

24 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the area of interest of the subject comprises the lungs of the subject.

25 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the stored instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more computing devices to perform functions that further comprise:
based on the reconstructed at least one image, determining at least one physiological characteristic of the area of interest of the subject.

Assignees

• Univ Virginia Patent Foundation
• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Mugler Iii John P
• Fielden Samuel W
• Miller Iv G Wilson
• Meyer Craig H
• Altes Talissa A
• Stemmer Alto
• Pfeuffer Josef
• Kiefer Berthold

Classifications

• G16H30/40

  for processing medical images, e.g. editing · CPC title

• G01R33/4816 Primary

  NMR imaging of samples with ultrashort relaxation times such as solid samples, e.g. MRI using ultrashort TE [UTE], single point imaging, constant time imaging · CPC title

• A61B5/4514

  Cartilage · CPC title

• A61B5/004

  adapted for image acquisition of a particular organ or body part (A61B5/0082 takes precedence; arrangements for optical scanning A61B5/0062) · CPC title

• A61B2576/02

  specially adapted for a particular organ or body part · CPC title