Cross-term-compensated pulsed-gradient stimulated echo MR with asymmetric gradient pulse lengths

The magic asymmetric gradient stimulated echo (MAGSTE) sequence developed to compensate background-gradient cross-terms in the preparation and readout interval independently, assumes identical lengths for the two gradient pulses applied in each interval. However, this approach is rather inefficient if some extra delay time is present in one half of an interval, e.g. as required for special RF excitations or spatial encoding prior to the stimulated echo in MR imaging. Therefore, a generalized version of the sequence is presented that considers different gradient pulse lengths within an interval. It is shown theoretically that (i) for any pulse lengths a "magic" amplitude ratio exists which ensures the desired cross-term compensation in each interval and that (ii) prolonging one of the gradients can deliver a considerably higher diffusion weighting efficiency. These results are confirmed in MR imaging experiments on phantoms and in vivo in the human brain at 3T using an echo-planar trajectory. In the examples shown, typically 10 times higher b values can be achieved or an echo time reduction with a 40% signal gain in brain white matter. Thus, in case of asymmetric timing requirements, the generalized MAGSTE sequence with different gradient pulse lengths may help to overcome signal-to-noise limitations in diffusion weighted MR.     

Symmetric echo acquisition for absolute-value display in solid-state NMR imaging

A method of solid-state NMR imaging that permits echo Fourier transformation (FT) has been devised using a magic echo train. The echo FT imaging can be implemented simply by modifying the gradient pulse sequence in the previous magic echo imaging (TREV-16TS) so that the one-dimensional k-space trajectory follows the sampling points which are symmetric about the k origin. The implemented ability of echo FT improves the performance of the magic echo imaging: the sensitivity gained by radical2, the phase correction is made unnecessary, and the digital resolution is doubled. One- and two-dimensional imaging experiments have been conducted on some solid samples, confirming the improved performance and revealing a TREV-16TS adjustment parameter that is critical for the successful echo FT imaging.     

Generalized MAGSTE with bipolar diffusion-weighting gradient pulses

The generalized magic asymmetric gradient stimulated echo (generalized MAGSTE) sequence compensates background gradient cross-terms and can be adjusted to asymmetric timing boundary conditions which for instance are present in echo-planar MR imaging. However, its efficiency is not optimal because one of the two diffusion-weighting gradients applied in each interval usually must have a reduced amplitude to ensure the desired cross-term compensation. In this work, a modification of generalized MAGSTE is investigated where this gradient pulse is replaced by two gradient pulses with full amplitude but opposite polarities. It is shown that with these bipolar gradients (i) the sequence retains the cross-term compensation capability for an appropriate choice of the gradient pulse durations and (ii) the diffusion-weighting efficiency is improved, i.e. higher k and b values can be achieved without prolonging the echo time. These results are confirmed in MR imaging experiments on phantoms and in vivo in the human brain at 3 T using spin-echo and echo-planar MR imaging. In the examples shown, the b value could be increased between about 30% and 200% when using the bipolar gradient pulses. Thus, bipolar gradients may help to improve the applicability of the generalized MAGSTE sequence.     

Fast imaging with the MMME sequence

The multiple-modulation-multiple-echo sequence, previously used for rapid measurement of diffusion, is extended to a method for single shot imaging. Removing the gradient switching requirement during the application of RF pulses by a constant frequency encoding gradient can shorten experiment time for ultrafast imaging. However, having the gradient on during the pulses gives rise to echo shape variations from off-resonance effects, which make the image reconstruction difficult. In this paper, we propose a simple method to deconvolve the echo shape variation from the true one-dimensional image. This method is extended to two-dimensional imaging by adding phase encoding gradients between echoes during the acquisition period to phase encode each echo separately. Slice selection is achieved by a frequency selective pulse at the beginning of the sequence. Imaging speed is mainly limited by the phase encoding gradients' switching times and echo overlap when echo spacing is very short. This technique can produce a single-shot image of sub-millimeter resolution in 5 ms.     

Analysis of the magic asymmetric gradient stimulated echo sequence with shaped gradients

Recently a 13-interval magic asymmetrical gradient stimulated echo (MAGSTE) sequence has been proposed for accurate displacement measurements in the presence of spatially varying background gradients. In this paper, the commonly used trapezoidal and sine shaped gradients are studied for the MAGSTE sequence, and the magic asymmetrical gradient ratio and b-factor are provided. The derivation enables the MAGSTE sequence to be implemented on systems with non-negligible gradient rise times.     

Semi-adiabatic Shinnar–Le Roux pulses and their application to diffusion tensor imaging of humans at 7T

The adiabatic Shinnar–Le Roux (SLR) algorithm for radiofrequency (RF) pulse design enables systematic control of pulse parameters such as bandwidth, RF energy distribution and duration. Some applications, such as diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) at high magnetic fields, would benefit from RF pulses that can provide greater B₁ insensitivity while adhering to echo time and specific absorption rate (SAR) limits. In this study, the adiabatic SLR algorithm was employed to generate 6-ms and 4-ms 180° semi-adiabatic RF pulses which were used to replace the refocusing pulses in a twice-refocused spin echo (TRSE) diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging (DW-EPI) sequence to create two versions of a twice-refocused adiabatic spin echo (TRASE) sequence. The two versions were designed for different trade-offs between adiabaticity and echo time. Since a pair of identical refocusing pulses is applied, the quadratic phase imposed by the first is unwound by the second, preserving the linear phase created by the excitation pulse. In vivo images of the human brain obtained at 7 Testa (7 T) demonstrate that both versions of the TRASE sequence developed in this study achieve more homogeneous signal in the diffusion-weighted images than the conventional TRSE sequence. Semi-adiabatic SLR pulses offer a more B₁-insensitive solution for diffusion preparation at 7 T, while operating within SAR constraints. This method may be coupled with any EPI readout trajectory and parallel imaging scheme to provide more uniform coverage for diffusion tensor imaging at 7 T and 3 T.     

Radiofrequency magnetic field gradient echoes have reduced sensitivity to susceptibility gradients

The amplitudes of gradient-echoes produced using static field gradients are sensitive to diffusion of tissue water during the echo evolution time. Gradient-echoes have been used to produce MR images in which image intensity is proportional to the self-diffusion coefficient of water. However, such measurements are subject to error due to the presence of background magnetic field gradients caused by variations in local magnetic susceptibility. These local gradients add to the applied gradients. The use of radiofrequency (RF) gradients to produce gradient-echoes may avoid this problem. The RF magnetic field is orthogonal to the offset field produced by local magnetic susceptibility gradients. Thus, the effect of the local gradients on RF gradient-echo amplitude is small if the RF field is strong enough to minimize resonance offset effects. The effects of susceptibility gradients can be further reduced by storing magnetization longitudinally during the echo evolution period. A water phantom was used to evaluate the effects of background gradients on the amplitudes of RF gradient-echoes. A surface coil was used to produce an RF gradient of between 1.3 and 1.6 gauss/cm. Gradient-echoes were detected with and without a 0.16 gauss/cm static magnetic field gradient applied along the same direction as the RF gradient. The background static field gradient had no significant effect on the decay of RF gradient-echo amplitude as a function of echo evolution time. In contrast, the effect of the background gradient on echoes produced using a 1.6 gauss/cm static field gradient is calculated to be significant. This analysis suggests that RF gradient-echoes can produce MR images in which signal intensity is a function of the self-diffusion coefficient of water, but is not significantly affected by background gradients.     

Combination of magic-echo and single-point imaging techniques for solid-state MRI

Due to reduced molecular motion the transverse relaxation timeT ₂ in solid materials is typically shorter by a factor of 10³ to 10⁵ in comparison to those in liquids, resulting in a large intrinsic nuclear magnetic resonance line-width that can be well above 20 kHz. Therefore high-resolution solid-state magnetic resonance imaging requires either very strong gradients or special line-narrowing techniques. Single-point imaging (SPI) is a successful pure phase encoding sequence in imaging soft-solid materials; however, when used to study rigid solid materials it still suffers from a very long acquisition time and large gradients. On the other hand, magic echo is a technique that can be used to effectively refocus dipolar interaction, thus achieving a line narrowing. Therefore, the aim of this work is to improve the signal intensity with the combination of the magic echo technique and the SPI sequence. In this paper first applications and a comparison of the SPI sequence with a combination of the magic echo and the SPI sequence to image structures of solid-state materials are presented.     

NMR Spectroscopic Imaging Method for Static Magnetic Field Mapping

A previously published nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic imaging method for mapping static magnetic fields has been modified, replacing the gradient echo sequence with an asymmetric spin echo sequence. The purpose of the modification is to reinforce the technique and make it useable even in conditions in which the gradient echo sequence cannot be operated. The modification performed was verified by an experiment performed on a low-field NMR scanner. The rough and fine errors due to the long time of measurement were corrected during the processing of the measured images. An optimization procedure was used to correct the fine errors. The map of the static magnetic field acquired using the new technique was compared to the map calculated from the phase images and both were compared to the result measured using a magnetometer. The verification confirmed the legitimacy of the modification and suitability of the novel technique. Some alternatives to the measured data processing have been suggested, shortening the global time of the measurement.     

Impact of gradient timing error on the tissue sodium concentration bioscale measured using flexible twisted projection imaging

The rapid biexponential transverse relaxation of the sodium MR signal from brain tissue requires efficient k-space sampling for quantitative imaging in a time that is acceptable for human subjects. The flexible twisted projection imaging (flexTPI) sequence has been shown to be suitable for quantitative sodium imaging with an ultra-short echo time to minimize signal loss. The fidelity of the k-space center location is affected by the readout gradient timing errors on the three physical axes, which is known to cause image distortion for projection-based acquisitions. This study investigated the impact of these timing errors on the voxel-wise accuracy of the tissue sodium concentration (TSC) bioscale measured with the flexTPI sequence. Our simulations show greater than 20% spatially varying quantification errors when the gradient timing errors are larger than 10 μs on all three axes. The quantification is more tolerant of gradient timing errors on the Z-axis. An existing method was used to measure the gradient timing errors with <1 μs error. The gradient timing error measurement is shown to be RF coil dependent, and timing error differences of up to ～16 μs have been observed between different RF coils used on the same scanner. The measured timing errors can be corrected prospectively or retrospectively to obtain accurate TSC values.     

Multi-echo imaging in highly inhomogeneous magnetic fields

A new pulsed field gradient multi-echo imaging technique to encode position in the phase of every echo generated by a CPMG sequence in the presence of a strongly inhomogeneous static magnetic field is presented. It was applied to improve the sensitivity in an imaging experiment by adding the echo train acquired during the CPMG sequence and to spatially resolve relaxation times of inhomogeneous specimens using single-sided probes. The sequence was implemented in a new bar-magnet MOUSE equipped with a gradient coil system to apply a pulsed magnetic field with a constant gradient along one spatial coordinate. An important reduction by a factor larger than two orders of magnitude in the acquisition time was obtained compared to the previously published single-point imaging technique.     

Magnetization recovery for signal enhancement: a fast imaging DEFT-based technique

This paper describes the development and application of a new fast MRI technique based on the DEFT principle. The sequence named MAgnetization RecoverY for Signal Enhancement (MARYSE) is composed of two completely symmetric gradient echoes separated by a 180 degrees refocusing pulse. The RF pulse scheme, 90 degrees x-180 degrees y-90 degrees -x enables restoration of the transverse magnetization along the longitudinal axis, and consequently artificially increases R1 relaxation rate. In this sequence, the period between the excitation pulse and the restoring pulse (Tem: transverse magnetization evolution time) is very short (< 10 ms). This makes possible a significant increase in signal-to-noise ratio, even with a relatively short repetition time (20 ms). Simulations were performed for different values of Tem and TR at definite T1 and T2 and for different values of T1 and T2 at constant Tem and TR. Relevant signal enhancement for species with long relaxation time constants as compared to classical gradient echo and fast spin-echo imaging was expected. In vitro studies on a fat/water phantom confirmed this simulation. Application of MARYSE to mouse brain imaging permitted to visualize almost completely cerebrospinal fluid of the ventricles, a signal usually partially saturated in fast gradient echo imaging.     

MAG-PGSTE: a new STE-based PGSE NMR sequence for the determination of diffusion in magnetically inhomogeneous samples

A new stimulated echo based pulsed gradient spin-echo sequence, MAG-PGSTE, has been developed for the determination of self-diffusion in magnetically inhomogeneous samples. The sequence was tested on two glass bead samples (i.e., 212-300 and <106 microm glass bead packs). The MAG-PGSTE sequence was compared to the MAGSTE (or MPFG) (P.Z. Sun, J.G. Seland, D. Cory, Background gradient suppression in pulsed gradient stimulated echo measurements, J. Magn. Reson. 161 (2003) 168-173; P.Z. Sun, S.A. Smith, J. Zhou, Analysis of the magic asymmetric gradient stimulated echo sequence with shaped gradients, J. Magn. Reson. 171 (2004) 324-329; P.Z. Sun, Improved diffusion measurement in heterogeneous systems using the magic asymmetric gradient stimulated echo (MAGSTE) technique, J. Magn. Reson. 187 (2007) 177-183; P. Galvosas, F. Stallmach, J. K?rger, Background gradient suppression in stimulated echo NMR diffusion studies using magic pulsed field gradient ratios, J. Magn. Reson. 166 (2004) 164-173, P. Galvosas, PFG NMR-Diffusionsuntersuchungen mit ultra-hohen gepulsten magnetischen Feldgradienten an mikropor?sen Materialien, Ph.D. Thesis, Universit?t Leipzig, 2003, P.Z. Sun, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Microscopy and Diffusion, Ph.D. Thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2003] sequence and Cotts 13-interval [R.M. Cotts, M.J.R. Hoch, T. Sun, J.T. Marker, Pulsed field gradient stimulated echo methods for improved NMR diffusion measurements in heterogeneous systems, J. Magn. Reson. 83 (1989) 252-266] sequence using both glass bead samples. The MAG-PGSTE and MAGSTE (or MPFG) sequences outperformed the Cotts 13-interval sequence in the measurement of diffusion coefficients; more interestingly, for the sample with higher background gradients (i.e., the <106 microm glass bead sample), the MAG-PGSTE sequence provided higher signal-to-noise ratios and thus better diffusion measurements than the MAGSTE and Cotts 13-interval sequences. In addition, the MAG-PGSTE sequence provided good characterization of the surface-to-volume ratio for the glass bead samples.     

Sensitivity to local dipole fields in the CRAZED experiment: an approach to bright spot MRI

Local dipole fields such as those created by small iron-oxide particles are used to produce regions of low intensity (dark contrast) in many molecular magnetic resonance imaging applications. We have investigated, with computer simulations and experiments at 17.6 T, how the COSY revamped with asymmetric z-gradient echo detection (CRAZED) experiment that selects intermolecular double-quantum coherences can also be used to visualize such local dipole fields. Application of the coherence-selection gradient pulses parallel to the main magnetic field produced similar, dark contrast as conventional gradient echo imaging. Application of the gradient along the magic angle leads to total loss of signal intensity in homogeneous samples. In the presence of local dipole fields, the contrast was inverted and bright signals from the dipoles were observed over a very low background. Both simulations and experiments showed that the signal strongly decreased when a phase-cycle suppressing single-quantum coherences was employed. Therefore, we conclude that most of the signal comes from directly refocused magnetization or intermolecular single-quantum coherences. Finally, we demonstrate that bright contrast from local dipole fields can also be obtained, when the pair of coherence-selection gradient pulses is deliberately mismatched. Both methods allowed visualization of local dipole fields in phantoms in experimental times of about 3 min.     

Manifestation of magic angle phenomenon: comparative study on effects of varying echo time and tendon orientation among various MR sequences

The purpose of this study was to systematically investigate the effect of varying the echo time (TE) values and angle of the tendon to the main magnetic field (B(o)) upon the signal intensity observed with the magic angle phenomenon in tendons among most commonly used MR pulse sequences, including conventional spin echo (CSE), fast spin echo (FSE) and gradient echo (GRE) sequences. The intact bovine Achilles tendon was imaged using a clinical 1.5-T MR scanner. Magic angle phenomenon occurs in CSE, FSE and GRE sequences with different grade, appearing most severe in CSE, middle in FSE, and weakest in GRE sequence. In addition, the tendon signal changes produced by the magic angle phenomenon could be greatly reduced by increasing the TE to above a certain critical value in all three sequences. These critical TE values were different among CSE (40 msec), FSE (70 msec), and GRE (30 msec) sequences.     

A Pulsed Field Gradient Spin-Echo Method for Diffusion Measurements in the Presence of Internal Gradients

Over the past decade several pulsed field gradient stimulated-echo methods have been presented for diffusion measurements in heterogeneous media. These methods have reduced or eliminated the coupling between the applied magnetic field gradient and a constant internal magnetic field gradient caused by susceptibility changes throughout the sample. For many research purposes thez-storage delay between the second and third π/2 RF pulse has been included in order to increase the decay of the echo attenuation to an appropriate level and to increase the signal-to-noise ratio by avoidingT₂relaxation of the magnetization in parts of the pulse sequence. For these reasons a stimulated-echo method has been applied instead of a spin-echo method. When studying systems where it is necessary to keep the duration of the pulse sequence at a minimum, and one is not dependent on usingz-storage time to increase the echo attenuation or to study diffusion as a function of observation time, a spin-echo method should be chosen. Here we propose a bipolar pulsed field gradient spin-echo method which is well suited to this purpose, and preliminary diffusion measurements are presented as illustration.     

基于AFI的快速发射场B1+成像方法

该文提出了一种基于实际翻转角成像(Actual Flip-angle Imaging,AFI)的快速发射场测量方法(Fast AFI,FAFI),将多次激发平面回波成像(Multi-shot Echo Planar Imaging,Multi-shot EPI)的采集方式运用于AFI发射场(B_1~+)测量中,充分利用AFI序列中采集的等待时间,高倍数加速了水模和人体头部、腹部及盆腔的发射场测量.该文在水模和人体(n=16)实验中,验证了采用FAFI序列得到的B_1~+测量结果与AFI结果的一致性.FAFI序列大幅加速了发射场测量,为实现动态B_1~+匀场(B_1~+shimming)和快速局部激发提供了高效的发射场测量方法.     

Recovery of signal loss due to an in-plane susceptibility gradient in the gradient echo EPI through acquisition of extended phase-encoding lines

In gradient echo imaging the in-plane susceptibility gradient causes an echo shift which results in signal loss. The loss of signal becomes more severe in gradient echo EPI, due to the low amplitude of the gradient which is applied in the phase-encoding direction during a long echo train. As the readout gradient amplitude is set to be very high in gradient echo EPI, the echo shift in the readout direction is negligible compared to that in the phase-encoding direction. Traditionally, a z-shimming technique has been applied to the phase-encoding direction of gradient echo EPI to restore the lost signal. This technique, however, requires a significant increase of scan time, as is also the case with the through-plane z-shimming technique. A new approach that allows one to restore the lost signal is to acquire additional phase-encoding lines beyond the regular phase-encoding range. The extension of the phase-encoding lines prior to the regular phase-encoding range exploits the delay time for optimum echo time of the BOLD sensitivity. Therefore, scan time is increased only for the extended phase-encoding lines posterior to the regular phase-encoding range. This technique has been confirmed experimentally by imaging human subject's heads at 3T.     

Identification of patients with hereditary haemochromatosis by magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopic relaxation time measurements

A total of 4302 healthy blood donors were screened for elevated serum ferritin and transferrin saturation. Fifteen had increased serum ferritin at a follow-up examination. Five relatives of these donors also entered the study. Eleven patients had elevated liver iron concentrations, while five had normal liver iron concentrations. The R₂ relaxation rate in the liver was first measured with a conventional multi-spin-echo imaging sequence, and then by a volume-selective spectroscopic multi-spin-echo sequence, in order to achieve a minimum echo time of 4 msec. No correlation was found between the relaxation rate R₂ and the liver iron concentration, when R₂ was calculated from the imaging data. Multi-exponential transverse relaxation could be resolved when the spectroscopic sequence was used. A strong correlation between the initial slope of the relaxation curve and the liver iron concentration was found (r = 0.90, p < 0.001). Signal intensity ratios between liver and muscle were calculated from the first three echoes in the multi-echo imaging sequence, and from a gradient echo sequence. A strong correlation between the logarithm of the signal intensity ratios and the liver iron concentration was found. Although both spectroscopic T₂ relaxation time measurements and signal intensity ratios could be used to quantify liver iron concentration, the gradient echo imaging seemed to be the best choice. Gradient echo imaging could be performed during a single breath hold, so motion artifacts could be avoided. The accuracy of liver iron concentration estimates from signal intensity ratios in the gradient echo images was about 35%.     

Sodium 3-D MRI of the human torso using a volume coil

Sodium MR imaging is considered to provide clinically important information about the human body that is not achievable by hydrogen-based approaches. However, due to the low natural abundance in biological tissues, sodium signals usually lead to low spatial resolution, low SNR, and long acquisition times compared to conventional 1H imaging, even using well-adapted surface coils. For our study, a volume coil was designed with nearly homogeneous excitation/receive characteristics and a suitable geometry fitting the human torso. A sufficient penetration throughout the entire thorax, abdomen, or pelvis is provided allowing for sodium imaging of the kidneys, the liver with gall bladder, or the myocardium. All measurements were performed on a 1.5 T whole body scanner using a spoiled 3-D gradient echo sequence. Imaging parameters TE, TR, and readout bandwidth were optimized for sensitive recording of the sodium component with slow transverse relaxation. Nonselective RF excitation pulses with a duration of 2.5 ms and rectangular shape were applied to avoid SAR problems. Narrow receiver bandwidth and excitation near the Ernst angle provided clinically practicable examinations with measuring times of less than 15 min at a spatial resolution of 8 x 8 x 8 mm3. Under these conditions, SNR of 11 for the kidneys and vertebral disks, 9 for the spinal canal, and 6 for the liver was achieved. A special 3-D spin echo sequence was used to determine T2, times which resulted to 15.3 +/- 1.1 ms for liver, 27.7 +/- 7.2 ms for kidneys, and 24.0 +/- 4.7 ms for the content of the spinal canal.