Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (MRI) system, the MRI system may include at least one controller which may be configured to: acquire MR information for at least first and second blades of a periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) imaging method; generate, for at least the first and second blades, main field inhomogeneity information based upon the acquired MR information, the main field inhomogeneity information indicating main field inhomogeneity; generate water and fat information individually for at least the first and second blades based upon the acquired MR information and the generated main field inhomogeneity information for the corresponding blade of the first and second blades; and correct at least one of the water and fat information for spatial distortions caused by the main field inhomogeneity or a predetermined chemical shift difference between water and fat.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method for controlling the MRI system is provided. The method includes directing the MRI system to perform a pulse sequence that includes generating a RF excitation pulse to excite spins in slice locations within a selected slab to produce an echo train from the slab that is formed by a plurality of echoes. The sequence also includes applying a slice-encoding gradient to spatially encode echoes associated with a different slice in the slab, and applying readout gradients during the echo train to acquire MR data from the slab, the readout gradients including a first sampling strategy defining a spiral-in k-space trajectory and a second sampling strategy defining a spiral-out k-space trajectory, wherein the MRI system is directed to repeat the sequence such that a plurality of subsequent selected slabs are excited and MR data is acquired therefrom.

Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for estimating bulk rotation and translation of an imaged subject between different blades in a PROPELLER MRI or similar sequence. Correlations between unique pairs of blades are calculated and the relative shift values that maximize the correlation between each pair of blades are identified as relative shift values to be applied for motion correction. Using this method, no reference blade is required, nor does a computationally expensive iterative process need to be performed.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (MRI) system, the MRI system may include at least one controller which may be configured to: acquire MR information for at least first and second blades of a periodically rotated overlapping parallel lines with enhanced reconstruction (PROPELLER) imaging method; generate, for at least the first and second blades, main field inhomogeneity information based upon the acquired MR information, the main field inhomogeneity information indicating main field inhomogeneity; generate water and fat information individually for at least the first and second blades based upon the acquired MR information and the generated main field inhomogeneity information for the corresponding blade of the first and second blades; and correct at least one of the water and fat information for spatial distortions caused by the main field inhomogeneity or a predetermined chemical shift difference between water and fat.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method for controlling the MRI system is provided. The method includes directing the MRI system to perform a pulse sequence that includes generating a RF excitation pulse to excite spins in slice locations within a selected slab to produce an echo train from the slab that is formed by a plurality of echoes. The sequence also includes applying a slice-encoding gradient to spatially encode echoes associated with a different slice in the slab, and applying readout gradients during the echo train to acquire MR data from the slab, the readout gradients including a first sampling strategy defining a spiral-in k-space trajectory and a second sampling strategy defining a spiral-out k-space trajectory, wherein the MRI system is directed to repeat the sequence such that a plurality of subsequent selected slabs are excited and MR data is acquired therefrom.

Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for estimating bulk rotation and translation of an imaged subject between different blades in a PROPELLER MRI or similar sequence. Correlations between unique pairs of blades are calculated and the relative shift values that maximize the correlation between each pair of blades are identified as relative shift values to be applied for motion correction. Using this method, no reference blade is required, nor does a computationally expensive iterative process need to be performed.

Abstract: A system and method include a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to apply a first plurality of radio frequency (RF) pulses during a first repetition time (TR) interval of a magnetic resonance (MR) pulse sequence. The instructions also cause the computer to apply a first plurality of gradient pulses and acquire the MR data during application of each gradient pulse of the first plurality of gradient pulses between an adjacent pair of RF pulses of the first plurality of RF pulses. Each gradient pulse of the first plurality of gradient pulses is configured to allow acquisition of MR data for a respective first bladelet passing through a center of k-space, wherein the first bladelets are non-parallel with each other. The instructions also cause the computer to reconstruct the acquired MR data into an image.

Abstract: A system and method are provided herein for designing and transmitting RF pulses which cause a reduced off-resonance magnetization transfer saturation. An RF pulse shape may be optimized according to a set of Bloch solutions defining a desired magnetization profile. An RF pulse may be transmitted according to this optimized shape according to a k-space trajectory which traverses a high amplitude portion of the RF pulse more times than one or more low amplitude portions. In addition, a generally alternating slice select gradient may be applied during transmission of the RF pulse.

Abstract: A system and method are provided herein for designing and transmitting RF pulses which cause a reduced off-resonance magnetization transfer saturation. An RF pulse shape may be optimized according to a set of Bloch solutions defining a desired magnetization profile. An RF pulse may be transmitted according to this optimized shape according to a k-space trajectory which traverses a high amplitude portion of the RF pulse more times than one or more low amplitude portions. In addition, a generally alternating slice select gradient may be applied during transmission of the RF pulse.

Abstract: A system and method include a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions which when executed by a computer cause the computer to apply a first plurality of radio frequency (RF) pulses during a first repetition time (TR) interval of a magnetic resonance (MR) pulse sequence. The instructions also cause the computer to apply a first plurality of gradient pulses and acquire the MR data during application of each gradient pulse of the first plurality of gradient pulses between an adjacent pair of RF pulses of the first plurality of RF pulses. Each gradient pulse of the first plurality of gradient pulses is configured to allow acquisition of MR data for a respective first bladelet passing through a center of k-space, wherein the first bladelets are non-parallel with each other. The instructions also cause the computer to reconstruct the acquired MR data into an image.

Abstract: A system and method are provided herein for designing and transmitting RF pulses which cause a reduced off-resonance magnetization transfer saturation. An RF pulse shape may be optimized according to a set of Bloch solutions defining a desired magnetization profile. An RF pulse may be transmitted according to this optimized shape according to a k-space trajectory which traverses a high amplitude portion of the RF pulse more times than one or more low amplitude portions. In addition, a generally alternating slice select gradient may be applied during transmission of the RF pulse.

Abstract: A system and method are provided herein for designing and transmitting RF pulses which cause a reduced off-resonance magnetization transfer saturation. An RF pulse shape may be optimized according to a set of Bloch solutions defining a desired magnetization profile. An RF pulse may be transmitted according to this optimized shape according to a k-space trajectory which traverses a high amplitude portion of the RF pulse more times than one or more low amplitude portions. In addition, a generally alternating slice select gradient may be applied during transmission of the RF pulse.

Abstract: A system and method are provided herein for designing and transmitting RF pulses which cause a reduced off-resonance magnetization transfer saturation. An RF pulse shape may be optimized according to a set of Bloch solutions defining a desired magnetization profile. An RF pulse may be transmitted according to this optimized shape according to a k-space trajectory which traverses a high amplitude portion of the RF pulse more times than one or more low amplitude portions. In addition, a generally alternating slice select gradient may be applied during transmission of the RF pulse.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of MR imaging whereby a k-space blade extending through a center of k-space from a subject in motion is acquired. A high-pass convolution of the k-space blade with a reference k-space blade is then determined and converted to a ? function. In-plane motion of the subject during data acquisition of the k-space is then determined from the ? function.

Abstract: A system and method are provided herein for designing and transmitting RF pulses which cause a reduced off-resonance magnetization transfer saturation. An RF pulse shape may be optimized according to a set of Bloch solutions defining a desired magnetization profile. An RF pulse may be transmitted according to this optimized shape according to a k-space trajectory which traverses a high amplitude portion of the RF pulse more times than one or more low amplitude portions. In addition, a generally alternating slice select gradient may be applied during transmission of the RF pulse.