IP Library Granted Patent US 12693361
Granted Patent B2
US 12693361 · App. 18/667,174 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

T1rho dispersion characterization by magnetic resonance fingerprinting

Inventors: Xiaojuan Li (Cleveland, OH); Brendan Eck (Cleveland, OH); Jeehun Kim (Cleveland, OH)
Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
G01R33/50A61B5/004G01R33/5608
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693361
App. No.
18/667,174
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is used to quantify T 1ρ dispersion across spin-lock frequencies and enables simultaneous mapping of T 1 , T 2 , and T 1ρ dispersion. T 1ρ at a specific FSL may be determined by retrospectively computation based on the results of the T 1ρ dispersion MRF dictionary and pattern matching results. The T 1ρ dispersion characteristic may be used to identify and track tissue parameters (such as osteoarthritis and muscle degeneration) before being expressed in other measurable manners.

Claims (243)

1 . A magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) method, comprising:

applying an MRF pulse sequence to tissue of a subject;

acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) signal data as a result of the application of the MRF pulse sequence;

comparing the MR signal data to a predefined MRF dictionary, the MRF dictionary comprising a model of T 1ρ dispersion; and

determining a property of the tissue from the T 1ρ dispersion model based on a result of the comparison,

wherein the MRF pulse sequence includes a single fixed spin-lock frequency.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein T 1ρ dispersion is modeled according to:

T

1

ρ

(

ω

)

=

(

q

2

D

)

2

+

ω

2

γ

2

g

2

D

=

m

2

(

q

2

D

)

2

+

m

2

ω

2

where

T

1

ρ

(

0

)

=

m

2

(

q

2

D

)

2

=

T

2

and

T

1

ρ

(

ω

)

=

T

2

+

(

m

ω

)

2

where γ is a hydrogen gyromagnetic ratio, D is a self-diffusion coefficient, q is a spatial frequency of a local magnetic field variation, g is a mean local magnetic gradient strength, ω is frequency, and m is a mediation coefficient that mediates a strength of a T 1ρ dispersion effect and represents a combination of γ, D, and g.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein T 1ρ dispersion is modeled according to:

T

1

ρ

(

ω

)

=

T

2

+

m

ω

where ω is frequency, and m is a mediation coefficient that mediates a strength of a T 1ρ dispersion effect and represents a combination of a hydrogen gyromagnetic ratio, a self-diffusion coefficient, and a mean local magnetic gradient strength.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determined tissue property relates to tissue degeneration.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

identifying an osteoarthritis or muscle degeneration condition in the subject based on the identified property.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

applying a plurality MRF pulse sequencies; and

tracking a change in T 1ρ dispersion of the tissue of the subject over the plurality of applied MRF sequences.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

applying a plurality MRF pulse sequencies; and

tracking a change in the determined tissue property over the plurality of applied MRF sequences.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a T 1ρ dispersion by retrospectively determining T 1ρ at a plurality of spin-lock frequencies based on the model of the MRF dictionary.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the MRF dictionary comprises fingerprints of at least T 1 , T 2 , and a mediation coefficient that mediates a strength of a T 1ρ dispersion effect.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the MR signal data is compared to the predefined MRF dictionary with a machine learning system trained to identify MR properties of the MRF dictionary based on input MR signal data.

11 . A magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) method, comprising:

applying an MRF pulse sequence to tissue of a subject;

acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) signal data as a result of the application of the MRF pulse sequence;

comparing the MR signal data to a predefined MRF dictionary, the MRF dictionary comprising a model of T 1ρ dispersion; and

determining a property of the tissue from the T 1ρ dispersion model based on a result of the comparison,

wherein T 1ρ dispersion is modeled according to:

T

1

ρ

(

ω

)

=

(

q

2

D

)

2

+

ω

2

γ

2

g

2

D

=

m

2

(

q

2

D

)

2

+

m

2

ω

2

where

T

1

ρ

(

0

)

=

m

2

(

q

2

D

)

2

=

T

2

and

T

1

ρ

(

ω

)

=

T

2

+

(

m

ω

)

2

where γ is a hydrogen gyromagnetic ratio, D is a self-diffusion coefficient, q is a spatial frequency of a local magnetic field variation, g is a mean local magnetic gradient strength, ω is frequency, and m is a mediation coefficient that mediates a strength of a T 1ρ dispersion effect and represents a combination of γ, D, and g.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the determined tissue property relates to tissue degeneration.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

identifying an osteoarthritis or muscle degeneration condition in the subject based on the identified property.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

applying a plurality MRF pulse sequencies; and

tracking a change in T 1ρ dispersion of the tissue of the subject, or in the determined tissue property, over the plurality of applied MRF sequences.

15 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the MRF dictionary comprises fingerprints of at least T 1 , T 2 , and m.

16 . A magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) method, comprising:

applying an MRF pulse sequence to tissue of a subject;

acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) signal data as a result of the application of the MRF pulse sequence;

comparing the MR signal data to a predefined MRF dictionary, the MRF dictionary comprising a model of T 1ρ dispersion; and

determining a property of the tissue from the T 1ρ dispersion model based on a result of the comparison,

wherein T 1ρ dispersion is modeled according to:

T

1

ρ

(

ω

)

=

T

2

+

m

ω

where ω is frequency, and m is a mediation coefficient that mediates a strength of a T 1ρ dispersion effect and represents a combination of a hydrogen gyromagnetic ratio, a self-diffusion coefficient, and a mean local magnetic gradient strength.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the determined tissue property relates to tissue degeneration.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:

identifying an osteoarthritis or muscle degeneration condition in the subject based on the identified property.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

applying a plurality MRF pulse sequencies; and

tracking a change in T 1ρ dispersion of the tissue of the subject, or in the determined tissue property, over the plurality of applied MRF sequences.

20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the MRF dictionary comprises fingerprints of at least T 1 , T 2 , and m.