IP Library Granted Patent US 11,391,803
Granted Patent B2
US 11,391,803 · App. 16/976,997 · Granted Jul 19, 2022

Multi-shot echo planar imaging through machine learning

Inventors: Berkin Bilgic (Boston, MA); Sohyun Han (Cambridge, MA); Stephen F. Cauley (Cambridge, MA); Lawrence L. Wald (Cambridge, MA); Kawin Setsompop (Charleston, MA)
Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
G01R33/56509G01R33/5608G01R33/5616G06N3/04G06T11/008
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,391,803
App. No.
16/976,997
Granted
Jul 19, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for improving MRI data acquisition efficiency while providing more detailed information with high resolution and isotropic resolution without gaps. Improved data acquisition efficiency may be achieved by implementing a machine learning algorithm with a hardware processor and a memory to estimate imperfections in fast imaging sequences, such as a multi-shot echo planar imaging (MS-EPI) sequence. These imperfections, such as patient motion, physiological noise, and phase variations, may be difficult to model or otherwise estimate using standard physics-based reconstructions.

Claims (32)

1. A method for reducing image artifacts using a magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising:

a) acquiring image data of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system implementing a rapid imaging sequence;

b) providing to a computer system a trained machine learning algorithm that has been trained on training data comprising corrupted image data and physiological artifacts in order to reconstruct images from image data such that the reconstructed images depict reduced physiological artifacts;

c) applying the acquired image data to the trained machine learning algorithm, and generating an output that comprises one or more images reconstructed from the image data, wherein the one or more images depict reduced physiological artifacts; and

wherein the trained machine learning algorithm is a residual machine learning algorithm that is trained on the training data to map between corrupted images and image artifacts.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the rapid imaging sequence is a multi-shot echo planar imaging (MS-EPI) sequence.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the physiological artifacts include shot-to-shot motion artifacts.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the one or more reconstructed images depict contrast weighting associated with gradient-echo (GRE) contrast.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the residual machine learning algorithm comprises a convolutional neural network.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the physiological artifacts include at least one of patient motion, physiological noise, or phase variations.

7. A system for reducing image artifacts using a magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising:

a computer system configured to

i) acquire image data of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system implementing a rapid imaging sequence;

ii) implement a trained machine learning algorithm that has been trained on training data comprising corrupted image data and physiological artifacts in order to reconstruct images from image data such that the reconstructed images depict reduced physiological artifacts;

iii) apply the acquired image data to the trained machine learning algorithm, and generate an output that comprises one or more images reconstructed from the image data, wherein the one or more images depict reduced physiological artifacts; and

wherein the trained machine learning algorithm is a residual machine learning algorithm that is trained on the training data to map between corrupted images and image artifacts.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the rapid imaging sequence is a multi-shot echo planar imaging (MS-EPI) sequence.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the physiological artifacts include shot-to-shot motion artifacts.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the one or more reconstructed images depict contrast weighting associated with gradient-echo (GRE) contrast.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the residual machine learning algorithm comprises a convolutional neural network.

12. The system of claim 7 wherein the physiological artifacts include at least one of patient motion, physiological noise, or phase variations.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising: A method for reducing image artifacts using a magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

i) acquire image data of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system implementing a rapid imaging sequence;

ii) implement a trained machine learning algorithm that has been trained on training data comprising corrupted image data and physiological artifacts in order to reconstruct images from image data such that the reconstructed images depict reduced physiological artifacts;

iii) apply the acquired image data to the trained machine learning algorithm, and generate an output that comprises one or more images reconstructed from the image data, wherein the one or more images depict reduced physiological artifacts, and

wherein the trained machine learning algorithm is a residual machine learning algorithm that is trained on the training data to map between corrupted images and image artifacts.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the rapid imaging sequence is a multi-shot echo planar imaging (MS-EPI) sequence.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the physiological artifacts include shot-to-shot motion artifacts.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the one or more reconstructed images depict contrast weighting associated with gradient-echo (GRE) contrast.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the residual machine learning algorithm comprises a convolutional neural network.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the physiological artifacts include at least one of patient motion, physiological noise, or phase variations.

Assignments (3)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Sep 26, 2022
From: MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
To: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS), U.S. GOVERNMENT
Reel/Frame 061208/0319 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2022
From: BILGIC, BERKIN; HAN, SOHYUN; CAULEY, STEPHEN F; WALD, LAWRENCE L; SETSOMPOP, KAWIN
To: THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059882/0196 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2022
From: BILGIC, BERKIN; HAN, SOHYUN; CAULEY, STEPHEN F.; WALD, LAWRENCE L.; SETSOMPOP, KAWIN
To: GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION, THE
Reel/Frame 059873/0672 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62637655 · Mar 2, 2018
Related Publication 20210364589A1 · Nov 25, 2021