3D UTE imaging using variable-TE stack-of-spirals acquisition
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.
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.