IP Library Granted Patent US 8,345,945
Granted Patent B2
US 8,345,945 · App. 12/297,963 · Granted Jan 1, 2013

Motion artifact compensation

Assignee: The Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,345,945
App. No.
12/297,963
Granted
Jan 1, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A technique for correcting translational and rotational motion of an object, such as an object in a magnetic field, utilizes the k-space representation of the object. An initial region in the k-space representation is used as a motion-free reference region, indicative of the motion-free object. Motion-free data adjacent to the initial region are then estimated by extrapolating from the initial region, and the extrapolated data are subsequently used to estimate motion by correlating it with actual data. Segments adjacent to the initial region are then motion corrected and incorporated into an expanding base region. The expanded base region is used in subsequent correction steps. This process is continued until the entire k-space is motion-corrected. Two different extrapolation methods were used for the purpose of motion estimation: edge enhancement and finite-support solution. One technique is utilized near the k-space center and the other is utilized in the outer k-space regions.

Claims (106)

1. A method comprising:

providing a representation of an image of an object;

selecting a first portion of the representation;

selecting a second portion of the representation;

extrapolating, in accordance with a first extrapolation technique, data from a first region of the first portion;

extrapolating, in accordance with a second extrapolation technique, data from a second region of the first portion, wherein the first region differs from the second region;

combining a result of the first extrapolation technique and a result of the second extrapolation technique for obtaining extrapolated reference data; and

utilizing the extrapolated reference data to compensate, in the second portion, for motion of the object.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

the first region comprises an inner region of the first portion; and the second region comprises an outer region of the first portion.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising utilizing a plurality of representations of an image of the object for generating the first portion.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein:

the object is within a magnetic field; and

the representation of the object comprises a representation of a magnetic resonance image of the object.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:

subsequently selecting portions of the representation, wherein, each subsequently selected portion of the representation is adjacent, in the representation, to an immediate previously selected portion of the representation; and

for each subsequently selected representation:

extrapolating data from an accumulation of all previously selected portions to the subsequently selected portion; and

utilizing the extrapolated data to compensate, in the subsequently selected portion, for motion of the object.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5 , wherein:

the first portion comprises a central region of the representation;

the second portion comprises regions positioned outward from and adjacent to the central region; and

each subsequently selected portion comprises regions positioned outward from and adjacent to immediate previously selected regions.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising rendering an image indicative of compensated representation of the object.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the first portion is an indicative of a motion free representation of the object.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the representation comprises a k-space representation of the object in a magnetic field.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein each subsequent portion is selected in a phase encoding direction of the representation.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein extrapolating comprises:

transforming the first portion in the representation to an image; enhancing the image; and

transforming the enhanced image to a representation.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein utilizing the extrapolated reference data to compensate, in the second portion, for motion of the object comprises cross correlating the extrapolated motion data with data indicative of the second portion.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 , further comprising:

determining, from a result of the cross correlating, motion-indicative data indicative of motion of the object; and

utilizing the determined motion to motion-compensate the second portion.

14. A system comprising:

a processing portion configured to:

select a first portion of a representation of an image of an object;

select a second portion of the representation;

extrapolate, in accordance with a first extrapolation technique, data from a first region of the first portion;

extrapolate, in accordance with a second extrapolation technique, data from a second region of the first portion, wherein the first region differs from the second region; and

combine a result of the first extrapolation technique and a result of the second extrapolation technique to obtain extrapolated reference data; and

utilize the extrapolated reference data to compensate, in the second portion, for motion of the object; and

an input/output portion configured to:

receive the representation of the image of the object; and

provide compensated data.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein:

the first region comprises an inner region of the first portion; and

the second region comprises an outer region of the first portion.

16. A system in accordance with claim 14 , the processing portion further configured to utilize a plurality of representations of an image of the object to generate the first portion.

17. A system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein:

the object is within a magnetic field; and

the representation of the object comprises a representation of a magnetic resonance image of the object.

18. A system in accordance with claim 14 , the processing portion further configured to:

subsequently select portions of the representation, wherein, each subsequently selected portion of the representation is adjacent, in the representation, to an immediate previously selected portion of the representation; and

for each subsequently selected representation:

extrapolating data from an accumulation of all previously selected portions to the subsequently selected portion; and

utilize the extrapolated data to compensate, in the subsequently selected portion, for motion of the object.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18 , wherein:

the first portion comprises a central region of the representation;

the second portion comprises regions positioned outward from and adjacent to the central region; and

each subsequently selected portion comprises regions positioned outward from and adjacent to immediate previously selected regions.

20. A system in accordance with claim 14 , the processing portion further configured to render an image indicative of the compensated representation of the object.

21. A system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the first portion is indication of a motion free representation of the object within a magnetic field.

22. A system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the representation comprises a k-space representation of the object in a magnetic field.

23. A system in accordance with claim 22 , wherein each subsequent portion is selected in a phase encoding direction of the representation.

24. A system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the processing portion extrapolates by:

transforming the first portion in the representation to an image; enhancing the image; and

transforming the enhanced image to a representation.

25. A system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein the processing portion utilizes the extrapolated reference data to compensate, in the second portion, for motion of the object by cross correlating the extrapolated motion data with data indicative of the second portion.

26. A system in accordance with claim 25 , the processing portion further configured to:

determine, from a result of the cross correlation, motion-indicative data indicative of motion of the object in the magnetic field; and

utilizing the determined motion to motion-compensate for motion in the second portion.

27. A system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein a size of the first portion is indicative of an accuracy of an estimate of an amount of motion of the object.

28. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a processor, perform operations comprising:

selecting a first portion of a representation of an image of the object;

selecting a second portion of the representation;

extrapolating, in accordance with a first extrapolation technique, data from a first region of the first portion;

extrapolating, in accordance with a second extrapolation technique, data from a second region of the first portion, wherein the first region differs from the second region;

combining a result of the first extrapolation technique and a result of the second extrapolation technique for obtaining extrapolated reference data; and

utilizing the extrapolated reference data to compensate, in the second portion, for motion of the object.

29. A computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 28 wherein: the first region comprises an inner region of the first portion; and

the second region comprises an outer region of the first portion.

30. A computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 28 , the computer-executable instructions further for utilizing a plurality of representations of an image of the object for generating the first portion.

31. A computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 28 wherein:

the object is within a magnetic field; and

the representation of the object comprises a representation of a magnetic resonance image of the object.

32. A computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 28 , the computer-executable instructions further for:

subsequently selecting portions of the representation, wherein, each subsequently selected portion of the representation is adjacent, in the representation, to an immediate previously selected portion of the representation; and

for each subsequently selected representation:

extrapolating data from an accumulation of all previously selected portions to the subsequently selected portion for generating extrapolated data; and

utilizing the extrapolated data to compensate, in the subsequently selected portion, for motion of the object.

33. A computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 32 , wherein:

the first portion comprises a central region of the representation;

the second portion comprises regions positioned outward from and adjacent to the central region; and

each subsequently selected portion comprises regions positioned outward from and adjacent to immediate previously selected regions.

34. A computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 28 , having further executable instructions for rendering an image indicative of the compensated representation of the object.

35. A computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 28 , having further executable instructions for assuming the first portion is indicative of a motion free representation of the object within the magnetic field.

36. A computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 28 , wherein the representation comprises k-space representation of the object in a magnetic field.

37. A computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 36 , wherein each subsequent portion is selected in a phase encoding direction of the representation.

38. A computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 28 , wherein extrapolating comprises:

transforming the first portion in the representation to an image; enhancing the image; and

transforming the enhanced image to a representation.

39. A computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 28 , wherein utilizing the extrapolated reference data to compensate, in the second portion, for motion of the object comprises cross correlating the extrapolated motion data with data indicative of the second portion.

40. A computer-readable storage medium in accordance with claim 39 , having further executable instructions for:

determining, from a result of the cross correlation, motion-indicative data indicative of motion of the object in the magnetic field; and

utilizing the determined motion to motion-compensate for motion in the second portion.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Nov 9, 2022
From: UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
To: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS), U.S. GOVERNMENT
Reel/Frame 061902/0209 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 25, 2009
From: SONG, HEE KWON; LIN, WEI
To: THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Reel/Frame 022311/0448 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 60794241 · Apr 21, 2006
Related Publication 20090316971A1 · Dec 24, 2009