Generating a quantitative parameter map from magnetic resonance (MR) data
AssigneeSiemens Healthcare GmbH
InventorsMarcel Dominik Nickel, Manuel Schneider
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for generating a quantitative parameter map from MR data. A specified signal model is adjusted to measured MR data. The signal model contains a time-dependent phase evolution map that specifies a respective separate phase evolution for each echo in a multi-echo sequence used to generate the MR data. Provision is also made for an image region that is to be represented to be divided up into a plurality of pixel fields, which include a plurality of pixels in each case. For all these pixel fields, at least the phase evolution for each echo is assumed to be equal for all the pixels in the respective pixel field, so as to achieve stability of the adjustment of the signal model to the MR data.
Claims6
A method for generating a quantitative parameter map from magnetic resonance (MR) data that characterizes an examination subject, comprising:
- acquiring, using a multi-echo sequence, the MR data;
- calculating, via one or more processors, a signal model that models an MR response signal relating to the examination subject, the signal model containing a time-dependent phase evolution map that is calculated from the acquired MR data and specifies a respective separate phase evolution for at least three echoes of the multi-echo sequence;
- adjusting, via one or more processors, the signal model to correspond to the acquired MR data to calculate an adjusted signal model;
- and
- calculating, via one or more processors, the MR response signal for an image region that contains a plurality of pixels using the adjusted signal model, the image region being divided into a plurality of pixel fields, each of the plurality of pixel fields including a respective plurality of pixels,
- wherein, for each respective pixel field from among the plurality of pixel fields, at least the phase evolution for each echo associated with each of the plurality of pixels is set equal to one another to calculate the signal model.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of a magnetic resonance (MR) imager, cause the MR imager to generate a quantitative parameter map from MR data that characterizes an examination subject by:
- acquiring, using a multi-echo sequence, the MR data;
- calculating a signal model that models an MR response signal relating to the examination subject, the signal model containing a time-dependent phase evolution map that is calculated from the acquired MR data and specifies a respective separate phase evolution for at least three echoes of the multi-echo sequence;
- adjusting the signal model to correspond to the acquired MR data to calculate an adjusted signal model;
- and
- calculating the MR response signal for an image region that contains a plurality of pixels using the adjusted signal model, the image region being divided into a plurality of pixel fields, each of the plurality of pixel fields including a respective plurality of pixels,
- wherein, for each respective pixel field from among the plurality of pixel fields, at least the phase evolution for each echo associated with each of the plurality of pixels is set equal to one another to calculate the signal model.
A magnetic resonance imager configured to generate a quantitative parameter map from magnetic resonance (MR) data that characterizes an examination subject, comprising:
- a coil array configured to generate a multi-echo sequence;
- and
- data processing circuitry configured to:
- calculate a signal model that models an MR response relating to the examination subject, the signal model containing a time-dependent phase evolution map that is calculated from the acquired MR data and specifies a respective separate phase evolution for at least three echoes of the multi-echo sequence;
- adjust the signal model to correspond to the acquired MR data to calculate an adjusted signal model;
- and
- calculate the MR response signal for an image region that contains a plurality of pixels using the adjusted signal model, the image region being divided into a plurality of pixel fields, each of the plurality of pixel fields including a respective plurality of pixels,
- wherein, for each respective pixel field from among the plurality of pixel fields, at least the phase evolution for each echo associated with each of the plurality of pixels is set equal to one another to calculate the signal model.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.