US 9,069,050 B2 · Varying blipped trajectory in MRI

Abstract

Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) blipped trajectories having varying blip amplitudes are described. One example method includes controlling an MRI apparatus to produce a set of blipped trajectories including a first blipped trajectory having a first blip amplitude and a second, different blipped trajectory having a second, different blip amplitude. The blip amplitudes may be based on a relationship between a trajectory and a reference. The relationship may be, for example, a rotation angle. The rotation angle may be a proxy for information including a gradient trajectory speed associated with a blipped trajectory or an amount of unused gradient energy available while producing the blipped trajectory. The blip amplitudes may be selected to produce incoherent sampling during an MRI acquisition that uses the blipped trajectories. In one example, readout directions may be altered between trajectories to reduce regularity in k-space.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method performed by a computer controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus and producing variable blipped trajectories during an MRI acquisition, comprising:

the computer controlling the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus in order to produce and apply a set of blipped trajectories, during an MRI acquisition where the set of blipped trajectories includes:
a first blipped trajectory having a first blip amplitude, and
a second, different blipped trajectory having a second, different blip amplitude;
and
the computer controlling the MRI apparatus to associate a first readout direction with the first blipped trajectory and controlling the MRI apparatus in order to associate a second, different readout direction with the second blipped trajectory,
where performing the MRI acquisition using the first readout direction for the first blipped trajectory and using the second readout direction for the second blipped trajectory produces less regularity in k-space than is produced by performing the MRI acquisition using the first readout direction as both the first blipped trajectory and the second blipped trajectory, and
where performing the MRI acquisition using the first blip amplitude and the second blip amplitude produces an optimal incoherent sampling during the MRI acquisition.

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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Varying blipped trajectory in MRI

Life of this patent

Varying blipped trajectory in MRI

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16