System and method for magnetic resonance imaging of intracranial vessel walls

摘要

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for intracranial vessel wall imaging. The MRI system includes a radio frequency (RF) coil system to irradiate radio frequency (RF) pulses into a region of interest and detect a plurality of RF response signals, and a signal processing unit adapted to analyze the plurality of RF response signals. The RF coil system arranges the RF pulses in a pulse sequence including an excitation pulse and refocusing pulses which induce corresponding flip angles. A minimum flip angle is in the range of 30 degrees to 65 degrees, and a maximum flip angle is in the range of 100 degrees to 150 degrees. The signal processing unit analyzes the RF response signals with a three-dimensional isotropic resolution of 500 cubic microns or less and orders the RF response signals in k-space to enhance contrast between intracranial vessel wall tissue and cerebrospinal fluid or blood.

主权项

1. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for intracranial vessel wall imaging, comprising:
a main magnet providing a substantially uniform main magnetic field B0 for a subject under observation; a radio frequency (RF) coil system configured to irradiate a plurality of radio frequency (RF) pulses into a region of interest of said subject and to detect a plurality of RF response signals emitted from said region of interest; and a signal processing unit in communication with said RF coil system adapted to analyze said plurality of RF response signals, wherein said RF coil system arranges said plurality of RF pulses in a pulse sequence, said pulse sequence including an excitation pulse and a plurality of refocusing pulses inducing a corresponding plurality of flip angles, a minimum flip angle of said plurality of flip angles being in the range of 30 degrees to 65 degrees, and a maximum flip angle of said plurality of flip angles being in the range of 100 degrees to 150 degrees, and wherein said signal processing unit orders said plurality of RF response signals such that the highest amplitude RF signals are located in a center of k-space in order to enhance contrast between intracranial vessel wall tissue and at least one of cerebrospinal fluid or blood.