System and methods for improved real time functional magnetic resonance imaging

摘要

A system and methods for high-speed functional magnetic resonance imaging using multi-slab echo-volumar imaging (EVI), specifically a combination of multi-slab excitation and single-shot 3D encoding with parallel imaging to reduce geometrical image distortion and blurring, and to increase blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) sensitivity compared to conventional echo-planar imaging (EPI).

主权项

1. A method of performing functional magnetic resonance imaging, comprising the steps of:
exciting multiple adjacent slabs sequentially, wherein each slab comprises a plurality of image slices; encoding each slab of the multiple adjacent slabs in a single-shot three-dimensional measurement to resolve the plurality of image slices within each slab to obtain individual encoded slabs; minimizing inter-slab crosstalk to avoid spatial aliasing and to minimize signal losses at the edges of each individual encoded slab by using numerically optimized slab selection radio frequency pulses and spatial oversampling of image slices located on either side of each individual encoded slab; undersampling the k-space data acquisition; creating an un-aliased image from each individual encoded slab utilizing parallel imaging; reconstructing a final contiguous volumetric image from all individual encoded slabs including the plurality of image slices.