Accelerated volumetric MRI with a SENSE/GRAPPA combination.
OBJECTIVE
To combine the specific advantages of the generalized autocalibrating partially parallel acquisitions (GRAPPA) technique and sensitivity encoding (SENSE) with two-dimensional (2D) undersampling.


METHODS
By splitting the 2D reconstruction process into multiple one-dimensional (1D) reconstructions, the normal 1D GRAPPA method can be used for image reconstruction. Due to this data-handling process, a GRAPPA reconstruction is performed along the phase-encoding (PE) direction and effectively a SENSE reconstruction is performed along the partition-encoding (PAE) direction.


RESULTS
In vivo experiments demonstrate the successful implementation of the SENSE/GRAPPA combination. Experimental results with up to 9.6-fold acceleration using a prototype 32-channel receiver head coil array are presented.


CONCLUSIONS
The proposed SENSE/GRAPPA combination for 3D imaging allows the GRAPPA method to be applied in combination with 2D undersampling. Because the SENSE/GRAPPA combination is not based on knowledge of spatial coil sensitivities, it should be the method of choice whenever it is difficult to extract the sensitivity information.
Blaimer
Martin
M
Department of Experimental Physics 5, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. martin.blaimer@case.edu
Breuer
Felix A
FA
Seiberlich
Nicole
N
Mueller
Matthias F
MF
Heidemann
Robin M
RM
Jellus
Vladimir
V
Wiggins
Graham
G
Wald
Lawrence L
LL
Griswold
Mark A
MA
Jakob
Peter M
PM
D000465:Algorithms; D016477:Artifacts; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002138:Calibration; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*