Single-point imaging with a variable phase encoding interval.
A modified single-point imaging (SPI) technique using a variable phase encoding interval is proposed. This method is based on the minimization of the phase encoding interval for further signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) optimization. This is particularly beneficial when the maximum gradient amplitude limits an optimal phase encoding interval, and the resulting SNR suffers from T(2)-related signal attenuation. Theoretical calculation of the SNR and simulation of the point spread function (PSF) for the different experimental parameters are presented. Experiments using a rubber sample (T(2)* approximately 73 micros) and a tooth (bi-exponential relaxation: T(2,1)*=111 micros and T(2,1)*=872 micros) showed a significant increase in SNR (>3 and >2, respectively) when compared with images acquired with conventional SPI.
Latta
Peter
P
Institute for Biodiagnostics, National Research Council of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 1Y6. peter.latta@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
Gruwel
Marco L H
ML
Volotovskyy
Vyacheslav
V
Weber
Michael H
MH
Tomanek
Boguslaw
B
D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted