Multidimensional radiofrequency (RF) pulses are of current interest because of their promise for ... more Multidimensional radiofrequency (RF) pulses are of current interest because of their promise for improving high-field imaging and for optimizing parallel transmission methods. One major drawback is that the computation time of numerically designed multidimensional RF pulses increases rapidly with their resolution and number of transmitters. This is critical because the construction of multidimensional RF pulses often needs to be in real time. The use of graphics processing units for computations is a recent approach for accelerating image reconstruction applications. We propose the use of graphics processing units for the design of multidimensional RF pulses including the utilization of parallel transmitters. Using a desktop computer with four NVIDIA Tesla C1060 computing processors, we found acceleration factors on the order of 20 for standard eight-transmitter two-dimensional spiral RF pulses with a 64 × 64 excitation resolution and a 10-μsec dwell time. We also show that even greater acceleration factors can be achieved for more complex RF pulses.
Purpose
Quantitative susceptibility map (QSM) reconstruction is ill posed due to the zero values... more Purpose
Quantitative susceptibility map (QSM) reconstruction is ill posed due to the zero values on the “magic angle cone” that make the maps prone to streaking artifacts. We propose projection onto convex sets (POCS) in the method of steepest descent (SD) for QSM reconstruction.
Methods
Two convex projections, an object-support projection in the image domain and a projection in k-space were used. QSM reconstruction using the proposed SD-POCS method was compared with SD and POCS alone as well as with truncated k-space division (TKD) for numerically simulated and 7 Tesla (T) human brain phase data.
Results
The QSM reconstruction error from noise-free simulated phase data using SD-POCS is at least two orders of magnitude lower than using SD, POCS, or TKD and has reduced streaking artifacts. Using the l1-TV reconstructed susceptibility as a gold standard for 7T in vivo imaging, SD-POCS showed better image quality comparing to SD, POCS, or TKD from visual inspection.
Conclusion
POCS is an alternative method for regularization that can be used in an iterative minimization method such as SD for QSM reconstruction.
Cannabis is the most abused illegal substance in the United States. Alterations in brain function... more Cannabis is the most abused illegal substance in the United States. Alterations in brain function and motor behavior have been reported in chronic cannabis users, but the results have been variable. The current study aimed to determine whether chronic active cannabis use in humans may alter psychomotor function, brain activation, and hypothalamic-pituitary-axis (HPA) function in men and women. Thirty cannabis users (16 men, 14 women, 18–45 years old) and 30 nondrug user controls (16 men, 14 women, 19–44 years old) were evaluated with neuropsychological tests designed to assess motor behavior and with fMRI using a 3 Tesla scanner during a visually paced finger-sequencing task, cued by a flashing checkerboard (at 2 or 4 Hz). Salivary cortisol was measured to assess HPA function. Male, but not female, cannabis users had significantly slower performance on psychomotor speed tests. As a group, cannabis users had greater activation in BA 6 than controls, while controls had greater activation in the visual area BA 17 than cannabis users. Cannabis users also had higher salivary cortisol levels than controls (p = 0.002). Chronic active cannabis use is associated with slower and less efficient psychomotor function, especially in male users, as indicated by a shift from regions involved with automated visually guided responses to more executive or attentional control areas. The greater but altered brain activities may be mediated by the higher cortisol levels in the cannabis users, which in turn may lead to less efficient visual–motor function.
Susceptibility artifacts and transmission radio frequency (RF) field (B1+) inhomogeneity are majo... more Susceptibility artifacts and transmission radio frequency (RF) field (B1+) inhomogeneity are major limitations in high-field gradient echo MRI. Previously proposed numerical 2D spectral-spatial RF pulses have been shown to be promising for reducing the through-plane signal loss susceptibility artifact by incorporating a frequency-dependent through-plane phase correction. This method has recently been extended to 4D spectral-spatial RF pulse designs for reducing B1+ inhomogeneity as well as the signal loss. In this manuscript, we present simple analytical pulse designs for constructing 2D and 4D spectral-spatial RF pulses as an alternative to the numerical approaches. The 2D pulse capable of exciting slices with reduced signal loss and is lipid suppressing. The 4D pulse simultaneously corrects signal loss as well as the B1+ inhomogeneity from a body coil transmitter. The pulses are demonstrated with simulations and with gradient echo phantom and brain images at 3T using a standard RF body coil. The pulses were observed to work well for multiple slices and several volunteers.
Susceptibility induced signal loss is a limitation in gradient echo functional MRI. The through-p... more Susceptibility induced signal loss is a limitation in gradient echo functional MRI. The through-plane artifact in axial slices is particularly problematic due to the inferior position of air cavities in the brain. Spectral-spatial radiofrequency pulses have recently been shown to reduce signal loss in a single excitation. The pulses were successfully demonstrated assuming a linear relationship between susceptibility gradient and frequency, however, the exact frequency and spatial distribution of the susceptibility gradient in the brain is unknown. We present a spiral spectroscopic imaging sequence with a time-shifted radiofrequency pulse that can spectrally decompose the through-plane susceptibility gradient for spectral-spatial radiofrequency pulse design. Maps of the through-plane susceptibility gradient as a function of frequency were generated for the human brain at 3T. We found that the linear relationship holds well for the whole brain with an optimal slope of −1.0 μT/m/Hz.
Purpose
A technique is described for simultaneous multislice (SMS) excitation using radiofrequen... more Purpose
A technique is described for simultaneous multislice (SMS) excitation using radiofrequency (RF) parallel transmission (pTX).
Methods
Spatially distinct slices are simultaneously excited by applying different RF frequencies on groups of elements of a multichannel transmit array. The localized transmit sensitivities of the coil geometry are thereby exploited to reduce RF power. The method is capable of achieving SMS-excitation using single-slice RF pulses, or multiband pulses. SMS-pTX is demonstrated using eight-channel parallel RF transmission on a dual-ring pTX coil at 3 T. The effect on B1+ homogeneity and specific absorption rate (SAR) is evaluated experimentally and by simulations. Slice-GRAPPA reconstruction was used for separation of the collapsed slice signals.
Results
Phantom and in vivo brain data acquired with fast low-angle shot (FLASH) and blipped-controlled aliasing results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) echo-planar imaging are presented at SMS excitation factors of two, four, and six. We also show that with our pTX coil design, slice placement, and binary division of transmitters, SMS-pTX excitations can achieve the same mean flip angles excitations at ∼30% lower RF power than a conventional SMS approach with multiband RF pulses.
Echo planar imaging (EPI) is most commonly used for blood oxygen level-dependent fMRI, owing to i... more Echo planar imaging (EPI) is most commonly used for blood oxygen level-dependent fMRI, owing to its sensitivity and acquisition speed. A major problem with EPI is Nyquist (N/2) ghosting, most notably at high field. EPI data are acquired under an oscillating readout gradient and hence vulnerable to gradient imperfections such as eddy current delays and off-resonance effects, as these cause inconsistencies between odd and even k-space lines after time reversal. We propose a straightforward and pragmatic method herein termed “interleaved dual echo with acceleration (IDEA) EPI”: two k-spaces (echoes) are acquired under the positive and negative readout lobes, respectively, by performing phase encoding blips only before alternate readout gradients. From these two k-spaces, two almost entirely ghost free images per shot can be constructed, without need for phase correction. The doubled echo train length can be compensated by parallel imaging and/or partial Fourier acquisition. The two k-spaces can either be complex averaged during reconstruction, which results in near-perfect cancellation of residual phase errors, or reconstructed into separate images. We demonstrate the efficacy of IDEA EPI and show phantom and in vivo images at both 3 T and 7 T.
Multidimensional radiofrequency (RF) pulses are of current interest because of their promise for ... more Multidimensional radiofrequency (RF) pulses are of current interest because of their promise for improving high-field imaging and for optimizing parallel transmission methods. One major drawback is that the computation time of numerically designed multidimensional RF pulses increases rapidly with their resolution and number of transmitters. This is critical because the construction of multidimensional RF pulses often needs to be in real time. The use of graphics processing units for computations is a recent approach for accelerating image reconstruction applications. We propose the use of graphics processing units for the design of multidimensional RF pulses including the utilization of parallel transmitters. Using a desktop computer with four NVIDIA Tesla C1060 computing processors, we found acceleration factors on the order of 20 for standard eight-transmitter two-dimensional spiral RF pulses with a 64 × 64 excitation resolution and a 10-μsec dwell time. We also show that even greater acceleration factors can be achieved for more complex RF pulses.
Purpose
Quantitative susceptibility map (QSM) reconstruction is ill posed due to the zero values... more Purpose
Quantitative susceptibility map (QSM) reconstruction is ill posed due to the zero values on the “magic angle cone” that make the maps prone to streaking artifacts. We propose projection onto convex sets (POCS) in the method of steepest descent (SD) for QSM reconstruction.
Methods
Two convex projections, an object-support projection in the image domain and a projection in k-space were used. QSM reconstruction using the proposed SD-POCS method was compared with SD and POCS alone as well as with truncated k-space division (TKD) for numerically simulated and 7 Tesla (T) human brain phase data.
Results
The QSM reconstruction error from noise-free simulated phase data using SD-POCS is at least two orders of magnitude lower than using SD, POCS, or TKD and has reduced streaking artifacts. Using the l1-TV reconstructed susceptibility as a gold standard for 7T in vivo imaging, SD-POCS showed better image quality comparing to SD, POCS, or TKD from visual inspection.
Conclusion
POCS is an alternative method for regularization that can be used in an iterative minimization method such as SD for QSM reconstruction.
Cannabis is the most abused illegal substance in the United States. Alterations in brain function... more Cannabis is the most abused illegal substance in the United States. Alterations in brain function and motor behavior have been reported in chronic cannabis users, but the results have been variable. The current study aimed to determine whether chronic active cannabis use in humans may alter psychomotor function, brain activation, and hypothalamic-pituitary-axis (HPA) function in men and women. Thirty cannabis users (16 men, 14 women, 18–45 years old) and 30 nondrug user controls (16 men, 14 women, 19–44 years old) were evaluated with neuropsychological tests designed to assess motor behavior and with fMRI using a 3 Tesla scanner during a visually paced finger-sequencing task, cued by a flashing checkerboard (at 2 or 4 Hz). Salivary cortisol was measured to assess HPA function. Male, but not female, cannabis users had significantly slower performance on psychomotor speed tests. As a group, cannabis users had greater activation in BA 6 than controls, while controls had greater activation in the visual area BA 17 than cannabis users. Cannabis users also had higher salivary cortisol levels than controls (p = 0.002). Chronic active cannabis use is associated with slower and less efficient psychomotor function, especially in male users, as indicated by a shift from regions involved with automated visually guided responses to more executive or attentional control areas. The greater but altered brain activities may be mediated by the higher cortisol levels in the cannabis users, which in turn may lead to less efficient visual–motor function.
Susceptibility artifacts and transmission radio frequency (RF) field (B1+) inhomogeneity are majo... more Susceptibility artifacts and transmission radio frequency (RF) field (B1+) inhomogeneity are major limitations in high-field gradient echo MRI. Previously proposed numerical 2D spectral-spatial RF pulses have been shown to be promising for reducing the through-plane signal loss susceptibility artifact by incorporating a frequency-dependent through-plane phase correction. This method has recently been extended to 4D spectral-spatial RF pulse designs for reducing B1+ inhomogeneity as well as the signal loss. In this manuscript, we present simple analytical pulse designs for constructing 2D and 4D spectral-spatial RF pulses as an alternative to the numerical approaches. The 2D pulse capable of exciting slices with reduced signal loss and is lipid suppressing. The 4D pulse simultaneously corrects signal loss as well as the B1+ inhomogeneity from a body coil transmitter. The pulses are demonstrated with simulations and with gradient echo phantom and brain images at 3T using a standard RF body coil. The pulses were observed to work well for multiple slices and several volunteers.
Susceptibility induced signal loss is a limitation in gradient echo functional MRI. The through-p... more Susceptibility induced signal loss is a limitation in gradient echo functional MRI. The through-plane artifact in axial slices is particularly problematic due to the inferior position of air cavities in the brain. Spectral-spatial radiofrequency pulses have recently been shown to reduce signal loss in a single excitation. The pulses were successfully demonstrated assuming a linear relationship between susceptibility gradient and frequency, however, the exact frequency and spatial distribution of the susceptibility gradient in the brain is unknown. We present a spiral spectroscopic imaging sequence with a time-shifted radiofrequency pulse that can spectrally decompose the through-plane susceptibility gradient for spectral-spatial radiofrequency pulse design. Maps of the through-plane susceptibility gradient as a function of frequency were generated for the human brain at 3T. We found that the linear relationship holds well for the whole brain with an optimal slope of −1.0 μT/m/Hz.
Purpose
A technique is described for simultaneous multislice (SMS) excitation using radiofrequen... more Purpose
A technique is described for simultaneous multislice (SMS) excitation using radiofrequency (RF) parallel transmission (pTX).
Methods
Spatially distinct slices are simultaneously excited by applying different RF frequencies on groups of elements of a multichannel transmit array. The localized transmit sensitivities of the coil geometry are thereby exploited to reduce RF power. The method is capable of achieving SMS-excitation using single-slice RF pulses, or multiband pulses. SMS-pTX is demonstrated using eight-channel parallel RF transmission on a dual-ring pTX coil at 3 T. The effect on B1+ homogeneity and specific absorption rate (SAR) is evaluated experimentally and by simulations. Slice-GRAPPA reconstruction was used for separation of the collapsed slice signals.
Results
Phantom and in vivo brain data acquired with fast low-angle shot (FLASH) and blipped-controlled aliasing results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) echo-planar imaging are presented at SMS excitation factors of two, four, and six. We also show that with our pTX coil design, slice placement, and binary division of transmitters, SMS-pTX excitations can achieve the same mean flip angles excitations at ∼30% lower RF power than a conventional SMS approach with multiband RF pulses.
Echo planar imaging (EPI) is most commonly used for blood oxygen level-dependent fMRI, owing to i... more Echo planar imaging (EPI) is most commonly used for blood oxygen level-dependent fMRI, owing to its sensitivity and acquisition speed. A major problem with EPI is Nyquist (N/2) ghosting, most notably at high field. EPI data are acquired under an oscillating readout gradient and hence vulnerable to gradient imperfections such as eddy current delays and off-resonance effects, as these cause inconsistencies between odd and even k-space lines after time reversal. We propose a straightforward and pragmatic method herein termed “interleaved dual echo with acceleration (IDEA) EPI”: two k-spaces (echoes) are acquired under the positive and negative readout lobes, respectively, by performing phase encoding blips only before alternate readout gradients. From these two k-spaces, two almost entirely ghost free images per shot can be constructed, without need for phase correction. The doubled echo train length can be compensated by parallel imaging and/or partial Fourier acquisition. The two k-spaces can either be complex averaged during reconstruction, which results in near-perfect cancellation of residual phase errors, or reconstructed into separate images. We demonstrate the efficacy of IDEA EPI and show phantom and in vivo images at both 3 T and 7 T.
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Papers by Weiran Deng
Quantitative susceptibility map (QSM) reconstruction is ill posed due to the zero values on the “magic angle cone” that make the maps prone to streaking artifacts. We propose projection onto convex sets (POCS) in the method of steepest descent (SD) for QSM reconstruction.
Methods
Two convex projections, an object-support projection in the image domain and a projection in k-space were used. QSM reconstruction using the proposed SD-POCS method was compared with SD and POCS alone as well as with truncated k-space division (TKD) for numerically simulated and 7 Tesla (T) human brain phase data.
Results
The QSM reconstruction error from noise-free simulated phase data using SD-POCS is at least two orders of magnitude lower than using SD, POCS, or TKD and has reduced streaking artifacts. Using the l1-TV reconstructed susceptibility as a gold standard for 7T in vivo imaging, SD-POCS showed better image quality comparing to SD, POCS, or TKD from visual inspection.
Conclusion
POCS is an alternative method for regularization that can be used in an iterative minimization method such as SD for QSM reconstruction.
A technique is described for simultaneous multislice (SMS) excitation using radiofrequency (RF) parallel transmission (pTX).
Methods
Spatially distinct slices are simultaneously excited by applying different RF frequencies on groups of elements of a multichannel transmit array. The localized transmit sensitivities of the coil geometry are thereby exploited to reduce RF power. The method is capable of achieving SMS-excitation using single-slice RF pulses, or multiband pulses. SMS-pTX is demonstrated using eight-channel parallel RF transmission on a dual-ring pTX coil at 3 T. The effect on B1+ homogeneity and specific absorption rate (SAR) is evaluated experimentally and by simulations. Slice-GRAPPA reconstruction was used for separation of the collapsed slice signals.
Results
Phantom and in vivo brain data acquired with fast low-angle shot (FLASH) and blipped-controlled aliasing results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) echo-planar imaging are presented at SMS excitation factors of two, four, and six. We also show that with our pTX coil design, slice placement, and binary division of transmitters, SMS-pTX excitations can achieve the same mean flip angles excitations at ∼30% lower RF power than a conventional SMS approach with multiband RF pulses.
Quantitative susceptibility map (QSM) reconstruction is ill posed due to the zero values on the “magic angle cone” that make the maps prone to streaking artifacts. We propose projection onto convex sets (POCS) in the method of steepest descent (SD) for QSM reconstruction.
Methods
Two convex projections, an object-support projection in the image domain and a projection in k-space were used. QSM reconstruction using the proposed SD-POCS method was compared with SD and POCS alone as well as with truncated k-space division (TKD) for numerically simulated and 7 Tesla (T) human brain phase data.
Results
The QSM reconstruction error from noise-free simulated phase data using SD-POCS is at least two orders of magnitude lower than using SD, POCS, or TKD and has reduced streaking artifacts. Using the l1-TV reconstructed susceptibility as a gold standard for 7T in vivo imaging, SD-POCS showed better image quality comparing to SD, POCS, or TKD from visual inspection.
Conclusion
POCS is an alternative method for regularization that can be used in an iterative minimization method such as SD for QSM reconstruction.
A technique is described for simultaneous multislice (SMS) excitation using radiofrequency (RF) parallel transmission (pTX).
Methods
Spatially distinct slices are simultaneously excited by applying different RF frequencies on groups of elements of a multichannel transmit array. The localized transmit sensitivities of the coil geometry are thereby exploited to reduce RF power. The method is capable of achieving SMS-excitation using single-slice RF pulses, or multiband pulses. SMS-pTX is demonstrated using eight-channel parallel RF transmission on a dual-ring pTX coil at 3 T. The effect on B1+ homogeneity and specific absorption rate (SAR) is evaluated experimentally and by simulations. Slice-GRAPPA reconstruction was used for separation of the collapsed slice signals.
Results
Phantom and in vivo brain data acquired with fast low-angle shot (FLASH) and blipped-controlled aliasing results in higher acceleration (CAIPIRINHA) echo-planar imaging are presented at SMS excitation factors of two, four, and six. We also show that with our pTX coil design, slice placement, and binary division of transmitters, SMS-pTX excitations can achieve the same mean flip angles excitations at ∼30% lower RF power than a conventional SMS approach with multiband RF pulses.