Distortion indicator algorithm for simple artifact assessment of passive MRI markers

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Radiology

Background:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is crucial for medical diagnostics.
• Artifacts in MRI can distort images, affecting diagnostic accuracy.
• Passive instruments used during MRI can introduce image artifacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a simple, quantitative approach for assessing MRI artifacts.
• To evaluate artifacts introduced by passive instruments in an MRI environment.
• To enable comparative studies of artifacts from different instruments.

Main Methods:

• A quantitative indicator based on 3D surface distortion in 2D MR images was developed.
• Preprocessing involved attenuating low-frequency components of the 3D surface.
• An indicator of background distortion volume was computed per MRI slice.
• A monotonically decreasing curve was used to assess the overall artifact level.

Main Results:

• An automated indicator for MRI artifacts was successfully computed from MRI sequences.
• The indicator allows for quantitative comparison of artifacts produced by various catheters and needles.
• The method provides a reliable measure of distortion caused by passive instruments.

Conclusions:

• A straightforward quantitative method for MRI artifact assessment is presented.
• This approach facilitates objective comparisons of artifact levels between different medical devices.
• The developed indicator aids in understanding and mitigating MRI artifacts from passive instruments.