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Multiline balanced SSFP for rapid functional imaging at ultrahigh field.
Philipp Ehses1,2,3, Klaus Scheffler1,2
1Department for Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
|May 27, 2017
Summary
This study introduces a new multiline balanced steady-state free-precession (bSSFP) sequence for faster and more sensitive functional MRI (fMRI) at ultrahigh fields, improving blood oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal detection.
Area of Science:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Neuroimaging Techniques
- Biophysics
Background:
- Functional MRI (fMRI) is crucial for understanding brain activity.
- Ultrahigh field (UHF) MRI systems offer enhanced sensitivity but face technical challenges.
- Balanced steady-state free-precession (bSSFP) sequences are explored for fMRI applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel multiline balanced steady-state free-precession (bSSFP) sequence.
- To optimize bSSFP for functional MRI (fMRI) at ultrahigh magnetic fields (UHF).
- To assess the performance of the proposed sequence for blood oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) imaging.
Main Methods:
- Experiments were conducted on a 9.4 Tesla (T) system using a visual task.
- A multiline bSSFP sequence with varying echo train lengths (1-7 echoes) was implemented.
- Acquisition efficiency, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and BOLD signal changes were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Increasing repetition time and echo train length improved BOLD signal changes and SNR.
- Activation patterns and signal changes demonstrated stability and reproducibility across subjects.
- The multiline bSSFP sequence showed improved BOLD sensitivity compared to single-line bSSFP.
Conclusions:
- A multiline bSSFP sequence is proposed for functional BOLD imaging at UHF.
- The sequence achieves speed comparable to echo-planar imaging (EPI).
- This method offers enhanced BOLD sensitivity for UHF fMRI applications.
