Inductive measurement and encoding of k-space trajectories in MR raw data

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Background:

• Accurate k-space trajectory measurement is crucial for high-quality MRI reconstruction.
• Current methods for estimating k-space trajectories can be prone to errors, impacting image fidelity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To concurrently acquire inductive k-space trajectory measures alongside MR imaging data.
• To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of this novel measurement technique.

Main Methods:

• 1D gradient measures were obtained via digital integration, regularized with gradient coil current data.
• Gradient measures were frequency modulated into an RF signal for scanner reception.
• Custom circuitry was used for gradient measure generation and frequency modulation.

Main Results:

• The inductive k-space trajectory measure slightly improved image quality for echo planar imaging (EPI) compared to scanner-estimated trajectories.
• A 76% reduction in root-mean-square error was achieved for spiral trajectories using the regularized inductive measure.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrated the feasibility of inductively measuring k-space trajectories with enhanced precision through regularization.
• This approach presents a potentially inexpensive method for concurrent k-space trajectory acquisition during MRI scans.