MIMOSA: Multi-Parametric Imaging Using Multiple-Echoes With Optimized Simultaneous Acquisition for Highly-Efficient...

Area of Science:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Medical Physics
• Quantitative Imaging

Background:

• Quantitative MRI (qMRI) provides valuable tissue-specific information.
• Current multi-parametric mapping techniques can be time-consuming.
• Efficient and accurate qMRI is crucial for clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop MIMOSA, a novel MRI sequence for highly efficient multi-parametric mapping.
• To enable simultaneous quantification of T1, T2, T2*, proton density (PD), and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).

Main Methods:

• MIMOSA combines 3D turbo Fast Low Angle Shot (FLASH) and multi-echo gradient echo modules with a spiral-like Cartesian trajectory.
• Sequence optimization was performed using simulations.
• A self-supervised learning algorithm was used for reconstruction, with validation in phantom and in vivo experiments at 3T and 7T.

Main Results:

• MIMOSA demonstrated improved parameter estimation accuracy compared to 3D-QALAS in simulations and phantom studies.
• In vivo experiments achieved up to 11.8-fold acceleration with high accuracy and repeatability (ICC > 0.947 for all parameters).
• Whole-brain mapping (1mm isotropic) was completed in 3 minutes at 3T and (750μm isotropic) in 13 minutes at 7T.

Conclusions:

• MIMOSA enables highly efficient and repeatable multi-parametric quantitative MRI.
• The sequence shows significant potential for accelerating clinical MRI workflows.
• MIMOSA facilitates high-resolution, whole-brain quantitative mapping across different field strengths.