Patent ID: 9339239
Filing Date: 2016-05-17
CPC Classification: A61B,G01R,G06T

Claim Text:
1. A method for optimizing k-space strategies for MR acquisition, comprising: setting independent image parameters, wherein the independent image parameters are independent of a k-space strategy in an imaging sequence; simulating, using a computing device, at least one respective image quality metric for each of a plurality of k-space acquisitions, wherein the image quality metric comprises a contrast metric; optimizing the k-space strategy, wherein optimizing the k-space strategy comprises using the simulated image quality metrics for each of the k-space acquisitions to select a sampling order in k-space center that maximizes the contrast metric and minimizes an image artifact caused by the k-space strategy; and acquiring at least one MR image using the optimized k-space strategy, wherein selecting a sampling order in k-space center further comprises: filling a k-space zero line using a k-space acquisition having a maximum contrast metric, wherein the contrast metric comprises at least one of a contrast, contrast efficiency, CNR or CNR efficiency, and designing the sampling order to minimize the image artifact caused by the k-space strategy, wherein the image artifact caused by the k-space strategy comprises at least one of signal inhomogeneity, SNR inhomogeneity, contrast inhomogeneity, CNR inhomogeneity, signal loss, geometry distortion or image ghost.