Patent ID: 8433392
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A method for producing an image over an extended field-of-view (FOV) of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a predefined FOV that is smaller than the extended FOV, the method comprising the steps of: a) determining a set of imaging stations at which to image a subject over the extended FOV; b) performing a prescan at the set of imaging stations using receiver coil elements to acquire a prescan data set; c) determining sensitivity profiles of the receiver coil elements at each of the set of imaging stations from the prescan data set; d) moving the subject to a first station in the set of imaging stations; e) performing a stationary, parallel imaging acquisition using the sensitivity profiles determined at step c) while the subject is at the first station to acquire a first set of NMR data from the subject; f) moving the subject toward a next station in the set of imaging stations; g) performing an intermediate imaging acquisition while the subject is being moved toward the next station in the set of imaging stations to acquire a next set of NMR data; h) performing a stationary, parallel imaging acquisition using the sensitivity profiles determined at step c) while the subject is at the next station to acquire a next set of NMR data from the subject; i) repeating steps f) through h) until the last station to acquire a series of NMR data from the subject; and j) a reconstructing and processing the series of NMR data to produce images of the subject over the extended FOV.