Abstract:
MRI method and apparatus using simultaneous image refocusing of multiple MRI slices that have different phase histories imparted by applying different amount of additional energy to the different slices before the first refocusing, in combination with applying novel fid spoiling that suppresses interference between stimulated echoes and spin echoes of different slices while allowing non-interfering stimulated echoes to be added to the appropriate primary echoes.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/477,783 filed on Dec. 31, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,614,225, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   This patent specification is in the field of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and is directed to improvements including techniques particularly important in high field MRI. 
   The 1999 patent application referenced above describes simultaneous image refocusing (SIR) that includes giving each of several MRI slices a respective phase history different from that for other slices, for example by pulses on the read gradient (Gr) axis interspersed with the RF excitation pulses, and simultaneously refocusing all the slices several times in the same MRI signal acquisition sequence. 
   At higher MRI field strengths the RF penetration of the human body is markedly reduced. To compensate for this, the power of the RF pulses can be increased, but this in turn leads to an increased heating of the subject. Rapid spin echo (SE) sequences, also called turbo spin echo (TSE), fast spin echo (FSE), and rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE), that use a large number of closely spaced high flip angle RF pulses, have to be slowed down considerably to prevent harming the patient. Currently offered 3T MRI scanners are examples of such issues, and higher fields would show an even greater reduction in RF penetration. 
   SIR-based TSE sequences help deal with the reduction of RF penetration with an increase of MRI field strength from two directions. First, their longer readout periods increase the spacing of the RF refocusing pulses. Second, the number of refocusing pulses they apply is significantly reduced because each RF pulse acts on several slices simultaneously. Therefore, the amount of deposited RF energy per unit time that has to be dissipated by the subject&#39;s body is much lower in SIR-based sequences, and sequences such as SIR TSE can be run faster or with larger slice coverage. 
   In SIR TSE sequences some of the stimulated echoes from the first slice may not all fall on top of the primary echo from the same slice but instead may interfere with the primary echo from the second slice (In an n-slice 3 slice SIR TSE sequence). One way to avoid such interference would be to spoil all stimulated echo pathways. This can be done by constantly increasing the spoiling pulse amplitude. This can suppress all the stimulated echo pathways efficiently but is usually limited by the maximum gradient strength of the scanner hardware. Another disadvantage of this approach is that all echo pathways are suppressed, including those that fall on the correct side of the readout and could contribute to the signal without interference. The approach disclosed in this patent specification removes both disadvantages—it suppresses the stimulated echoes that would interfere with the primary echoes from other slices while allowing the contribution of the non-interfering stimulated echoes, but does not require increases in gradient strength. The new approach thereby provides MRI benefits in addition to those from SIR alone. 
   Let us call the stimulated echoes of one slice, which fall on top of the primary echo of another other slice, the “wrong stimulated echo,” and call the stimulated echoes that contribute to the primary echo of the same slice, the “right stimulated echoes”. Wrong stimulated echoes result from echo pathways that miss an odd number of refocusing pulses. Since in SIR TSE sequences the position of the primary echo within the readout period changes every refocusing period, those wrong stimulated echoes may fall on top of the primary echo of another other slice and cause interference. Right stimulated echoes, on the other hand, miss an even number of refocusing pulses and fall on the correct side of the readout period. Since the position of the primary echo of one slice changes with a period of 2, the spoiling scheme should have the same period of 2. If the suitable gradient spoiling is chosen as a unit measure, a suitable spoiling scheme would be, e.g.:
         (2,1,2,1,2,1,2,1, . . . ), or   (1,2,1,2,1,2,1,2, . . . ), or   (−1,1,−1,1,−1,1, . . . ), or   (2,3,2,3,2,3,2,3, . . . ),
 
where successive numbers give the relative gradient momentum for successive refocusing periods.
       

   The constraints are:
         periodicity of 2   difference of momentums of spoiler pulses between refocusing periods at least one unit measure   total rephrasing of primary echo during readout period       

   Such encoding of multiple spin echoes within the RF pulse train is a departure from conventional CPMG conditions that could raise concerns. However, this patent specification describes a novel periodic spoiler pulse scheme that selectively removes only the stimulated echoes that would interfere with the spin echo of an alternate slice but does not spoil the coherent stimulated echoes. The new method alternates gradient amplitudes between odd and even RF refocusing periods. This is different from earlier described methods of progressively increasing the amplitude of the spoiler pulses in non-CPMG sequences, which removes all of the stimulated echo magnetization. This is also different from Alsop&#39;s method (see reference 1) of RF spoiling half of the total signal in a non-CPMG sequence. The clinical application for SIR TSE described in this patent specification is suitable for T1-weighted imaging that uses fewer RF refocusings generating much less stimulated echo signal with 3 to 5 RF refocusings as compared to T2 imaging that typically uses more than 5 RF refocusings. An advantage of T1-weighted imaging is using centric k-space ordering that places the center of k-space on the first RF refocusing period, which does not have stimulated echoes. Using this scheme, the new approach described here can produce very high quality T1-weighted SIR TSE images of the brain and body, using no signal averaging. Phase cycling in two averages, removes the potential high frequency signal leakage from images. Examples of comparing two average SIR images with and without phase cycling found no detectable difference between the two sets of images, indicate freedom from artifacts from the overlap of high spatial frequency k-space. Preliminary findings in many different image acquisitions of different matrix sizes and sagittal, coronal and axial planes through the head and in phantoms indicate that without signal averaging or phase cycling, SIR TSE images are free of artifacts, appearing the same as conventional TSE images. Nevertheless, when using two or more signal averages, phase cycling removes spurious signal or artifact from high spatial frequency overlap or stimulated echoes without the need for spoiler pulses. 
   At 3T imaging where the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is expected to be 100% higher, the SIR TSE is not dependent on two averages, and therefore can be performed with large reduction in SAR (specific absorption ratio, which is a measure of RF heating of the subject), and increased slice coverage with the time-savings of a single-average acquisition. One proposal for a different approach to reducing SAR in TSE is discussed in Hennig and Scheffler (see reference 2). 
   The novel alternating amplitude spoiler scheme described here reduces signal amplitude progressively through the echo train. Examples of phantom and head measurements have indicated that the first echo data has 100% signal compared to conventional TSE, the second echo has 99%, and the third echo 97% for certain images. The amount of net stimulated echo spoiling is dependent on the RF excitation profiles, and is believed improvable with improvements in the 180° pulse slice profiles, which have not been optimized for SIR. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a sequence scheme and phase diagram for conventional spoiling of free induction decay (fid) artifacts. 
       FIG. 1B  is similar to  FIG. 1A  but illustrates a new periodic spoiler scheme to suppress interference between stimulated echoes and spin (primary) echoes of different slices. Both  FIGS. 1A and 1B  only show the phase pathway for one of the excitation pulses (one slice). The gray shaded gradient pulses are the novel periodic spoiling scheme. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate two versions of the novel periodic spoiling scheme using gradient pulses (shaded) to suppress interference between stimulated echoes and spin echoes of different slices. 
       FIG. 3  illustrate the efficiency of the noel spoiling scheme. The top plots illustrate signal at the spin echo position at different RF refocusing time intervals between RF pulses for the SIR-TSE with 15 RF refocusings (15 RF 180° pulses) with and without spoiling. The lower plots illustrate the accumulative amplitude of the spoiled stimulated echoes that would interfere with the spin echo signals of the alternate slice. Signals were separated by phase cycling for these measurements. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a block diagram of an MRI system, according to an embodiment of the present application. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1A  illustrates a multiple slice SE pulse sequence using the SIR approach discussed in the referenced 1999 patent application and also using known spoiling of fid artifacts. RF pulses RF1 and RF2 on the RF axis excite two respective MRI slices S1 and S2 defined by the illustrated pulses on the slice select axis, and are followed by a 180° pulse on the RF axis. In order to provide SIR benefits, the read axis gradients pulses include a first pulse that is temporally between the two RF pulses, and a second pulse that is temporally between the second RF pulse and the first 180° pulse. Spin echo MRI signals follow in time as illustrated, with an additional 180° RF pulse after each pair of MRI echo signals. The spoiling pulses on the slice select axis, shown as shaded blocks, temporally flank each 180° pulse to provide known spoiling of fid artifacts. 
     FIG. 1B  illustrates a novel approach of varying the amplitude of the spoiling pulses on the slice axis. As illustrated, the amplitude is relatively high for the first 180° RF pulse, relatively low for the second 180° RF pulse, and the pattern repeats. Alternatively, the width of the spoiling pulses, or both the width and the amplitude, can be varied to thereby vary the pulse area. While the illustrated sequence shows only two slices, more than two can be used in the same sequence. While only three sets of SE MRI signals are expressly illustrated, more SE MRI signals can be acquired by using additional 180° RF pulses, flanked by appropriate spoiling pulses on the slice axis. In the case of using two slices, the spoiling pulse scheme should conform to the constraints discussed above concerning periodicity, difference in momentum of spoiler pulses between refocusing periods, and total rephrasing of primary echo during readout period. If suitable gradient spoiling is chosen as a unit measure, an appropriate spoiling scheme can be, e.g, (2,1,2,1,2,1,2,1, . . . ), or (1,2,1,2,1,2,1,2, . . . ), or (−1,1,−1,1,−1,1, . . . ), or (2,3,2,3,2,3,2,3, . . . ), . . . , where successive numbers give the relative gradient momentum for successive refocusing periods. As earlier discussed, this example of spoiling pulses suppresses interference between stimulated echoes and spin echoes of different MRI slices. In each of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the lower graphs illustrate the phase of the stimulated echo signals caused by RF1. The vertical axis is phase amplitude, positive above the heavy line showing zero phase amplitude, and negative below that line. The horizontal axis is time, increasing to the right. The stimulated echo signals are detected when the phase graphs cross the zero line. In  FIG. 1A  (prior art) some of the zero cross overs overlap in time with the spin echos SE2 from the second slice. This is undesirable interference of stimulated echos from the first slice with the MRI spin echos from the second slice during read pulses. In contrast, in  FIG. 1B  such cross overs are shifted out of time overlap with the spin echos SE2 during the read periods defined by the read pulses. 
     FIG. 2A  is similar to  FIG. 1B  but omits the phase diagram.  FIG. 2B  illustrates a variation with the same RF pulses, read gradient pulses, and phase gradient pulses, but with a difference on the slice select gradient axis—the spoiler pulses (shaded blocks) alternate in polarity while maintaining essentially the same amplitude and width. Other combinations of spoiling and possible and are within the scope of this patent disclosure to achieve the same or similar result of suppressing interference between stimulated echoes and spin echoes of different MRI slices by changing the spoiling pulses from one refocusing to the next. For example, gradient pulses on other axes can be used for the same or similar purpose, such as in the gradient axes such as the read and phase encode axes. Using such interference suppressing pulses on the slice select gradient axis may be preferable in many cases, since the slice thickness is often greater than the in-plane resolution, which allows weaker gradients to achieve a 2π-phase shift within a voxel. The constraint for the spoiling scheme for the case of two slices is the periodicity of 2 RF pulse intervals using different net area of gradient in each gradient pulse pair. This would always spoil the magnetization that falls on the “wrong” side of the readout where it would interfere with the “right” MRI signal from the other slice. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates an efficiency benefit of the new periodic spoiling scheme. The top plots show MRI signal at the spin echo position at different RF refocusings time intervals between RF pulses for the SIR-TSE with 15 RF refocusings (15 RF 180° pulses) with and without spoiling. The lower plots show the accumulative amplitude of the spoiled stimulated echoes that would interfere with the spin echo signals of the alternate slice. Signals were separated by phase cycling for these measurements. 
   The novel suppression of interference can be applied to known MRI scanners, such as a 3T MRI scanner currently offered by a number of manufactures, through a suitable modification of the software to provide a pulse sequence such as illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  2 A, and  2 B, using ordinary skill in the art and the disclosure herein. A block diagram of and MRI apparatus using the novel scheme is illustrated in  FIG. 4 , where a source  400  stores and provides an SIR-TSE pulse sequence of the type discussed above that has been translated into a format suitable for a particular MRI scanner  402 . Scanner  402  carries out corresponding SIR-TSE scanning of a subject, reconstructs MRI images using known techniques, and stores and/or displays the image at unit  404 . 
   While specific examples have been discussed above, the invention can be implemented in other examples, and its scope defined by the appended claims is not limited to the specific disclosed examples. 
   Cited References: 
   
       
       1) D.C. Alsop, Phase insensitive preparation of single-shot rare: application to diffusion imaging in humans, MAGN. Reson. Med. 38, 527-533 (1997); 
       2) T. Loeneker, F. Hennel, J. Hennig, Multisclice Interleaved Excitation Cycles (Music): An efficient gradient—Echo Technique For Functional MRI, MRM 35:870-874 (1996).