A 24-ch Phased-Array System for Hyperpolarized Helium Gas Parallel MRI to Evaluate Lung Functions

Author

Lee, Ray F. ; Johnson, Glyn ; Stoeckel, Bernd ; Stefanescu, Cornel ; Trampel, Robert ; McGuinness, Georgeann

Author_Institution

New York Univ., NY

fYear

2005

fDate

6/27/1905 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

4278

Lastpage

4281

Abstract

Hyperpolarized ³He gas MRI has a serious potential for assessing pulmonary functions. Due to the fact that the non-equilibrium of the gas results in a steady depletion of the signal level over the course of the excitations, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) can be independent of the number of the data acquisitions under certain circumstances. This provides a unique opportunity for parallel MRI for gaining both temporal and spatial resolution without reducing SNR. We have built a 24-channel receive/2-channel transmit phased array system for ³He parallel imaging. Our in vivo experimental results proved that the significant temporal and spatial resolution can be gained at no cost to the SNR. With 3D data acquisition, eight fold (2times4) scan time reduction can be achieved without any aliasing in images. Additionally, a rigid analysis using the low impedance preamplifier for decoupling presented evidence of strong coupling

Keywords

arrays; biomedical MRI; data acquisition; lung; preamplifiers; 3D data acquisition; hyperpolarized helium gas parallel MRI; low impedance preamplifier; lung functions; phased-array system; pulmonary functions; signal-to-noise ratio; spatial resolution; temporal resolution; Costs; Data acquisition; Helium; Impedance; In vivo; Lungs; Magnetic resonance imaging; Phased arrays; Signal to noise ratio; Spatial resolution;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 2005. IEEE-EMBS 2005. 27th Annual International Conference of the

Conference_Location

Shanghai

Print_ISBN

0-7803-8741-4

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/IEMBS.2005.1615410

Filename

1615410