SLICE-SELECTIVE ADIABATIC MAGNETIZATION PREPARATION (SAMPA) FOR T2-WEIGHTED AND DIFFUSION-WEIGHTED IMAGING
August 11, 2015Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at high-fields (3-4.7T) and ultra-high fields (7T and above) leads to higher signal levels with improved image quality, but physical limitations still prevent these systems from being highly efficient. The gold standard for an important MRI method such as the T2-weighted (T2W) imaging is turbo spin echo (TSE), which is better suited for lower field strength systems. Another valuable method uses diffusion-weighted (DW) imaging to characterize structures such as lesion malignancies or to visualize neuronal fiber orientation and integrity. However, DW imaging with TSE is also suboptimal at high magnetic field strengths.
Dr. Priti Balchandani, Director of the High Field MRI Program at the Translational and Molecular Imaging Institute at the Icahn School of Medicine, and associate research scientist, Hadrien Dyvorne, have addressed these limitations, reducing inhomogeneities in the transmitted radiofrequency (RF) field (B1) and RF power deposition into the body. Using Slice-selective Adiabatic Magnetization Preparation (SAMPA) pulses, the investigators are able to efficiently perform T2W and DW imaging at high magnetic field systems.
Current Development Status
- Maximize operating range (off-resonance and B1) of T2 prep module using different RF pulse designs
- Develop protocols for data collection on a wide array of pulse sequences
Applications
- Enables efficient T2W and DW imaging with high magnetic field systems
Advantages
- Better image quality in T2W and DW imaging methods
- Reduced field inhomogeneity artifacts
- Higher efficiency than otehr groups using adiabatic pulses for T2 contrast enhancement
- Ability to achieve slice selection
Publications
- Dyvorne, Hadrien et al. “Slice-selective adiabatic T2 preparation using a modified STABLE pulse.” ISMRM Meeting. 2015. Toronto.
- Related Publication: Balchandani, Priti et al. “Improved Slice-Selected Adiabatic Excitation.” Magn Reson Med. Jan 2014. 71(1).
Patent Status
- US Provisional Application filed
Contact
Idoia Gamez, PhD, MBA
Business Development Director
Mount Sinai Innovation Partners | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Phone: 646.605.7317