GE Signa Excite 1．5T双梯度核磁共振两例故障分析

本文介绍GE公司Signa Excite 1．5T双梯度核磁共振的扫描故障及关节线圈低SNR的分析，故障解决。     

Magnetic resonance imaging in neonatal encephalopathy

Magnetic resonance imaging may provide invaluable information in the term born neonate with encephalopathy. However, both hardware and sequences may need adaptation from normal adult protocols. Sedation is often required to obtain good quality imaging, but anaesthesia is not necessary in this population. The perinatal history may predict the pattern of brain lesions, which, in turn, may be used to predict the neurodevelopmental outcome. Image interpretation is not easy and requires a full clinical history in addition to experience of both normal and abnormal neonatal brain appearances. Lesions evolve rapidly, and perinatally acquired leasions are at the most obvious 1-2 weeks from delivery. Early imaging in the first few days from presentation should always include diffusion-weighted sequences to identify early ischaemic change. Advanced techniques such as venography, angiography and perfusion-weighted imaging may be useful in certain situations, and serial imaging may help differentiate perinatal-acquired lesions from other pathologies.     

Single‐shot multiecho parallel echo‐planar imaging (EPI) for diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) with improved signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and reduced distortion

In this work, a multiecho parallel echo‐planar imaging (EPI) acquisition strategy is introduced as a way to improve the acquisition efficiency in parallel diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). With the use of an appropriate echo combination strategy, the sequence can provide signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) enhancement while maintaining the advantages of parallel EPI. Simulations and in vivo experiments demonstrate that a weighted summation of multiecho images provides a significant gain in SNR over the first echo image. It is experimentally demonstrated that this SNR gain can be utilized to reduce the number of measurements often required to ensure adequate SNR for accurate DTI measures. Furthermore, the multiple echoes can be used to derive a T₂ map, providing additional information that might be useful in some applications. Magn Reson Med 60:1512–1517, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Reduction of patient radiation dose with a new organ based dose modulation technique for thoraco-abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) (Liver dose right index)

Purpose

To evaluate the radiation dose reduction, image quality and diagnostic confidence with thoraco-abdominopelvic computed tomography (TACT) using a new organ based dose modulation system (liver dose right index [Liver DRI]), compared to TACT using a standard automatic exposure control adjusting mA according to attenuation.

7.0T磁共振关节软骨T2弛豫时间图与量化分析的实验研究

目的建立超高场强磁共振关节软骨T2弛豫时间图成像技术和量化分析方法。方法用7.0T微磁共振机,采用多回波SE序列对琼脂糖凝胶体模和家猪髌骨扫描,获得T2加权图像,测定体模与髌骨软骨的信噪比。重构T2弛豫时间图,人工画感兴趣区测量T2值。结果琼脂糖凝胶体模和家猪髌骨T2加权图像清晰,对比度好,无异常伪影,信噪比高,重复性好。琼脂糖凝胶体模的T2值随浓度降低而增加。髌骨软骨呈分层状表现,软骨表层T2值高于中间层、深层、钙化层和软骨全层,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论T2弛豫时间图可量化测定关节软骨,是可行的、敏感的、特异的软骨分子成像技术。     

Precision, signal-to-noise ratio, and dose optimization of magnitude and phase arterial input functions in dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI

PURPOSE: To determine optimal conditions for precise measurement of arterial input function (AIFs) in dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) perfusion MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Magnitude-based (DeltaR(2)*) and phase-based (Deltaphi) AIFs were numerically simulated for several doses and baseline MRI noise levels [SNR(I(0))]. Random noise (1000 realizations) was added to real/imaginary MRI signals (derived from an internal carotid AIF), and AIF signal, noise, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) were determined. The optimal dose was defined as the dose that maximizes mean AIF SNR over the first-pass (SNR(mean)), rather than SNR at the AIF peak (SNR(peak)) because, compared to SNR(peak), doses predicted by SNR(mean) reduced the AIF-induced variability in cerebral blood flow (CBF) by 24% to 40%. RESULTS: The AIF SNR is most influenced by choice of AIF signal, then optimal dosing, each with little penalty. Compared to DeltaR(2)*, Deltaphi signal has 4 to 80 times the SNR over all doses and time points, and approximately 10-fold SNR(mean) at respective optimal doses. Optimal doses induce 85% to 90% signal drop for the DeltaR(2)* method, and 70% to 75% for Deltaphi, with two-fold dose errors causing approximately 1.7-fold loss in SNR(mean). Increases in SNR(I(0)) proportionally increase AIF SNR, but at a cost. CONCLUSION: AIF SNR is affected most by signal type, then dosing, and lastly, SNR(I(0)).     

3种直流电源在电阻抗成像应用中的性能比较研究

目的：为电阻抗成像（EIT）硬件系统选择一种较优的直流电源。方法：在电池、线性稳压电源和开关稳压电源分别供电条件下,利用频谱分析仪E4408B分析直流电源和激励源的输出频谱,根据每种电源的杂散的数目、功率水平和激励源中的干扰的数目、功率水平,来推断3种电源对测量误差的影响;同时在3种电源分别供电条件下,用EIT系统进行数据采集,求3种电源在18个激励频率下的综合信噪比（signal-to-noise-ratio,SNR）,从而判断3种电源对测量误差的影响。结果：就3种电源分别供电下的激励源中的干扰的个数和功率水平而言,电池供电下的激励源中存在6个干扰,功率高达-78.25dBm;线性稳压电源供电下的激励源中存在6个干扰,功率高达-67.11dBm;开关稳压电源供电下的激励源中存在15个干扰,功率高达-35.83dBm。电池在18个激励频率下的综合信噪比高于线性电源,线性电源高于开关电源。结论：在3种电源中,电池供电方式是EIT较优的电源选择方案。     

Concentric coil arrays for parallel MRI.

A new type of coil array is proposed that consists of concentrically placed coil elements, each of which is characterized by symmetrically arranged lobes that have alternating current directions. Symmetries in the coil elements' conductor paths allow for the minimization of mutual inductance and noise correlations. In addition, the concentric arrangement of the coil elements provides spatial encoding capabilities in multiple directions, which is valuable when arrays are used with parallel MRI. Simulations are presented that describe the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) properties of individual concentric array elements, and a four-element prototype concentric array is constructed. This prototype array is compared experimentally with three alternative four-element array designs. The overall SNR of the concentric array is comparable to the SNR of the competing arrays. Reconstruction of twofold undersampled data using the concentric array yields an average g-factor of less than 1.3 in all directions parallel to the plane of the array. There is some degradation in performance when threefold undersampled data are reconstructed, but the array still shows substantial directional invariance compared to alternative designs. Both fully-sampled and undersampled cardiac images acquired using the concentric array are shown. These results suggest that concentric structures can be useful tools for designing specialized coil arrays for parallel MRI.     

Geometrical optimization of a phased array coil for high-resolution MR imaging of the carotid arteries.

The geometry of an RF phased-array receiving coil for high-resolution MRI of the carotid artery, particularly the bifurcation, was optimized with respect to signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). A simulation tool was developed to determine homogeneity, sensitivity, and SNR for a given imaging situation. The algorithm takes into account the coil geometry, the parameters of the measured object, and the imaging parameters of the pulse sequence. The coil with the optimum geometry was implemented as a receive-only coil for 1.5 T and comparative SNR measurements with different coils were performed. The experimental SNR measurements verified the simulations. The optimized carotid artery phased array offered the best SNR over the desired field of view. In vivo high-resolution MRI of the carotid arteries of healthy volunteers and patients with known stenosis was conducted with the optimized phased array coil. The capability of the phased array coil for resolving components within the carotid artery walls is demonstrated. Magn Reson Med 50:439-443, 2003.     

Enhancing measured diffusion anisotropy in gray matter by eliminating CSF contamination with FLAIR.

In this work, the effect of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) on measured diffusion anisotropy was investigated in gray matter. DTI data were obtained with and without FLAIR in six normal volunteers. The application of FLAIR was experimentally demonstrated to lead to a consistent increase in fractional anisotropy (FA) in gray-matter regions, which was attributed to suppressed partial volume effects from CSF. In addition to these experimental results, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to ascertain the effect of noise on the measured FA under the experimental conditions of this study. The experimentally observed effect of noise was corroborated by the simulation, indicating that the increase in the measured FA was not due to a noise-related bias but to an actual increase in diffusion anisotropy. This enhanced measurement of diffusion anisotropy can be potentially used to differentiate directionally dependent structure and tracking fibers in gray matter.