Prospective motion correction with NMR markers using only native sequence elements

Purpose To develop a method of tracking active NMR markers that requires no alterations of common imaging sequences and can be used for prospective motion correction (PMC) in brain MRI. Methods Localization of NMR markers is achieved by acquiring short signal snippets in rapid succession and evaluating them jointly. To spatially encode the markers, snippets are timed such that signal phase is accrued during sequence intervals with suitably diverse gradient actuation. For motion tracking and PMC in brain imaging, the markers are mounted on a lightweight headset. PMC is then demonstrated with high‐resolution T 2 *‐ and T 1 ‐weighted imaging sequences in the presence of instructed as well as residual unintentional head motion. Results With both unaltered sequences, motion tracking was achieved with precisions on the order of 10 µm and 0.01° and temporal resolution of 48 and 39 ms, respectively. On this basis, PMC improved image quality significantly throughout. Conclusion The proposed approach permits high‐precision motion tracking and PMC with standard imaging sequences. It does so without altering sequence design and thus overcomes a key hindrance to routine motion tracking with NMR markers. Magn Reson Med 79:2046–2057, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.