A Rapid Spiral-based Oracle Scout sequence with integrated field measurements

Motivation: Spiral MRI often requires collection of a B0 (off-resonance) map, which adds to exam time, prompting tradeoffs in resolution and accuracy. Goal(s): Our goal is to develop a scout scan which can simultaneously measure an accurate, high resolution B0 field with no additional exam time. Approach: We designed a rapid multi-echo spiral trajectory, and mapped the collected data into t-k space to mitigate blurring of the scout data. The B0 map was estimated in f-x space and used to deblur the scout data in a conventional manner. Results: Preliminary scans give high quality B0 maps and associated scout images. Impact: An integrated B0 map with the scout scan allows one to invest substantial time in collecting the map without greatly impacting exam time. This will enable rapid, high resolution spiral-based scanning for high SNR, high resolution clinical MRI.