SpinSight – An educational open-source MRI simulator with joint visualization of pulse sequence, k-space, and MR image

Motivation: Educational MRI simulators have great potential to convey difficult concepts, but existing simulators often fail to visualize the pulse sequence diagram and/or the k-space data matrix, and latency of the simulation may hamper the interactive experience. Goal(s): To develop an accessible simulator which plots the pulse sequence, k-space and image in real time. Approach: The simulator was written in Python as a web browser dashboard with digital phantoms as 2D vector graphics. Results: The simulator enables interactive exploration of imaging parameters and their effect on the pulse sequence, k-space data, and MR image. It can be served locally and on the web. Impact: An open-source browser-based educational MRI simulator was developed that jointly visualizes four levels of the imaging process: acquisition parameters, pulse sequence, k-space, and the MR image. Low latency enables students to explore the interaction between these levels in real time.