Dual-echo 3D Spiral Navigators for the Detection of Temporal Motions and B0 Shifts in Gradient-echo Imaging at 3.0 T

In gradient-echo imaging, the motion effects on the reconstructed images could be exacerbated by the temporal B0 field changes due to respiration and the subjects’ unintentional position/posture changes during scanning. An efficient 3D spiral navigator independent of the multi-echo gradient-echo (mGRE) acquisition train was designed and implemented in a 3D mGRE sequence. The results showed that although there were unintentional movements during acquisitions, the temporal B0 changes could be significant at 3.0 T. The design provides flexible TE options for mGRE in obtaining simultaneous T1-weighted and T2*-weighted contrasts, quantitative T2* and/or quantitative susceptibility mapping.