Real-time image enhancement in NMR

Clinical NMR motion picture (movie) images can be produced routinely in real-time by ultra-high-speed echo-planar imaging (EPI). The single-short image quality depends on both pixel resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), both factors being intertradeable. If image S/N is sacrificed rather than resolution, it is shown that S/N may be greatly enhanced subsequently without vitiating spatial resolution or foregoing real motional effects when the object motion is periodic. This is achieved by a Fourier filtering process. Experimental results are presented which demonstrate the technique for a normal functioning heart.