Three-dimensional motion corrected free-breathing simultaneous multislice-balanced steady state free precession myocardium perfusion imaging

Figures

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  Fig. 1. Diagram of the proposed free breathing SMS-bSSFP myocardial perfusion sequence with prospective slice-tracking using fast navigator (fastNAV). SMS-bSSFP simultaneous multislice-balanced steady state free precession, ACQ acquisition. rf radiofrequency, SAT saturation. prep preparation, BIR4 B1-insensitive rotation 4

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  Fig. 2. The fastNAV signal measured across all subjects (Subj1–10). The detected fastNAV positions are shown as white horizontal lines. Only the first 16 dynamics are shown, with three fastNAV acquisitions per heartbeat. FastNAV fast navigator.

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  Fig. 3. Perfusion images acquired in one patient (patient #4) using SMS-Ref and SMS-fastNAV, both reconstructed using TGRAPPA only (i.e., no in-plane motion correction). The same dynamics are shown for both techniques. SMS-fastNAV led to a reduction in the foot-head motion in all six slices. SMS simultaneous multi-slice, FastNAV fast navigator, TGRAPPA temporal generalized autocalibrating partial parallel acquisition, Ref reference.

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  Fig. 4. Quantitative comparison of residual motion in perfusion images acquired using SMS-Ref and SMS-fastNAV and reconstructed using TGRAPPA only (i.e., no in-plane motion correction). The avDICE (A) and avCOM (B) are reported from one mid-ventricular slice across all subjects. SMS-fastNAV provided improved avDICE and avCOM. SMS simultaneous multi-slice, FastNAV fast navigator, TGRAPPA temporal generalized autocalibrating partial parallel acquisition, avDICE average DICE coefficient, avCOM average DICE coefficient.

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  Fig. 5. Comparison of SMS-Ref and SMS-fastNAV in one patient (patient #4), using the full reconstruction pipeline. The columns show four consecutive temporal points while the rows represent the six slices. Some residual motion is observed using SMS-Ref (shown by blue, yellow lines, and red arrows. SMS-fastNAV led to reduced through-plane motion which improved temporal consistency of the anatomy and reduced residual motion. SMS simultaneous multi-slice, FastNAV fast navigator, Ref reference.

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  Fig. 6. Quantitative comparison of residual motion in perfusion images acquired using SMS-Ref and SMS-fastNAV with the full reconstruction pipeline. The avDICE (A) and avCOM (B) were averaged over all slices and are shown for each subject and technique. SMS-fastNAV provided improved avDICE and avCOM. SMS simultaneous multi-slice, FastNAV fast navigator, avDICE average DICE coefficient, avCOM average DICE coefficient. Ref reference.

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  Fig. 7. Signal intensity profiles measured in the septum (top) and LV blood pool (bottom) over all dynamics in three patients using SMS-fastNAV with the full reconstruction pipeline (“filtered”) and the full reconstruction pipeline without temporal filtering (“No filter”). The temporal filter substantially reduced the temporal variations without introducing a noticeable bias. SMS simultaneous multi-slice, FastNAV fast navigator, LV left ventricle/left ventricular.