SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MYOCARDIAL PERFUSION MRI WITHOUT THE NEED FOR ECG GATING AND ADDITIONAL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVED CARDIAC IMAGING

• US 20150192653A1
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Published: 07/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Cedars Sinai Health System)
• Original Assignee: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Cedars Sinai Health System)
• Inventors: Sharif, Behzad, Li, Debiao, Berman, Daniel S., Merz, C. Noel Bairey
• Granted Patent: US 10,706,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2576/023 for the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0037 Performing a preliminary scan, e.g. a prescan for identifying a region of interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0044 for the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/4824 using a non-Cartesian trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5601 involving use of a contrast agent for contrast manipulation, e.g. a paramagnetic, super-paramagnetic, ferromagnetic or hyperpolarised contrast agent
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/56366 Perfusion imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/003 Reconstruction from projections, e.g. tomography
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders

Abstract

In some embodiments, the present application discloses systems and methods for cardiac MRI that allow for continuous un-interrupted acquisition without any ECG/cardiac gating or synchronization that achieves the required image contrast for imaging perfusion defects. The invention also teaches an accelerated image reconstruction technique that is tailored to the data acquisition scheme and minimizes or eliminates dark-rim image artifacts. The invention further enables concurrent imaging of perfusion and myocardial wall motion (cardiac function), which can eliminate the need for separate assessment of cardiac function (hence shortening exam time), and/or provide complementary diagnostic information in CAD patients.

Claims

1. A method for performing first-pass myocardial perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), comprising:

(1) using an MRI machine to apply a pulse sequence with radial k-space sampling to a volume of interest (VOI) comprising a region of a subject'"'"'s heart;

(2) introducing a contrast agent into the subject'"'"'s vascular system prior to or during imaging; and

(3) using a model-based/iterative image reconstruction technique to generate one or more images of one or more slices or VOIs within the heart region.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein no electrocardiogram (ECG) signal acquisition is required during the MRI.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an apodization scheme is employed in the image reconstruction technique to reduce or eliminate a dark-rim artifact.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein one or more of the images depict the heart or a portion thereof within 30 to 60 heartbeats after injection of the contrast agent.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein multiple image frames are generated per each heartbeat at a rate of at least 8 frames per second to depict the heart motion.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein an apodization scheme is employed in the image reconstruction technique to reduce or eliminate a dark-rim artifact.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the MRI machine is a 3.0T scanner.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject has an arrhythmia.

22. A magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising:

(1) a magnet operable to provide a magnetic field;

(2) a transmitter operable to transmit to a region within the magnetic field;

(3) a receiver operable to receive a magnetic resonance signal from the region; and

(4) a processor operable to control the transmitter and the receiver;

wherein the processor is configured to direct the transmitter and receiver to execute a sequence, comprising (a) applying the pulse sequence of claim 1 to a volume of interest (VOI) in a subject, wherein the VOI comprises a region of the subject'"'"'s heart;

(b) acquiring magnetic resonance data from the (VOI) in the subject; and

(c) generating one or more images using the scheme of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate an image based on the magnetic resonance data.

23. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having machine executable instructions for causing one or more processors of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine to execute a method, comprising:

(1) applying the pulse sequence of claim 1 to a volume of interest (VOI) in a subject, wherein the VOI comprises a region of the subject'"'"'s heart;

(2) acquiring magnetic resonance data from the volume of interest (VOI) in the subject; and

(3) generating one or more images based on the magnetic resonance data using the image generating method described in claim 1.

24. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the MRI machine is a 3.0T machine.

9. A method for performing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), comprising:

(1) using an MRI machine to apply an ungated gradient recalled echo (GRE) pulse sequence with continuous radial acquisition to a volume of interest (VOI) comprising a region of a subject'"'"'s heart; and

(2) using an iterative parallel imaging or sensitivity encoding image reconstruction technique to generate one or more images of one or more anatomical structures within the VOI in the subject.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising introducing a contrast agent into the subject'"'"'s vascular system prior to or during imaging.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein an apodization scheme is employed in the image reconstruction technique to reduce or eliminate a dark-rim artifact.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the MRI machine is a 3.0T scanner.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the subject has an arrhythmia.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein multiple image frames are generated per each heartbeat at a rate of at least 8 frames per second to depict the heart motion.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising diagnosing the subject with the presence or absence of a condition associated with a perfusion defect or a wall motion abnormality, based upon one or more of the images generated.

16. A method for performing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), comprising:

(1) using an MRI machine to apply an ungated gradient recalled echo (GRE) pulse sequence with continuous radial sampling to a volume of interest (VOI) in a subject, wherein the VOI comprises a region of the subject'"'"'s heart;

(2) introducing a contrast agent into the subject'"'"'s vascular system prior to or during imaging; and

(3) using an iterative image reconstruction scheme to generate one or more images of one or more anatomical structures within the VOI.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein an apodization scheme is employed in the image reconstruction technique to reduce or eliminate a dark-rim artifact.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein multiple image frames are generated per each heartbeat at a rate of at least 8 frames per second to depict the heart motion.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising diagnosing the subject with the presence or absence of a condition associated with a perfusion defect, based upon one or more of the images generated.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the MRI machine is a 3.0T scanner.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the subject has an arrhythmia.