Self-Gated 3D FLASH Imaging of the Human Lung Under Free Breathing Using DC Signals

Stefan Weick¹, Markus Oechsner^1,2, Martin Blaimer³, Felix Breuer³, H Kstler², D Hahn², M Beer², Peter M. Jakob^1,3

In this work, 3D examinations of the human lung were performed during free respiration using the DC signal for self-gating. The DC signal acquisition was implemented into a 3D FLASH sequence and high resolution images were reconstructed retrospectively. The advantages of this method are that neither external measurement devices nor additional RF Pulses for respiratory gating were needed. Threshold values in percent of the total signal difference between expiration and inspiration were defined to select data for image reconstruction. This method is applicable to lung disease patients because it can be performed under free breathing condition.