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Abstract #1201

Improving 3D MR Velocity-Vector Field Mapping by Divergence-Free Image Reconstruction

Julia Busch1,2, Daniel Giese1,3, Lukas Wissmann1, Sebastian Kozerke1,3

1Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University & ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 2Ruprecht-Karls University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany; 3Division of Imaging Sciences & Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, United Kingdom


The accuracy of velocity data derived from phase-contrast measurements is often compromised by partial volume effects and system imperfections. Although correction algorithms exist which aim to correct for noise and eddy-current related phase offsets residual phase errors remain. The present work introduces divergence-free image reconstruction for 3D phase-contrast vector field mapping based on a synergistic combination of normalized convolution and divergence-free radial basis functions. Using computer simulations and in-vivo data it is demonstrated that vector field divergence arising from measurement imperfections can be significantly reduced resulting in improved vector field representations.

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