Abstract #4776

Improving Pseudo-continuous ASL Efficiency at 7 Tesla Using Gapless Multi-echo EPI

Yulin Chang¹, Lincoln Craven-Brightman², Wei-ching Lo¹, Jason P Stockmann^2,3, Marta Vidorreta⁴, Jan A Kufer², Manuel Taso¹, John A Detre^5,6, and Meher R Juttukonda^2,3

¹Siemens Medical Solutions USA Inc., Malvern, PA, United States, ²A. A. Martinos Center of Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Brigham, Charlestown, MA, United States, ³Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States, ⁴Siemens Healthineers, Madrid, Spain, ⁵Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States, ⁶Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Synopsis

Keywords: Arterial Spin Labelling, Arterial spin labelling, High-field MRI; Perfusion; multiecho EPI

Motivation: Arterial spin labeling (ASL) at 7 Tesla is often SAR-constrained compared to at 3 Tesla, leading to lower labeling capacity and hence lower SNR.

Goal(s): To boost the SNR of ASL at 7T by both increasing labeled-blood volume and improving imaging efficiency.

Approach: Longer labeling duration and higher flip angles are used together with gapless multi-echo 2D EPI readout. A T₂^*-informed algorithm is used to combine echoes to optimize SNR.

Results: Higher-SNR perfusion images were obtained for a given scan time. Results were tested at several spatial resolutions on multiple subjects.

Impact: The gapless multi-echo EPI readout, along with the proposed processing method, significantly improves the overall efficiency of arterial spin labeling at 7 Tesla, which can make ASL faster, more robust, and more accessible at ultra-high fields.

How to access this content:

For one year after publication, abstracts and videos are only open to registrants of this annual meeting. Registrants should use their existing login information. Non-registrant access can be purchased via the ISMRM E-Library.

After one year, current ISMRM & ISMRT members get free access to both the abstracts and videos. Non-members and non-registrants must purchase access via the ISMRM E-Library.

After two years, the meeting proceedings (abstracts) are opened to the public and require no login information. Videos remain behind password for access by members, registrants and E-Library customers.

Click here for more information on becoming a member.