Signal Improvement and Contrast Enhancement in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

TL;DR

This thesis advances MRI techniques by designing novel pulse sequences and algorithms to improve signal, contrast, and microstructure imaging, with applications in tissue analysis and susceptibility mapping.

Contribution

It introduces new MRI pulse sequences and phase analysis methods for microstructure and susceptibility mapping, enhancing diagnostic capabilities.

Findings

iMQC images can be used for anisotropy mapping

Phase anisotropy maps reveal susceptibility information

Modified-crazed sequence improves susceptibility imaging

Abstract

This thesis reports advances in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with the ultimate goal of improving signal and contrast in biomedical applications. More specifically, novel MRI pulse sequences have been designed to characterize microstructure, enhance signal and contrast in tissue, and image functional processes. In this thesis, rat brain and red bone marrow images are acquired using iMQCs (intermolecular multiple quantum coherences) between intermediate separated spins. As an important application, iMQCs images in different directions can be used for anisotropy mapping and tissue microstructure analysis. At the same time, the simulations prove that the dipolar field from the overall shape only has small contributions to the experimental iMQC signal. Besides magnitude of iMQCs, phase of iMQCs should be studied as well. The phase anisotropy maps built by our method can clearly show susceptibility information in rat brain. It may provide meaningful diagnostic information. To deeply study susceptibility, the modified-crazed sequence is developed. Combining phase data of modified-crazed images and phase data of iMQCs images is very promising to construct microstructure maps. Obviously, the phase image in all above techniques needs to be highly-contrasted and clear. To achieve the goal, algorithm tools from Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging (SWI) and Susceptibility Tensor Imaging (STI) stands out superb useful and creative in our system.