HEALPix View-order for 3D Radial Self-Navigated Motion-Corrected ZTE MRI

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel 3D radial view-order for MRI using HEALPix, improving dynamic and high-resolution imaging, validated through simulations and in-vivo brain imaging comparisons.

Contribution

The study presents the first application of HEALPix for 3D radial view-order in MRI, offering a new method for motion-corrected high-resolution neuroimaging.

Findings

HEALPix view-order outperforms traditional methods in simulation metrics.

HEALPix enables successful in-vivo brain imaging with improved image quality.

The approach enhances dynamic and high-resolution MRI capabilities.

Abstract

Compressed sensing has reinvigorated the field of non-Cartesian sampling in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Until now there has been no 3D radial view-order which meets all the desired characteristics for simultaneous dynamic/high-resolution imaging, such as for self-navigated motion-corrected high resolution neuroimaging. In this work, we examine the use of Hierarchical Equal Area iso-Latitude Pixelization (HEALPix) for generation of three-dimensional (3D) radial view-orders for MRI, and compare to a selection of commonly used 3D view-orders. The resulting trajectories were evaluated through simulation of the point spread function and slanted surface object suitable for modulation transfer function, contrast ratio, and SNR measurement. Results from the HEALPix view-order were compared to Generalized Spiral, 2D Golden Means, and Random view-orders. Finally, we show the first use of the HEALPix view-order to acquire in-vivo brain images.