Title: Coil sensitivity map-based filter for phased-array image reconstruction in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Authors: Giulio Giovannetti, Vittorio Viti, Vincenzo Positano, Maria Filomena Santarelli, Luigi Landini, Antonio Benassi

Addresses: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 S. Cataldo, Pisa, Italy. ' Esaote Biomedica s.p.a., Via Siffredi 58, 16153 Genova, Italy. ' Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 S. Cataldo, Pisa, Italy. ' Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 S. Cataldo, Pisa, Italy. ' Department of Information Engineering, University of Pisa, Via Caruso, 56122 Pisa, Italy. ' Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 S. Cataldo, Pisa, Italy

Abstract: Array coils are used in Magnetic Resonance (MR) to obtain high signal-to-noise ratio and large region of sensitivity. Outputs from receiver channels are combined to construct a single image from coils data. For the image construction, the |SUPER| algorithm, which preliminary estimates coils sensitivities by filtering original images, is known to yield a composite image with higher contrast than the standard Sum-of-Squares algorithm. In this work, a filter design method, compatible with SUPER algorithm, was investigated and tested on MR images. After coils sensitivities estimation, the data from the phased array elements was finally combined using this modified SUPER algorithm.

Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; MRI; RF coils; phased array; sum-of-squares; SoS; bias; signal-to-noise ratio; SNR; lowpass filters; image reconstruction; coil sensitivity; filter design; medical imaging; biomedical technology; radio frequency coils.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2007.014134

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2007 Vol.1 No.1, pp.4 - 17

Published online: 22 Jun 2007 *

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