Systems and methods for imaging and quantifying tissue magnetism with magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Systems and methods for imaging and quantifying tissue magnetism with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method for MRI includes using an MRI system to acquire multiple image echoes of an object. The method also includes combining the image echoes. Further, the method includes generating an image of the object based on the combined image echoes for depicting a characteristic of the object.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the method comprising:
 using an MRI system to acquire a plurality of image echoes of an object;   combining the image echoes; and   generating an image of the object based on the combined image echoes for depicting a characteristic of the object.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to apply a magnetic field to the object. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to acquire the image echoes at a single or a plurality of orientations of the object relative to a magnetic field generated by the MRI system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to continuously acquire image data of the object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to acquire the image echoes by one of spin wrap, interleaved spiral, partial and segmented echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectories. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to acquire each image echo by a segmented three-dimensional echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectory. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein combining the image echoes comprises applying one of multi-echo averaging and multi-echo weighted averaging to the image echoes. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the image of the object comprises generating an image of magnetic susceptibility based on the combined image echoes. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein generating the image of magnetic susceptibility comprises:
 generating a phase image based on the combined image echoes; and   applying a Laplacian operator to the phase image.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein applying the Laplacian operator comprises removing phase components originating from outside a field of view. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising applying a spherical mean value (SMV) filtering technique to clean background phase. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the image comprises:
 partitioning a k-space of the combined image echoes into a trusted region and an ill-posed region; and   one of applying a derivative and Fourier relationship and applying a compressed sensing technique to the combined image echoes.   
     
     
         13 . A magnetic resonance imaging (Mill) system comprising:
 an Mill device configured to acquire a plurality of image echoes of an object; and   an image generator configured to:
 combine the image echoes; and 
 generate an image of the object based on the combined image echoes for depicting a characteristic of the object. 
   
     
     
         14 . The MRI system of  claim 13 , wherein the Mill device is configured to apply a magnetic field to the object. 
     
     
         15 . The MRI system of  claim 13 , wherein the Mill device is configured to acquire the image echoes at a single or a plurality of orientations of the object relative to a magnetic field generated by the MRI system. 
     
     
         16 . The MRI system of  claim 13 , wherein the Mill device is configured to continuously acquire image data of the object. 
     
     
         17 . The MRI system of  claim 13 , wherein the Mill device is configured to acquire the image echoes by one of spin wrap, interleaved spiral, and segmented echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectories. 
     
     
         18 . The MRI system of  claim 13 , wherein the Mill device is configured to acquire each image echo by a segmented three-dimensional echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectory. 
     
     
         19 . The MRI system of  claim 13 , wherein the image generator is configured to apply one of multi-echo averaging and multi-echo weighted averaging to the image echoes. 
     
     
         20 . The MRI system of  claim 13 , wherein the image generator is configured to generate an image of magnetic susceptibility based on the combined image echoes.