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Abstract #2306

Highly Accelerated Whole Brain Imaging Using Aligned-Blipped-Controlled-Aliasing Multiband EPI

Junqian Xu1, Steen Moeller1, John Strupp1, Edward J. Auerbach1, Liyong Chen2, 3, David A. Feinberg2, 3, Kamil Ugurbil1, Essa Yacoub1

1Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; 2Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States; 3Advanced MRI Technologies, Sebastopol, CA, United States

Using a blipped-controlled-aliasing multiband EPI sequence with k-space center (k0) alignment (ABC-MB EPI), up to 12 simultaneously excited slices at 3T using a 32-channel head coil were achieved. The k-space center (k0) alignment strategy significantly improved image quality for high MB factors compared to using only a balanced blip approach. Spectral analysis of highly accelerated data revealed un-aliased sampling of physiological fluctuations, demonstrating the robustness and utility of the technique, which can be applied to any EPI based application, including fMRI, diffusion, or perfusion imaging.

Keywords

accelerated acceleration accelerations achieve acquisition acquisitions addition aliasing align aligned apart applied assessed axis balanced band banded blip blipped blips blurring brain cardiac channel characteristics coherence coil collected comparable controlled corrected correspondence coverage datasets degradation delineation demonstrating density diffusion dominant dotted efficiency efficient eliminate eliminates employed energy errors evaluate excitation excited folding formation free frequency fully functional funded gating good gradient gradients head highly improved increasing individual instead institute interval introduced isotropic limit limiting long matched matrix middle minimal minutes moment motion much networks neuronal noise opposed overlaid parallel perfusion periodic permitted permitting power preserved preventing previously principles prior problematic process project projected propose published pulse quality quantified readout recently reduce reduced reductions refocused remain resolution resolutions resting rewinder robust sampling series several shot significantly simultaneously slice slices space spatial spectral spectrum statistical strategy strictly submitted subsequent subsequently substantial taper technologies temporal tilt tilting typical unique verifying volume whole width zero