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J L Duerk

Publications and source records attributed to J L Duerk.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Intravascular (catheter) NMR receiver probe: preliminary design analysis and application to canine iliofemoral imaging.

This investigation explores the feasibility of a catheter-based receiver probe for NMR study of arterial walls. Simulations and phantom experiments demonstrate the spatial response of several "inside-out" probe coil designs, including loop, "birdcage," "multipole," "center return," and opposed solenoids. For a target defined by an annulus in a plane perpendicular to B0, the opposed solenoid design provides substantially superior homogeneity to other designs considered. Canine iliofemoral artery images were acquired using a catheter probe in a whole-body, 1.5-T clinical imaging system. In situ (cadaver) images acquired with TE 70, TR 2400, 2-mm slice thickness, and 78 x 78-microns in-plane voxel size in 10-min acquisition times show vessel wall structures identified as intima, internal elastic lamina, media, and adventitia. In vivo images from similar acquistion conditions are much more poorly resolved, presumably due to motion, despite the use of cardiac gating and gradient moment nulling, so the feasibility of obtaining high-resolution in vivo MR images of the arterial wall remains in doubt.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Signal-to-noise, resolution, and bias function analysis of asymmetric sampling with zero-padded magnitude FT reconstruction.

This report describes NMR image effects due to sampling asymmetry when using zero-padded magnitude FT reconstruction. With this method, the MTF is not flat over the spatial frequency passband, so resolution cannot be accurately described by a single variable such as voxel size. At small to moderate asymmetry, shortened (reduced window duration) asymmetry provides increased S/N and decreased resolution, whereas shifted (constant window duration) asymmetry yields essentially constant S/N with simultaneously increased and decreased resolution. A bias function expression describes image distortion due to sampling in terms separable from the imaged object. The analyses are consistent with previous descriptions of perceived image differences related to data asymmetry.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1992

A physiologic regurgitant cardiac valve phantom for magnetic resonance imaging or color Doppler ultrasound study.

Noninvasive imaging has proven successful in the evaluation of valvular heart disease; primarily with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and color Doppler ultrasound (CFM). However, the relationship between the morphology of regurgitant flow in MRI and CFM, as a function of hemodynamic parameters (chamber pressure difference, lesion size, compliance, etc.) is not understood. The goals for this work were: 1) to develop a computer-controlled regurgitant cardiac valve phantom, compatible with artifact-free CFM and MR imaging, 2) to create regurgitant lesions in the phantom which appear similar to those detected clinically, 3) to produce and measure physiologic pressure differences between chambers, compliances, and regurgitant fractions as seen in mild, moderate, and severe regurgitation. Mean chamber pressure differences ranged from 43-142 mmHg over the range of diseases simulated. Similarly, regurgitant flow rates ranged from approximately 0.54-18.6 L/min. Compliance values ranged from 0.83 to 21.95 cc/mmHg. No coherent or incoherent artifacts were observed in MRI or CFM images. Images show a high degree of similarity to regurgitant lesions detected with each modality, confirming that all design goals were met. The system should allow extensive comparative analysis of Doppler ultrasound and MRI flow jets under a wide range of controllable hemodynamic conditions in future experiments.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗
PubMed1991

Velocity quantification in magnetic resonance imaging.

A variety of methods has been developed for quantitating flow in vivo. These are usually based on the principles of velocity-phase or TOF information. The former allows a point-by-point 2D image of velocity, but also has other manifestations involving real-time 1D projections or 1D projections with 1D velocity information (flow zeugmatography). The TOF methods use the in-flow of unsaturated spins into a saturated region (for example) to estimate flow. The concepts, features, and clinical applications of these and other techniques are reviewed in this article.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMed1990

Multiecho multimoment refocussing of motion in magnetic resonance imaging: MEM-MO-RE.

Gradient moment nulling techniques for refocussing of spin dephasing resulting from movement during application of magnetic resonance imaging gradients have gained widespread application. These techniques offer advantages over conventional imaging gradients by reducing motion artifacts due to intraview motion, and by recovering signal lost from spin dephasing. This paper presents a simple technique for designing multiecho imaging gradient waveforms that refocus dephasing from the interaction of imaging gradients and multiple derivatives of position. Multiple moments will be compensated at each echo. The method described relies on the fact that the calculation of time moments for nulled moment gradient waveforms is independent of the time origin chosen. Therefore, waveforms used to generate the second echo image for multiple echo sequences with echo times given by TEn = TE1 + (n - 1) * (TE2 - TE1) may also be used for generation of the third and additional echo images. All echoes will refocus the same derivatives of position. Multiecho, multimoment refocussing (MEM-MO-RE) images through the liver in a patient with ampullary adenocarcinoma metastatic to the liver demonstrate the application of the method in clinical scanning.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

Modified gradients for motion suppression: variable echo time and variable bandwidth.

A linear algebra based deprivation is presented to demonstrate that linearly time scaling an entire gradient waveform by a factor "R" exponentially increases its sensitivity to time derivatives of position by R(i + 1), where i refers to the i-th derivative of position (e.g., i = 1 is velocity). Thus, time scaling will preserve zero valued refocussing moments associated with artifact reduction techniques designed for motion occurring between excitation and detection. Typically, gradient waveforms for artifact reduction techniques are derived for use only at specific echo times. The time scaling described here allows for simple modification of refocussing gradient waveforms for use at variable echo times. Motion sensitivity associated with non-zero moment gradient waveforms can be easily predicted and modified using this technique, with consideration for field of view, resolution, and bandwidth. A clinical example is presented showing the predicted changes in sensitivity to nonrefocussed derivatives of position as the imaging gradients are time scaled. Further, trade-offs and alternatives in sensitivity to motion, slice thickness, image bandwidth, field of view and resolution will be discussed in conjunction with time scaling. This technique will have applicability in many situations involving MRI of moving tissue and a clinical example in cardiac imaging is presented.

Aorta, Abdominal↗
PubMed1990

Distinguishing viable from infarcted myocardium after experimental ischemia and reperfusion by using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.

Early reperfusion has the potential for salvaging ischemic myocardium at risk for infarction. To test the ability of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging to differentiate between stunned and infarcted myocardium early after reperfusion, 16 mongrel dogs underwent transient occlusion of the left anterior descending artery or a diagonal branch for 30, 60 or 180 min followed by reperfusion. To identify the area at risk for infarction and to assess the extent of hypoperfusion and reperfusion, two-dimensional and contrast echocardiography were performed at baseline study, during coronary occlusion and at three separate times during reperfusion (before NMR imaging, immediately after NMR imaging and 12 to 14 h later). Wall thickening in the control and ischemic zones and the circumferential extent of abnormal wall motion were analyzed at each time point using short-axis echocardiograms. Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging at 1.5 tesla was performed 2 to 3.5 h (mean 2.7 +/- 0.5) after reperfusion. Short-axis, multislice spin-echo images (TE 26 and TE 60) were obtained. Signal intensity was measured in the control and ischemic areas and expressed as a percent difference compared with normal myocardium. All dogs demonstrated a significant decrease in wall thickening and abnormal wall motion before and after NMR imaging. Seven of the eight dogs with infarction had an area of increased signal intensity on TE 60 images. The mean percent difference in signal intensity compared with adjacent normal myocardium was 127 +/- 68% (p = 0.002). None of the eight dogs without infarction had a visually apparent change in signal intensity on TE 60 images (mean percent difference versus control area 13 +/- 11%), despite regional systolic dysfunction documented by echocardiography at the time of imaging. The area of increased signal intensity correlated with infarct size (r = 0.69), although overestimation by NMR imaging occurred. The area of increased signal intensity did not correlate with the extent of echocardiographic contrast defect during coronary occlusion (risk area). This study demonstrates that NMR imaging can be applied early after coronary reperfusion to assess the potential for recovery of dysfunctional myocardium. In addition, by using a TE 60 multislice spin-echo imaging sequence at 1.5 tesla, quantification of the extent of infarction also may be possible.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Atypical appearance of lipomatous tumors on MR images: high signal intensity with fat-suppression STIR sequences.

Lipomatous tumors generally have signal characteristics that allow them to be diagnosed with great accuracy by means of magnetic resonance imaging. These tumors usually have signal intensities similar to those of subcutaneous fat on both T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo images. Previous reports have not, to the authors' knowledge, described the appearance of lipomatous tumors on images obtained with a short-inversion-time inversion-recovery (STIR) sequence, which can be used to suppress signal from fat. Three lipomatous tumors (two liposarcomas and one lipoma) with signal characteristics unlike those of normal subcutaneous fat at all pulse sequences are presented.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Significance of the point of expansion in interpretation of gradient moments and motion sensitivity.

The relationship between magnetic field gradient waveform moments and the motion sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging was explored analytically and by computer simulation. The analysis and simulations revealed several key points. In general, waveform time moments define sensitivity to the time derivatives of position of moving material only at a single time point: the time about which the moments are computed. A Taylor series description of instantaneous position is expanded about this same time point to compute the phase acquired due to specific derivatives of position. A moment is proportional to phase sensitivity to a particular derivative of position throughout the waveform only when sensitivity to all lower-order derivatives is zero. Under restricted conditions of waveform symmetry and motion characteristics, the phase due to motion may be expressed in terms of the average value of a derivative of position over the duration of the waveform. The choice of the moment center, or point of expansion, adds a degree of freedom that may be used advantageously in the design of motion-compensating and motion phase-encoding gradient waveforms. These results facilitate a more complete understanding of the effects of motion through a magnetic field gradient.

Computer Simulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Theoretical aspects of motion sensitivity and compensation in echo-planar imaging.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can be performed on or below the time scale of most anatomic motion via echo-planar imaging (EPI) techniques and their derivatives. The goal is to image rapidly and reduce artifacts that typically result from view-to-view changes in the spatial distribution of spins due to motion. However, the required time-dependent magnetic field gradient waveforms remain sensitive to the dephasing effects of motion. Sources of motion artifact are simulated for spins moving along the imaging axes and are shown to be an important source of reduced image quality in EPI. A novel method of EPI is proposed that (a) refocuses single or multiple derivatives of motion at all echoes and (b) prevents accumulation of velocity (or higher derivative)--induced dephasing along the phase-encoding axis by moment nulling all phase-encoding-step waveforms about a single instant of time. Theoretical EPI sequences with considerable reductions in ghosts, blurring, and signal loss due to motion sensitivity are produced and compared with other EPI methods. Their time efficiency is presented as a function of available (relative) gradient strength for a variety of sequence waveforms.

Artifacts↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In-plane flow velocity quantification along the phase encoding axis in MRI.

In-plane flow quantification in MRI offers the potential for assessing vessel patency, and both volume flow rate and flow velocity. These techniques will have definite future impact on MR angiography. The method used in this paper employs motion artifact suppression technique (MAST) gradients to refocus spins travelling along any of the three imaging axes while encoding the velocity component along the phase encoding axis. This method has several advantages over in-plane flow quantification along the read axis. Primarily, flow voids due to complete spin dephasing can be eliminated (or reduced), wider velocity limits can be measured, and gradients can be designed which are sensitive to only velocity along the phase axis with no additional effect from higher order derivatives, or motion along the read axis. Flow phantom studies, carried out on 19 mm inside diameter glass tubes, have produced accurate results for flow rates ranging from 0.6 gallons per minute (GPM) to 2.5 GPM, corresponding to a mean velocity range from 13.2 cm/sec to 55.3 cm/sec. Reynolds numbers varied from 2,700 to 11,500. Errors were less than or equal to 8% over the range of flow rates studied.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Analysis of imaging axes significance in motion artifact suppression technique (MAST): MRI of turbulent flow and motion.

Recently, a new technique has been demonstrated which effectively refocusses the dephasing effects of spins moving during application of MR imaging gradients. This paper presents an analysis of imaging axes significance in spin dephasing for motion occurring along the slice select, read and phase-encoding directions. A flow phantom under constant flow conditions in all experiments was used to provide complete spin dephasing when "traditional" imaging gradients were used. The MAST technique was used to refocus along various combinations of imaging axes, and variable number of terms from the Taylor expansion of motion along them. Results indicate that motion along any imaging axis can be refocussed effectively when MAST gradients are used along only the slice select and read axis.

Abdomen↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Motion artifact suppression technique (MAST) for MR imaging.

A technique has been developed that significantly improves the image resolution and reduces motion artifacts in conventional two-dimensional Fourier transform and three-dimensional Fourier transform magnetic resonance imaging sequences. Modifications on the gradient waveforms completely refocus the transverse magnetization at the echo time, regardless of the motion occurring between the time of the 90 degrees radiofrequency excitation and the echo time (within-view). This accomplishes suppression of motion artifacts and regains the signal from flowing blood and CSF. Images of the head, abdomen, chest, and spine are reproduced which show the increase in signal and anatomical detail that would otherwise be degraded and lost in artifact noise. This technique has reduced the practical difficulty of obtaining clinically diagnostic T2-weighted abdominal images. It also has allowed diagnostic quality T1- and T2-weighted images to be obtained with one acquisition per view, thus reducing the total scan time.

Brain Stem↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Some noise properties of 2DFT MR images from asymmetrically sampled data.

This report describes noise statistics in 2DFT MR images, expanding the earlier work of Henkelman and others to include variably asymmetric sampling and conjugate synthesis reconstruction. The effects of low-order polynomial and Fourier phase correction used with conjugate synthesis are also explicitly considered. This analysis shows that complex images obtained by conjugate synthesis have an elliptical noise distribution, with the smaller axis corresponding to the imaginary image channel. Derivations and simulations predict a ratio of mean to standard deviation in the background of magnitude images varying from the known value of square root of pi/(4 - pi) (approximately 1.91) for full symmetry to square root of 2/(pi - 2) (approximately 1.32) at fully asymmetric or half-echo sampling; these predictions are validated over a range of asymmetry by experimental measurements. These results are important for predicting and interpreting image noise when using asymmetric sampling.

Fourier Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

MR of ballistic materials: imaging artifacts and potential hazards.

The most common ballistic materials available in the urban setting were studied for their MR effects on deflection force, rotation, heating, and imaging artifacts at 1.5 T to determine the potential efficacy and safety for imaging patients with ballistic injuries. The 28 missiles tested covered the range of bullet types and materials suggested by the Cleveland Police Department. The deflection force was measured by the New method. Rotation was evaluated 30 min after bullets had been placed in a 10% (weight per weight) ballistic gelatin designed to simulate brain tissue, with the long axis of the bullet placed parallel and perpendicular to the Z axis of the magnet. Heating was measured with alcohol thermometers by imaging for 1 hr alternatively with gradient-echo and spin-echo sequences (RF absorption = 0.033 and 0.326 w/kg respectively). Image artifacts on routine sequences were evaluated. All the steel-containing bullets except for the Winchester armor-piercing 38 caliber exhibited deflection. A nonsteel 7.38-mm Mauser also deflected. Deflection range was 514 to 15,504 dynes. Rotation occurred when the bullets were not parallel to the Z axis. Temperature changes were not significant. Deflecting projectiles resulted in obliteration of the image. The artifacts from other projectiles were small but varied by content. The artifact of the Winchester armor-piercing 38-caliber bullet was similar to those without steel. Bullets that contain steel or ferromagnetic contaminates such as nickel can be rotated within the MR unit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Firearms↗