ISMRM 21st Annual Meeting & Exhibition ○ 20-26 April 2013 ○ Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
SUNRISE EDUCATIONAL COURSE
Nuts & Bolts of Advanced Imaging
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate to Advanced
ORGANIZERS: Alexey Samsonov, Ph.D. & Jeffrey Tsao, Ph.D., M.B.A.
Please see special note on Thursday's course below.
Tuesday, 23 April 2013
Image Reconstruction - Parallel Imaging Part 1  
 
OVERVIEW
This course covers key practical considerations to implement high-performance, production-level reconstruction algorithms beyond theoretical principles. Part I describes background materials to understand parallel imaging algorithms in general (image space, k-space, non-Cartesian), calibration data, coil sensitivity estimation, noise calibration and performance measurements (g-factor).
 
TARGET AUDIENCE
Anybody with an interest in parallel imaging beyond theoretical principles and would like the tools to implement practical, production-level parallel imaging reconstruction algorithms.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Recognize that different parallel imaging reconstruction algorithms are different solutions to the same problem;
  • Select appropriate parallel imaging reconstruction algorithms based on the imaging application;
  • Identify practical performance-limiting problems in parallel imaging reconstruction; and
  • Formulate strategies for mitigating parallel imaging performance problems.
 

Image Reconstruction - Parallel Imaging

Moderators: Alexey Samsonov, Ph.D. & Jeffrey Tsao, Ph.D., M.B.A.
         
07:00 Fundamentals of Image Reconstruction in Parallel Imaging Michael S. Hansen, Ph.D. &
Philip J. Beatty, Ph.D.
         
07:50     Adjournment  
 
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Parallel Transmit, SAR
 
OVERVIEW
This course covers the principles of pulse design for parallel transmission, B1 shimming and SAR optimization. The B1 and E-field behaviors of different types of transmit arrays are discussed, following by techniques for optimizing B1 shimming, and pulse design for parallel transmission in conjunction with local/global SAR.
 
TARGET AUDIENCE
MR scientists, engineers, and technicians with an interest in understanding physical principles of parallel transmission, B1 shimming and SAR behavior within the context of high field MRI.
 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the basic theory of B1 shimming, RF pulse design and behavior of B1/E fields;
  • Illustrate the principles of local/global SARs within the context of RF pulse design and B1 shimming; and
  • Compare major methods of RF pulse design for parallel transmission.
 

Parallel Transmit, SAR

Moderators: Alexey Samsonov, Ph.D. & Jeffrey Tsao, Ph.D., M.B.A.
         
07:00 Coils, RF Shimming & SAR Tamer S. Ibrahim, Ph.D.
07:25 Parallel Transmit Pulse Design William A. Grissom, Ph.D.
         
07:50     Adjournment - (Take-home exercises will be provided to reinforce the learning)
 
Thursday, 25 April 2013
Image Reconstruction - Parallel Imaging Part 2
 
OVERVIEW
The course is a hand-on session that builds on Part 1 by providing an interactive exploration of the previously introduced principles. Using software to be supplied, the audience is encouraged to participate as we develop a parallel image reconstruction pipeline from the most basic reconstruction to a more realistic, practical reconstruction algorithm that deals with noise calibration, coil sensitivity calibration, and performance measurements. The connection between image space and k-space algorithms, effects of inline calibration and external calibration, noise correlation, and regularization will be explored.
 
TARGET AUDIENCE
MR enthusiasts interested in the under-the-hood implementation of advanced methodology in image reconstruction and RF design.

The audience is expected to bring a laptop with Matlab 6+ installed to follow the exercises.

Please download exercises at http://gadgetron.sf.net/sunrise

 
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Implement basic parallel imaging reconstruction algorithms (image space, k-space, hybrid, iterative);
  • Diagnose common parallel imaging performance problems;
  • Implement calibration data strategies (inline, external); and
  • Implement noise calibration strategies.
 

Advanced Imaging Interactive Session

Moderators: Alexey Samsonov, Ph.D. & Jeffrey Tsao, Ph.D., M.B.A.
         
07:00     Introduction of Session Jeffrey Tsao, Ph.D., M.B.A.
07:10     Work on Exercises on Image Reconstruction Philip J. Beatty, Ph.D. &
Michael S. Hansen, Ph.D.
07:40     Regroup To Go Over Solution Approaches Moderators & Faculty
         
07:50     Adjournment