MR-double-zero – Proof-of-concept for a framework to autonomously discover MRI contrasts

Glang F, Mueller S, Herz K, Loktyushin A, Scheffler K, Zaiß M (2022)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2022

Journal

Journal of Magnetic Resonance Elsevier

Book Volume: 341

Article Number: 107237

DOI: 10.1016/j.jmr.2022.107237

Abstract

Purpose: A framework for supervised design of MR sequences for any given target contrast is proposed, based on fully automatic acquisition and reconstruction of MR data on a real MR scanner. The proposed method does not require any modeling of MR physics and thus allows even unknown contrast mechanisms to be addressed. Methods: A derivative-free optimization algorithm is set up to repeatedly update and execute a parametrized sequence on the MR scanner to acquire data. In each iteration, the acquired data are mapped to a given target contrast by linear regression. Results: It is shown that with the proposed framework it is possible to find an MR sequence that yields a predefined target contrast. In the present case, as a proof-of principle, a sequence mapping absolute creatine concentration, which cannot be extracted from T1 or T2-weighted scans directly, is discovered. The sequence was designed in a comparatively short time and with no human interaction. Conclusions: New MR contrasts for mapping a given target can be discovered by derivative-free optimization of parametrized sequences that are directly executed on a real MRI scanner. This is demonstrated by ‘re-discovery’ of a chemical exchange weighted sequence. The proposed method is considered to be a paradigm shift towards autonomous, model-free and target-driven sequence design.

Authors with CRIS profile

Moritz Zaiß Professur für Multimodale Bildgebung in der klinischen Forschung

Involved external institutions

Max-Planck-Institut für biologische Kybernetik / Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Glang, F., Mueller, S., Herz, K., Loktyushin, A., Scheffler, K., & Zaiß, M. (2022). MR-double-zero – Proof-of-concept for a framework to autonomously discover MRI contrasts. Journal of Magnetic Resonance, 341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmr.2022.107237

MLA:

Glang, Felix, et al. "MR-double-zero – Proof-of-concept for a framework to autonomously discover MRI contrasts." Journal of Magnetic Resonance 341 (2022).

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