Jingfei Fei Ma

US Patent:

7027853, Apr 11, 2006

Filed:

Sep 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/255210

Inventors:

Jingfei Ma - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Austin TX

International Classification:

A61B 5/00

US Classification:

600410, 600407, 600411, 600587, 128898, 128897, 128920, 128922, 703 2, 703 3, 703 7, 703 11, 601 2, 601 3, 601 4, 707102, 707103, 707104

Abstract:

An improved technique is described for acquiring MR image data such as needed for FSE-based Dixon imaging techniques. A gradient-induced echo shift is produced in the pulse sequences by a small gradient applied along the readout axis prior to a readout pulse. When necessary, another small pulse is applied along the readout axis, equal in area and opposite in polarity to the first, to compensate for the shifting effect. Similar pulses are applied for each acquisition window. While data with non-zero phase shifts between water and fat signals are collected as fractional echoes, no increase in echo spacing is necessary with the modified acquisition strategy. Images corresponding to different phase shifts are reconstructed using phase-sensitive partial Fourier reconstruction algorithms whenever necessary. These images are then used to separate different chemical species (such as water and fat) in the object to be imaged. Increased time efficiency is therefore achieved with the improved technique, with a significant reduction in degradation due to losses in slice coverage and increased image blurring and sensitivity to flow and motion due to T2-modulation along the echo train in conventional techniques.

US Patent:

7054675, May 30, 2006

Filed:

Jan 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/059814

Inventors:

Jingfei Ma - Houston TX, US
Yuval Zur - Haifa, IL

Assignee:

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC - Waukesha WI

International Classification:

A61B 5/55

US Classification:

600410, 324307, 324309, 324318, 324322

Abstract:

Artifacts in MR images caused by signals emanating from outside the design spherical volume (DSV) of the system are suppressed using customized spatial saturation pulse sequences interleaved with imaging pulse sequences. The spatial saturation pulse sequences are each customized to a specific region and are stored in a library for selective use when needed to suppress artifact producing signals emanating from specific regions outside the DSV.

US Patent:

7084626, Aug 1, 2006

Filed:

Jun 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/882111

Inventors:

Jingfei Ma - Houston TX, US
Haesun Choi - Houston TX, US
R. Jason Stafford - Houston TX, US
James A. Bankson - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Austin TX

International Classification:

G01V 3/00

US Classification:

324307, 324309

Abstract:

Systems and methods are described for chemical shift magnetic resonance imaging in the presence of multiple chemical species. A method includes obtaining a plurality of MRI data signals using a Dixon technique in combination with partially parallel imaging techniques and/or inversion recovery techniques, and processing the plurality of MRI data signals using a Dixon reconstruction technique to create a chemical specific shift image. An apparatus includes a MRI scanner for obtaining images, a controller configured to provide input to the scanner to acquire images using a Dixon technique in combination with partially parallel imaging techniques and/or inversion recovery techniques to produce a plurality of MRI data signals, and processing the plurality of MRI data signals using a Dixon reconstruction technique to create a chemical specific shift image, and an output device to display the resulting image.

US Patent:

7227359, Jun 5, 2007

Filed:

Nov 24, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/997826

Inventors:

Jingfei Ma - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Boards of Regents, The University of Texas System - Austin TX

International Classification:

G01V 3/00

US Classification:

324309, 324307

Abstract:

Systems and methods are described for phase-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging using an efficient and robust phase correction algorithm. A method includes obtaining a plurality of MRI data signals, such as two-point Dixon data, one-point Dixon data, or inversion recovery prepared data. The method further includes implementing a phase-correction algorithm, that may use phase gradients between the neighboring pixels of an image. At each step of the region growing, the method uses both the amplitude and phase of pixels surrounding a seed pixel to determine the correct orientation of the signal for the seed pixel. The method also includes using correlative information between images from different coils to ensure coil-to-coil consistency, and using correlative information between two neighboring slices to ensure slice-to-slice consistency. A system includes a MRI scanner to obtain the data signals, a controller to reconstruct the images from the data signals and implement the phase-correction algorithm, and an output device to display phase sensitive MR images such as fat-only images and/or water-only images.

US Patent:

7358729, Apr 15, 2008

Filed:

Nov 10, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/271060

Inventors:

Jingfei Ma - Houston TX, US
Haesun Choi - Houston TX, US
R. Jason Stafford - Houston TX, US
James A. Bankson - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Austin TX

International Classification:

G01V 3/00

US Classification:

324307, 324309

Abstract:

Systems and methods are described for chemical shift magnetic resonance imaging in the presence of multiple chemical species. A method includes obtaining a plurality of MRI data signals using a Dixon technique in combination with partially parallel imaging techniques and/or inversion recovery techniques, and processing the plurality of MRI data signals using a Dixon reconstruction technique to create a chemical specific shift image. An apparatus includes a MRI scanner for obtaining images, a controller configured to provide input to the scanner to acquire images using a Dixon technique in combination with partially parallel imaging techniques and/or inversion recovery techniques to produce a plurality of MRI data signals, and processing the plurality of MRI data signals using a Dixon reconstruction technique to create a chemical specific shift image, and an output device to display the resulting image.

US Patent:

7863895, Jan 4, 2011

Filed:

May 4, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/919937

Inventors:

Jingfei Ma - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Austin TX

International Classification:

G01V 3/00

US Classification:

324309

Abstract:

A system, program product, and method to determine water, fat, and transverse relaxation time constants in MRI scanning are provided. A method includes initiating readout gradient pulses to collect echo signals with identical phase encoded gradients to thereby produce a plurality of images, instead of a single image with a single readout gradient. A receiver bandwidth used for collecting the echo signals can be determined responsive to an acquisition matrix size along the readout axis and a time duration for water and fat signals to evolve by a preselected phase angle. In a modified FSE implementation, for example, a method includes using readout gradient pulses that use substantially all of the echo spacing time periods between successive refocus RF pulses. By exploiting the phase and the amplitude relationship between the images, the method can include processing the images to generate separate water and fat images, as well as quantitative maps of transverse relaxation time constants.

US Patent:

20100195885, Aug 5, 2010

Filed:

Jul 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/668872

Inventors:

Jingfei Ma - Houston TX, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

382131

Abstract:

A single-point Dixon (“SPD”) technique that can provide chemical species separation using data from a single echo with a flexible relative phase angle between the species is provided.

US Patent:

20170011536, Jan 12, 2017

Filed:

Sep 20, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/270341

Inventors:

- Austin TX, US
Jingfei MA - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Austin TX

International Classification:

G06T 11/00
G06K 9/62
G06T 7/00
G06K 9/46
G06T 5/00
G06T 5/20

Abstract:

Methods, apparatuses, systems, and software for extended phase correction in phase sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A magnetic resonance image or images may be loaded into a memory. Two vector images A and B associated with the loaded image or images may be calculated either explicitly or implicitly so that a vector orientation by one of the two vector images at a pixel is substantially determined by a background or error phase at the pixel, and the vector orientation at the pixel by the other vector image is substantially different from that determined by the background or error phase at the pixel. A sequenced region growing phase correction algorithm may be applied to the vector images A and B to construct a new vector image V so that a vector orientation of V at each pixel is substantially determined by the background or error phase at the pixel. A phase corrected magnetic resonance image or images may be generated using the vector image V, and the phase corrected magnetic resonance image or images may be displayed or archived.