Simultaneous Acquisition of Spatial Harmonics (SMASH): Ultra-Fast Imaging with Radiofrequency Coil Arrays (BIDMC 354)

Category:    Medical Imaging

KeyWords:  

BIDMC ID:    354

Abstract:

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has proven to be a valuable clinical diagnostic tool in a wide range of organ systems and pathophysiologic processes. Both anatomic and functional information can be obtained from MR, and new applications continue to develop. Often, there is a trade off between spatial resolution and imaging time, since higher resolution images require longer acquisition times. SMASH is an MR imaging apparatus and technique that allows image acquisition times to be reduced in comparison to the fastest imaging techniques currently in use, without any sacrifice in spatial resolution. The improvements in imaging speed afforded by SMASH allow for improved image quality in the presence of physiologic motion, accurate tracking of rapid time-dependent processes, and increased patient comfort and MR scanner throughput.

Inventor:   Daniel K. Sodickson, M.D., Ph.D.

Commercial Opportunity:

MR medical diagnostics and research; SMASH can be implemented with most existing fast imaging sequences.

Competitive Advantages:

This invention allows one to dramatically increase the speed of MR acquisition by using an imaging strategy in which some portion of the data is acquired in parallel rather than in a usual sequential order. ˇSMASH can be combined with most sequential fast imaging techniques for additional time savings. ˇThe increase in acquisition speed comes at no cost in spatial resolution and, in fact, results in enhanced spatial resolution for certain imaging sequences. ˇSMASH can be implemented on standard imaging systems with or without echo planar imaging (EPI) capability. ˇImages can be reconstructed without extensive or time-consuming computations and require only modest modification of existing image reconstruction software.

Related Publications:

Sodickson, D.K., et al. (1999) Magnetic Resonance Imaging Clinics of North America 7, 1-18;  Jakob, P.M., et al. (1999) Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance 1, 153-157.

State of Development:

Successfully tested in vivo on both Philips and Siemens commercial MR imaging systems with a variety of spin-echo and gradient-echo imaging sequences.  Currently we can acquire MR images at four times the speed of conventional techniques in vivo.

Related Technology URL:

Patent Status:

Issued US Patent 5,910,728 on 6/8/99

TVO Contact Info:
     Catherine M Lenich
     Senior Associate TVO
     clenich@bidmc.harvard.edu
     Phone: 617-667-0568   Fax: 617-667-0646

     Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
     Technology Ventures Office  Room: BR-0200
     330 Brookline Avenue
     Boston, MA 02215