Two-point dixon technique with flexible choice of echo times

US8774475B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• KONINIKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V. · NL

Inventors

• Bernhard Brendel · Norderstedt, DE
• Holger Eggers · Eindhoven, NL
• Adri J. Duijndam · Nijmegen, NL

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 19, 2010
• Grant date: Jul 8, 2014
• Expiry date: Mar 2, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01R33/56563
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

When distinguishing between fat and water in acquired MR data, a modified Dixon technique includes acquiring first and second signals Ii and I2, calculating the first and second components B and S of the signals Iχ and I2, where one of the first and second components corresponds to fat and the other corresponds to water, deriving two differential phase error candidates from them, and selecting a phase error candidate based on the assumption of smoothness of the disturbing field inhomogeneity. The exact determination of the absolute values of the water and fat components is then made by solving three signal equations for two variables that respectively correspond to water and fat, and is performed using for example a least square minimization with a Newton method.