Method for Simultaneous MR Elastography and Diffusion Acquisitions: Diffusion-MRE (dMRE) Technology Overview

MR elastography (MRE) is an emerging imaging technology that is capable of assessing tissue stiffness through the visualization and analysis of low-frequency mechanical shear waves. In the brain, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is now well established for the clinical assessment of stroke patients, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is very useful for the detection of brain diseases associated with myelin and axonal injuries.. In addition, diffusion MRI has recently been extended to abdominal targets, particularly in the liver.

Recently, diffusion-MRI and MRE have been used together to noninvasively characterize biological tissue, providing complementary information for the diagnosis of diseases. Currently, MRE and diffusion MRI acquisitions are performed as separate measurements that prolong the imaging protocols. UIC inventors have invented a new technique called diffusion-MRE (dMRE),that integrates these approaches into one simultaneous acquisition.

Details

In our new dMRE technique, diffusion and MRE wave motions are encoded into the phase and magnitude components of the MR signal by using a pair of bipolar gradients for both motion sensitization and diffusion encoding. The pulse sequence timing is adjusted so that the bipolar gradients are sensitive to both coherent and incoherent intravoxel motion.

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Applications

For brain and abdominal targets where MRE derived parameters such as shear stiffness, and diffusion parameters such as the apparent diffusion coefficient, are both needed.

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Benefits

Allows concurrent acquisition of complementary MRE and diffusion imaging data, while reducing scan times.

Technology Quick Facts

Reference Number DH039 Inventors Dr. Dieter Klatt Ziying Yin Dr. Richard Magin Campus Chicago Patent Application 61/908,874 Publication Yin, Z., Magin, R. L. and Klatt, D. (2014), Simultaneous MR elastography and diffusion acquisitions: Diffusion-MRE (dMRE). Magn Reson Med. doi: 10.1002/mrm.25180

Contact information: Jennifer Andrew 312-996-1595 [email protected]

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