This lecture presents recent advances towards real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which result in high-quality image series of dynamic processes with measuring times of only 10 to 40 milliseconds.
The acquisition technique employs radially encoded gradient-echo sequences with up to 30-fold data undersampling. Image reconstruction emerges as the iterative solution of a nonlinear inverse problem which is accomplished by a bypass computer fully integrated into a commercial MRI system. Apart from a brief technical description, the talk will focus on applications to oropharyngeal functions (e.g., speaking, brass playing, swallowing), cardiac function, blood flow and extensions to quantitative parametric mapping. In general, real-time MRI techniques are comfortable to the patient, provide new diagnostic opportunities (e.g., immediate physiologic responses to stress or exercise), are insensitive to irregular motion (e.g., patients with arrhythmia), and promise a revitalization of “interventional” MRI procedures.
For a few examples see:
http://www.biomednmr.mpg.de/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=132&Itemid=39