Mbirn: DTI distortion correction (EPI-based)

GOALS

• May - October 2005 (A. Song)
  • Pulse sequences will be tested at different platform, and a common acquisition protocol will be recommended by taking individual scanner's limitation into account.
  • Universal recon and correction software for GE/Siemens/Philips is being planned. The original Matlab code developed for GE scanner is being re-written in visual C++, a working version should be available by mid-June, and final version should be on time for 10/2005 meeting.
  • Expand the recon and correction software for SENSE EPI acquisition used for DTI acquisition at many sites, including JHU who uses this exclusively now.
  • Implement spiral based DTI imaging using the same field map to de-blur the images at different diffusion weighting directions.

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UPDATES

• Progress for May 2005 - July 2005 (A. Song)
  • Manuscript recommended for publication pending revision at NeuroImage. The revision was sent in at the end of June.
  • Pulse sequence and correction procedure completed on GE system for 64x64 and 128x128 DTI images.
  • Correction algorithm ported to C-program and the correction procedure is now being standardized into a "plug-in" for any platform, using ANALYZE image format. Additional formats are being considered such as the BXH (BIAC XML HEADER).
  • Pulse sequence completed by Brian Soher on the Siemens 3T. He is currently adapting our recon program to generate identical matched field maps to interface with our correction procedure.
  • Pulse sequence being ported to Philips.
  • Local full-time post-doc is still being hired to facilitate the aforementioned development. Currently, Mr. Bin Chen, a third year Duke BME graduate student is engaged in primary development along with myself.

• Progress for October 2004 - May 2005 (A. Song)
  • Manuscript under review at NeuroImage, the corresponding abstract was well received during ISMRM in Miami.
  • Pulse sequence completed on GE system, and currently being ported to Siemens 3T at Duke. I am working with Brian Soher here at Duke for this project.
  • Pulse sequence being ported to Philips, working with Susumu Mori at JHU. It seems now that we have a working patch (with help from Raja Muthupillai, Philips Medical Systems) to run the pulse sequence.
  • Local full-time post-doc is still being hired to facilitate the aforementioned development. Currently, Mr. Bin Chen, a third year Duke BME graduate student is taking half the cost until the post-doc is identified. We are in the process of inteviewing post-doc candidates. The alternative plan is for me to recruit another BME grad student along with Bin Chen for more man power.

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