Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Synthesis
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Synthesis
(Non-FAU Project)
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Start date: January 1, 2019
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Abstract
Research project in cooperation with Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen
A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam typically consists of several MR pulse sequences that yield different image contrasts. Each pulse sequence is parameterized through multiple acquisition parameters that influence MR image contrast, signal-to-noise ratio, acquisition time, and/or resolution.
Depending on the clinical indication, different contrasts are required by the radiologist to make a reliable diagnosis. This complexity leads to high variations of sequence parameterizations across different sites and scanners, impacting MR protocoling, AI training, and image acquisition.
MR Image Synthesis
The aim of this project is to develop a deep learning-based approach to generate synthetic MR images conditioned on various acquisition parameters (repetition time, echo time, image orientation). This work can support radiologists and technologists during the parameterization of MR sequences by previewing the yielded MR contrast, can serve as a valuable tool for radiology training, and can be used for customized data generation to support AI training.
MR Image-to-Image Translations
As MR acquisition time is expensive, and re-scans due to motion corruption or a premature scan end for claustrophobic patients may be necessary, a method to synthesize missing or corrupted MR image contrasts from existing MR images is required. Thus, this project aims to develop an MR contrast-aware image-to-image translation method, enabling us to synthesize missing or corrupted MR images with adjustable image contrast. Additionally, it can be used as an advanced data augmentation technique to synthesize different contrasts for the training of AI applications in MRI.