Sensitivity profiles from an array of coils for encoding and reconstruction in parallel (SPACE RIP)

A new parallel imaging technique was implemented which can result in reduce d image acquisition times in MRI. MR data is acquired in parallel using an array of receiver coils and then reconstructed simultaneously with multiple processors. The method requires the initial estimation of the 2D sensitivi ty profile of each coil used in the receiver array. These sensitivity profi les are then used to partially encode the images of interest. A fraction of the total number of k-space lines is consequently acquired and used in a p arallel reconstruction scheme, allowing for a substantial reduction in scan ning and display times. This technique is in the family of parallel acquisi tion schemes such as simultaneous acquisition of spatial harmonics (SMASH) and sensitivity encoding (SENSE). It extends the use of the SMASH method to allow the placement of the receiver coil array around the object of intere st, enabling imaging of any plane within the volume of interest. In additio n, this technique permits the arbitrary choice of the set of k-space lines used in the reconstruction and lends itself to parallel reconstruction, hen ce allowing for real-time rendering. Simulated results with a 16-fold incre ase in temporal resolution are shown, as are experimental results with a 4- fold increase in temporal resolution. Magn Reson Med 44:301-308, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.