ISMRM SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP ~ 19-22 July 2015

ISMRM Workshop on Simultaneous Multi-Slice Imaging:
Neuroscience & Clinical Applications
Pacific Grove, CA, USA

 

OVERVIEW

Simultaneous Multi-Slice (SMS) imaging, also referred to as multi-band and multiplexed, has achieved unprecedented speed in functional and diffusion imaging and now promises high impact in clinical imaging.

This workshop focuses on recent SMS technological developments and translation into radiological and neuroscience imaging. Talks will include topics of pulse sequences, controlled aliasing, image reconstruction and parallel receiver hardware and neuroscience and clinical evaluations. The workshop emphasizes inclusiveness of international speakers and aims to educate MRI scientists, neuroscientists and clinical investigators. Discussions and interactions will be facilitated at this beautiful California coastal retreat center which has housed many important NMR and MRI meetings.

Participants will have the opportunity to join a hands-on-session where they will:

  • learn how to design multi-band RF pulses (simulating the peak-power and resulting excitation profiles);
  • simulate and reconstruct SMS CAIPI data using basic reconstruction code provided based on different parallel imaging techniques (SENSE, hybrid SENSE-Grappa and slice GRAPPA);
  • estimate quality measures for SMS reconstruction (including g-factor and slice-leakage); and
  • look at example data focusing on fMRI and Diffusion applications.

The tutorials will be Matlab-based and all scripts required for the session will be provided. Participants are expected to bring their own computers with valid Matlab licenses.
 

 

TARGET AUDIENCE

The workshop is designed for scientists including:
  • Physicians
  • Physicists
  • Engineers
  • Computer scientists
  • Mathematicians
  • Students working on pulse sequences, rf coil design, image reconstruction, neuroscience and body imaging
  • MRI technologists
  • Neuroscientists
  • Clinical investigators
  • Anyone pursing diffusion or fMRI applications of SMS imaging.
 

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of the meeting participants should be able to:
  • Describe the evolution of the simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) imaging technology as a parallel imaging technique.
  • List currently available, established or emerging SMS techniques.
  • Discuss the measurements of SMS imaging performance by metrics of g-factor, leakage factor, temporal SNR and image artifacts.
  • Summarize the use of SMS imaging for neuroscience, body imaging and clinical applications.
  • Explain appropriate use of SMS pulse sequences and the constraints of rf receiver coil arrays and parallel imaging acceleration factors.