Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

ViP MRI: virtual phantom magnetic resonance imaging

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Object

The ability to generate reference signals is of great benefit for quantitation of the magnetic resonance (MR) signal. The aim of the present study was to implement a dedicated experimental set-up to generate MR images of virtual phantoms.

Materials and methods

Virtual phantoms of a given shape and signal intensity were designed and the k-space representation was generated. A waveform generator converted the k-space lines into a radiofrequency (RF) signal that was transmitted to the MR scanner bore by a dedicated RF coil. The k-space lines of the virtual phantom were played line-by-line in synchronization with the magnetic resonance imaging data acquisition.

Results

Virtual phantoms of complex patterns were reproduced well in MR images without the presence of artifacts. Time-series measurements showed a coefficient of variation below 1 % for the signal intensity of the virtual phantoms. An excellent linearity (coefficient of determination r 2 = 0.997 as assessed by linear regression) was observed in the signal intensity of virtual phantoms.

Conclusion

Virtual phantoms represent an attractive alternative to physical phantoms for providing a reference signal. MR images of virtual phantoms were here generated using a stand-alone, independent unit that can be employed with MR scanners from different vendors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barantin L, Le Pape A, Akoka S (1997) A new method for absolute quantitation of MRS metabolites. Magn Reson Med 38(2):179–182

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Michel N, Akoka S (2004) The application of the ERETIC method to 2D-NMR. J Magn Reson 168(1):118–123

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Martínez-Bisbal MC, Monleon D, Assemat O, Piotto M, Piquer J, Llácer JL, Celda B (2009) Determination of metabolite concentrations in human brain tumour biopsy samples using HR-MAS and ERETIC measurements. NMR Biomed 22(2):199–206

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Albers MJ, Butler TN, Rahwa I, Bao N, Keshari KR, Swanson MG, Kurhanewicz J (2009) Evaluation of the ERETIC method as an improved quantitative reference for 1H HR-MAS spectroscopy of prostate tissue. Magn Reson Med 61(3):525–532

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Ziarelli F, Viel S, Sanchez S, Cross D, Caldarelli S (2007) Precision and sensitivity optimization of quantitative measurements in solid state NMR. J Magn Reson 188(2):260–266

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Heinzer-Schweizer S, De Zanche N, Pavan M, Mens G, Sturzenegger U, Henning A, Boesiger P (2010) In-vivo assessment of tissue metabolite levels using 1H MRS and the Electric REference To access In vivo Concentrations (ERETIC) method. NMR Biomed 23(4):406–413

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Marro KI, Lee D, Shankland EG, Mathis CM, Hayes CE (2011) Synthetic signal injection using a single radiofrequency channel. J Magn Reson Imaging 34(6):1414–1421

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Franconi F, Chapon C, Lemaire L, Lehmann V, Barantin L, Akoka S (2002) Quantitative MR renography using a calibrated internal signal (ERETIC). Magn Reson Imaging 20(8):587–592

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Lee D, Marro K, Shankland E, Mathis M (2010) Quantitative 19F imaging using inductively coupled reference signal injection. Magn Reson Med 63(3):570–573

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Christensen JD, Barrère BJ, Boada FE, Vevea JM, Thulborn KR (1996) Quantitative tissue sodium concentration mapping of normal rat brain. Magn Reson Med 36(1):83–89

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hanson LG, Lund TE, Hanson CG (2007) Encoding of electrophysiology and other signals in MR images. J Magn Reson Imaging 25(5):1059–1066

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Guerquin-Kern M, Lejeune L, Pruessmann KP, Unser M (2012) Realistic analytical phantoms for parallel magnetic resonance imaging. IEEE Trans Med Imaging 31(3):626–636

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Hervé Saint-Jalmes and Giulio Gambarota gratefully acknowledge the generous support of Rennes Métropole and Région Bretagne.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR 1099, INSERM, 35000, Rennes, France

    Hervé Saint-Jalmes, Johanne Bezy-Wendling & Giulio Gambarota

  2. LTSI, Université de Rennes 1, 35000, Rennes, France

    Hervé Saint-Jalmes, Johanne Bezy-Wendling, Alejandro Bordelois & Giulio Gambarota

  3. CRLCC, Centre Eugène Marquis, 35000, Rennes, France

    Hervé Saint-Jalmes

  4. PRISM-Biosit CNRS UMS 3480, Université de Rennes 1, INSERM UMS 018, 35000, Rennes, France

    Pierre-Antoine Eliat

  5. CBM, Universidad de Oriente, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

    Alejandro Bordelois

  6. LTSI, U1099, INSERM, Université de Rennes 1, 2, Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35043, Rennes, France

    Hervé Saint-Jalmes

Authors
  1. Hervé Saint-Jalmes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pierre-Antoine Eliat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Johanne Bezy-Wendling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alejandro Bordelois
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Giulio Gambarota
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hervé Saint-Jalmes.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Saint-Jalmes, H., Eliat, PA., Bezy-Wendling, J. et al. ViP MRI: virtual phantom magnetic resonance imaging. Magn Reson Mater Phy 27, 419–424 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-013-0425-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10334-013-0425-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation