From gradients to images: Unlocking MRI’s full potential – system characterization and prediction.
7th Skope User Meeting: September 2–3, 2024, Tübingen, Germany
Summary & Handouts
The 7th Skope User Meeting under the theme “From gradients to images: Unlocking MRI’s full potential – system characterization and prediction” was held in Tübingen, Germany, on September 2nd and 3rd, directly before the Annual Conference of the DACH-ISMRM 2024.
The meeting started on Monday evening with a dinner session. The scientific session on Tuesday morning included guest talks and offered the participants an exclusive sneak peek into Skope’s new product before the official release. In the afternoon, we ran interactive demo sessions.
Handout material and additional resources
- Invited talk “Connectome 2.0: Next-generation human MRI scanner for bridging studies of the macro-, meso-, and micro-connectome – Initial experience with the Skope system” by Susie Y. Huang
- Blog post “Gradient system characterization by impulse response measurements with a Skope Field Camera“
- Invited talk “Measuring and reducing background velocity errors in phase contrast MRI” by Mike Loecher (recorded at the Skope User Meeting 2023)
- Summary of the afternoon workshops (to download the slides, click here)
Abstracts
Connectome 2.0: Next-generation human MRI scanner for bridging studies of the macro-, meso-, and micro-connectome – Initial experience with the Skope system
Susie Y. Huang, MD, PhD
Latest methodological developments at 11.7T on Iseult scanner
Caroline Le Ster, PhD
The 11.7T Iseult scanner delivered its first brain images in 2023 on healthy volunteers, after nearly 20 years of research and development. In order to make the most of the SNR boost allowed by the field increase with such a new system, an intensive work of characterisation was performed and is still ongoing. Field monitoring has proven an invaluable tool for troubleshooting and for methodological developments, as will be discussed in this talk.
Workflow for high-resolution DWI at 3T and beyond
Ying Chu, PhD
The Department of Neurophysics at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) develops neuroimaging methods and integrated biophysical models to resolve the brain’s subtle microstructure with high spatial resolution, minimal artifact levels and high tissue specificity. Field monitoring can enhance accuracy and quality when paired with the 300 mT/m 3T Connectom and 7T Terra.X systems at the institute, but an important consideration is the robust integration of field monitoring into the typical workflow of a neuroimaging center. We demonstrate an automated pipeline for multi-/high-resolution DWI at 3T and 7T using advanced RF coils with integrated field probes. This pipeline will help the department to achieve its goals of tissue specific MRI and allow other researchers to capitalize on these advances.
Gradient system characterization by impulse response measurements with a Skope Field Camera
Demo session 1
This demo session showcases a rapid and highly sensitive approach for characterizing the dynamic performance of an MR gradient system. Leveraging the open-source framework Pulseq (available at pulseq.github.io), we will generate gradient waveforms and capture the resulting fields using a Field Camera. This method allows valuable insights into system behavior, aiding applications such as pre-emphasis optimization, quality assurance, and image reconstruction.
Gradient-transfer function estimation and trajectory prediction
Demo session 2
In this session, we will delve into the step-by-step derivation of a gradient-transfer function (GTF) based on data collected during session 1. We will investigate gradient dynamics and have a look at subtle features such as eddy currents and mechanically induced field oscillations. The derived model will then be applied to predict the trajectories of an imaging sequence based on nominal gradient waveforms.
Image reconstruction of measured and predicted trajectories
Demo session 3
The final session will highlight the reconstruction of both field-monitored and GTF-predicted trajectories. We will demonstrate how to implement gridding reconstruction in MATLAB using a sparse matrix representation. Additionally, we will investigate the strengths and limitations of GTF-based trajectory prediction.
Agenda
| Monday, September 2 | Topic | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 6.30 pm | Welcome dinner | Restaurant Mauganeschtle |
| Tuesday, September 3 | Topic | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 8.30 am – 9.00 am | Coffee | |
| 9.00 am – 9.40 am | Welcome & introductions | Skope & attendees |
| 9.40 am – 10.15 am | Scientific talk: Connectome 2.0: Next-generation human MRI scanner for bridging studies of the macro-, meso-, and micro-connectome – Initial experience with the Skope system | Susie Y. Huang, MD, PhD (Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging & Harvard Medical School, USA) |
| 10.15 am – 10.50 am | Scientific talk: Latest methodological developments at 11.7T on Iseult scanner | Caroline Le Ster, PhD (NeuroSpin, CEA, France) |
| 10.50 am – 11.05 am | Networking & knowledge-sharing coffee break | |
| 11.05 am – 11.40 am | Scientific talk: Workflow for high-resolution DWI at 3T and beyond | Ying Chu, PhD (MPI for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Germany) |
| 11.40 am – 11.55 am | Sneak peek at a new product for 2025 | Skope |
| 11.55 am – 12.00 pm | Final remarks & demo instructions | Skope |
| 12.00 pm – 13.00 pm | Lunch |
| Tuesday, September 3 | Topic | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 1.00 pm – 3.30 pm | Demo Sessions | |
| Session 1: Gradient system characterization by impulse response measurements with a Skope Field Camera | ||
| Session 2: Gradient-transfer function estimation and trajectory prediction | ||
| Session 3: Image reconstruction of measured and predicted trajectories | ||
| 3.30 pm – 4.00 pm | Q&A and wrap-up | |
| 4.00 pm | Informal apéro |
Speakers
Abstracts & Speakers
Susie Y. Huang, MD, PhD
Speaker bio: Susie Y. Huang, MD, PhD, is a Radiologist in the Division of Neuroradiology and Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging in the Department of Radiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and an Associate Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School. She received a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MD from Harvard Medical School. She has published numerous research articles on the development, translation, and evaluation of novel magnetic resonance imaging techniques for neuroimaging research and clinical applications. Her current research focuses on the development and translation of advanced diffusion MRI methods for probing tissue microstructure in the central nervous system. She currently serves as the lead Principal Investigator on a $14-million NIH BRAIN initiative multi-institutional collaborative grant to develop the next-generation Connectome MRI scanner for multiscale imaging of the human brain.
Ying Chu, PhD
Speaker bio: Dr. Ying Chu is a postdoctoral fellow at the MPI CBS. In 2019, she completed her master’s degree in physics at the University of Hamburg. In 2023, she received her PhD degree for improving the combined T2*-weighted MR imaging of the brain and cervical spinal cord, a research that she conducted at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. Since joining MPI CBS in 2023, she has been working on methodological developments on the Connectom and Terra system. She plans to work with the NeuroCam 7T on Terra.X after its installation.
