A Rotational Cylindrical fMRI Phantom for Image Quality Control.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

A novel phantom for image quality testing for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans is described.

Methods

The cylindrical, rotatable, ~4.5L phantom, with eight wedge-shaped compartments, is used to simulate rest and activated states. The compartments contain NiCl2 doped agar gel with alternating concentrations of agar (1.4%, 1.6%) to produce T1 and T2 values approximating brain grey matter. The Jacard index was used to compare the image distortions for echo planar imaging (EPI) and gradient recalled echo (GRE) scans. Contrast to noise ratio (CNR) was compared across the imaging volume for GRE and EPI.

Results

The mean T2 for the two agar concentrations were found to be 106.5±4.8, 94.5±4.7 ms, and T1 of 1500±40 and 1485±30 ms, respectively. The Jac

SUBMITTER: Tovar DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4666484 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature