Short Report: A Sponge Phantom Provides a Homogeneous k-Space Pattern at MRI

doi:10.4236/ojrad.2014.42026

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OJRad> Vol.4 No.2, June 2014

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Short Report: A Sponge Phantom Provides a Homogeneous k-Space Pattern at MRI

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DOI: 10.4236/ojrad.2014.42026 4,874 Downloads 5,591 Views

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Jan Menke

Affiliation(s)

Radiology Center, University Hospital, Goettingen, Germany.

ABSTRACT

Background: The spectral coverage of magnetic resonance (MR) sequences can be well assessed in k-space. However, many objects do not provide high signal intensities in the peripheral k-space. Purpose: To experimentally find a phantom that provides a homogeneous spectral pattern also at the high spatial frequencies of the k-space periphery. Material and Methods: Different phantoms were imaged on a 1.5 Tesla magnet, and the resulting MR images were viewed in k-space after fast Fourier transform. Results: Firstly, phantoms with a homogeneous physical structure were studied with a T2-weighted MR sequence, but they provided an inhomogeneous k-space pattern with dominant central low-frequency components. Secondly, phantoms with an inhomogeneous physical structure were studied. In this group, a water-soaked sponge showed a relatively homogeneous k-space pattern also at high spatial frequencies, owing to the fine porous structure. This sponge phantom can also be soaked with Gadolinium chelates for T1-weighted MR imaging. Conclusion: A simple sponge phantom provides a homogeneous k-space pattern, owing to its fine porous structure. This could be utilized in MR sequence development and for viewing the spectral coverage of MR sequences in k-space.

KEYWORDS

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Phantoms, Fourier Analysis, Spectrum Analysis, Computer-Assisted Image Processing

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Cite this paper

Menke, J. (2014) Short Report: A Sponge Phantom Provides a Homogeneous k-Space Pattern at MRI. Open Journal of Radiology, 4, 195-200. doi: 10.4236/ojrad.2014.42026.

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