TITLE:
Short Report: A Sponge Phantom Provides a Homogeneous k-Space Pattern at MRI
AUTHORS:
Jan Menke
KEYWORDS:
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Phantoms, Fourier Analysis, Spectrum Analysis, Computer-Assisted Image Processing
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Radiology,
Vol.4 No.2,
June
17,
2014
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.