Pulse sequence and parameter choice in NMR imaging as a problem of constrained multidimensional nonlinear optimization

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The advantage of the multiparametric nature of NMR imaging is connected with the problem of finding optimum pulse sequences and sequence parameters, which ensure a high contrast-to-noise ratio. For a given imaging task with m (m ≥ 2) regions characterized by sets of NMR parameters (e.g., p, T1, T2) two functions are proposed, which can be used to transform the search for an optimum pulse sequence into a problem of constrained multidimensional nonlinear optimization. The numerical algorithm is described and the results of two examples are presented and discussed. A short description of useful extensions of the proposed optimization approach, which are currently implemented, is given. © 1988 Academic Press, Inc.