Benjamin Matthew Schwartz1, Nathan McDannold2
1Biophysics, Harvard University,
Boston, MA, United States; 2Radiology, Harvard Medical School,
Boston, MA, United States
A
well-known technique to reduce motion artifacts uses MR navigator echoes to
track the position of the object being imaged, and compensates for the motion
using this position information. We
demonstrate an analogous technique, tracking motion using A-line images from
a single ultrasound transducer. The
ultrasound data can be analyzed in real time for prospective motion
correction, or processed offline for retrospective correction. Ultrasound navigation allows the use of
unmodified pulse sequences, with attendant advantages in acquisition speed,
steady-state polarization, and reduced engineering requirements. Future development includes
multidimensional tracking and supplying position data to non-MR equipment.