Michael Nicholas Hoff1, Qing-San Xiang1, 2
1Physics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; 2Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Banding and general signal modulation disturb the diagnostic viability of bSSFP imaging. Previous algebraic and geometric techniques have shown that complete signal demodulation is possible with four phase cycled bSSFP images. Here a two-image algebraic solution is employed to demodulate signal and to guide an improved Algebraically Weighted Solution (AWS). The AWS uses regional least squares processing to reduce residual banding. Relative to a gold standard reference image, the AWS exhibits 60% or less error than a two-image complex sum in all scenarios tested. AWS represents a viable bSSFP demodulation solution which is especially valuable for time-sensitive imaging.