@phdthesis{Blaimer2005,
  author    = {Blaimer, Martin},
  title     = {Selbstkalibrierende Verfahren in der parallelen Magnetresonanztomographie},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-24022},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2005},
  abstract  = {In der klinischen Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) spielt neben dem Bildkontrast und der r{\"a}umlichen Aufl{\"o}sung, die Messzeit eine sehr wichtige Rolle. Auf Grund schneller Bildgebungsmethoden und technischer Fortschritte in der Ger{\"a}teentwicklung konnten die Aufnahmezeiten bis auf wenige Sekunden reduziert werden. Somit wurde die MRT zu einem der wichtigsten Verfahren in der klinischen Diagnostik. Der gr{\"o}ßte Fortschritt f{\"u}r eine weitere Verk{\"u}rzung der Aufnahmezeiten erfolgte durch die Einf{\"u}hrung von Partiell-Parallelen-Akquisitions (PPA) Techniken in den sp{\"a}ten 1990er Jahren. Inzwischen sind PPA-Verfahren etabliert und stehen auch f{\"u}r den Einsatz im klinischen Alltag zur Verf{\"u}gung. Die Grundlage aller PPA-Verfahren bildet eine Anordnung von mehreren Empfangsdetektoren, welche gleichzeitig und unabh{\"a}ngig voneinander ein Objekt abbilden. Das Signal jedes einzelnen Detektors enth{\"a}lt dabei je nach Position eine gewisse r{\"a}umliche Information. Eine Messzeitverk{\"u}rzung wird im Allgemeinen dadurch erzielt, dass die Menge der aufzunehmenden Daten reduziert wird. Dies f{\"u}hrt zu Fehler behafteten Bildern auf Grund von fehlenden Daten. Alle g{\"a}ngigen PPA-Verfahren benutzen die in der Detektoranordnung inh{\"a}rente r{\"a}umliche Information, um mit geeigneten Algorithmen die Fehler behafteten Bilder zu korrigieren. Die beiden erfolgreichsten Ans{\"a}tze stellen momentan das "Sensitivity Encoding" (SENSE) Verfahren und die "Generalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisitions" (GRAPPA) Methode dar. Die Leistungsf{\"a}higkeit von PPA-Methoden ist allerdings beschr{\"a}nkt. Zun{\"a}chst begrenzt die Anzahl der Einzeldetektoren den maximal erreichbaren Messzeitgewinn. Weiterhin f{\"u}hrt der Einsatz von PPA-Verfahren zu einer Verringerung des Signal-zu-Rausch-Verh{\"a}ltnis (englisch: signal-to-noise ratio, SNR). Im Allgemeinen ist das SNR um den Faktor der Wurzel des Beschleunigungsfaktors verringert. Ein zus{\"a}tzlicher SNR-Verlust entsteht durch den Rekonstruktionsprozess und ist stark abh{\"a}ngig von der geometrischen Anordnung der Detektoren. Auf Grund dieser Verluste ist der Einsatz von PPA-Methoden auf Applikationen mit bereits hohem intrinsischen SNR beschr{\"a}nkt. In dieser Arbeit werden Erweiterungen von PPA-Verfahren vorgestellt, um deren Leistungsf{\"a}higkeit weiter zu verbessern. Der Schwerpunkt liegt dabei auf der selbstkalibrierenden GRAPPA-Methode, welche die fehlenden Daten im reziproken Bildraum, dem so genannten k-Raum, rekonstruiert. Zun{\"a}chst wird der Einsatz von GRAPPA f{\"u}r die 3D-Bildgebung beschrieben. In der 3D-Bildgebung ist es f{\"u}r die Rekonstruktionsqualit{\"a}t von PPA-Methoden vorteilhaft, die Daten entlang zweier Raumrichtungen zu reduzieren. GRAPPA war bisher auf Experimente mit Datenrekonstruktion in nur einer Richtung beschr{\"a}nkt. Es wird gezeigt, dass sich durch Kombination mit SENSE der Vorteil einer zwei-dimensionalen Datenreduktion erstmals auch f{\"u}r GRAPPA benutzen l{\"a}sst. Weiterhin wird eine Neuformulierung der GRAPPA-Rekonstruktion als Matrixoperation vorgestellt. Dieser Formalismus wird als GRAPPA-Operator Formalismus bezeichnet und erlaubt es, ein gemessenes Signal im k-Raum zu verschieben, um fehlende Daten zu rekonstruieren. Eigenschaften und Beziehungen zwischen unterschiedlichen Verschiebungen werden beschrieben und daraus resultierende Anwendungen f{\"u}r die 2D- und 3D-Bildgebung pr{\"a}sentiert. Im Allgemeinen arbeiten alle konventionellen PPA-Verfahren ausschließlich auf der Rekonstruktionsseite. Somit ist die Bildqualit{\"a}t und damit der erzielbare Messzeitgewinn nur durch die Geometrie der Detektoranordnung beeinflussbar. In der Mehrschicht-MRT l{\"a}sst sich diese Abh{\"a}ngigkeit von der Detektoranordnung reduzieren, indem Bildartefakte bereits w{\"a}hrend der Datenaufnahme gezielt ver{\"a}ndert werden. Auf diese Weise kann der SNR-Verlust aufgrund des Rekonstruktionsprozesses minimiert werden. Dieses Konzept der kontrollierten Einfaltungen (englisch: Controlled Aliasing in Parallel Imaging Results in Higher Acceleration, CAIPIRINHA) wird f{\"u}r den Einsatz in der dynamischen Herzbildgebung vorgestellt. Bei geringen Beschleunigungsfaktoren kann mit CAIPIRINHA im Gegensatz zu den {\"u}blichen PPA-Verfahren eine Bildqualit{\"a}t erzielt werden, welche keine signifikanten Einbußen gegen{\"u}ber konventionellen Experimenten aufweist.},
  subject      = {Magnetische Resonanz},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Purea2008,
  author    = {Purea, Edmund Armin},
  title     = {New Methods and Applications in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Microscopy using small RF Coils},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-31066},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2008},
  abstract  = {Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging is a well-established imaging technique. If the achieved spatial resolution is below 100 um, it is usually denoted as magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM). The spatial resolution limit is on the order of a few um. As a downside, high resolution imaging is usually time-consuming and technological requirements are very sumptuous. Furthermore, miniaturization of the radiofrequency (RF) coil leading to a so-called microcoil is necessary; it also brings along detrimental effects. Therefore, there is a high potential for optimizing present MRM methods. Hence it is the aim of this work to improve and further develop present methods in MRM with focus on the RF coil and to apply those methods on new biological applications. All experiments were conducted on a Bruker 17.6 T system with a maximum gradient strength of 1 T/m and four RF receiver channels. Minimizing the RF coil dimensions, leads to increased artefacts due to differences in magnetic susceptibility of the coil wire and surrounding air. Susceptibility matching by immersing the coil in FC-43 is the most common approach that fulfills the requirements of most applications. However, hardly any alternatives are known for cases where usage of FC-43 is not feasible due to its specific disadvantages. Two alternative substances (bromotricholoromethane and Fomblin Y25) were presented and their usability was checked by susceptibility determination and demonstration experiments after shimming under practical conditions. In a typical MRM microcoil experiment, the sample volume is significantly smaller than the maximum volume usable for imaging. This mismatch has been optimized in order to increase the experiment efficiency by increasing the number of probe coils and samples used. A four-channel probehead consisting of four individual solenoid coils suited for cellular imaging of Xenopus laevis oocytes was designed, allowing simultaneous acquisition from four samples. All coils were well isolated and allowed quantitative image acquisition with the same spatial resolution as in single coil operation. This method has also been applied in other studies for increased efficiency: using X. laevis oocytes as a single cell model, the effect of chemical fixation on intracellular NMR relaxation times T1 and T2 and on diffusion was studied for the first time. Significant reduction of relaxation times was found in all cell compartments; after reimmersion in buffer, values return close to the initial values, but there were small but statistically significant differences due to residual formaldehyde. Embryos of the same species have been studied morphologically in different developmental stages. Wild type embryos were compared to embryos that had experienced variations in protein levels of chromosomal proteins HMGN and H1A. Significant differences were found between wild type and HMGN-modified embryos, while no difference was observed between wild type and H1-modified embryos. These results were concordant with results obtained from light microscopy and histology. The technique of molecular imaging was also performed on X. laevis embryos. Commercially available antibodies coupled to ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) dextrane coated particles (MACS) served as a specific probe detectable by MRM, the aim being the detection of tissue specific contrast variations. Initially, the relaxivity of MACS was studied and compared to Resovist and VSOP particles. The iron concentration was determined quantitatively by using a general theoretical approach and results were compared to values obtained from mass spectroscopy. After incubation with MACS antibodies, intraembryonal relaxation times were determined in different regions of the embryo. These values allowed determination of local iron oxide particle concentrations, and specific binding could be distinguished from unspecific binding. Although applications in this work were focused on X. laevis oocytes and embryos, 3D-imaging on a beewolf head was also carried out in order to visualize the postpharyngeal gland. Additionally, an isolated beewolf antenna was imaged with a spatial resolution of (8 um)^3 for depiction of the antennal glands by using a microcoil that was specially designed for this sample. The experiments carried out in this work show that commercially available MRM systems can be significantly optimized by using small sample-adapted RF coils and by parallel operation of multiple coils, by which the sample throughput and thus time-efficiency is increased. With this optimized setup, practical use was demonstrated in a number of new biological applications.},
  subject      = {Magnetische Resonanz},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Arnold2008,
  author    = {Arnold, Johannes F. T.},
  title     = {Funktionelle Bildgebung der Lunge und des Bronchialkarzinoms mittels Magnetresonanztomographie},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-26388},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2008},
  abstract  = {Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, die Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) an der Lunge als Alternative zur traditionellen Lungenbildgebung voranzutreiben. So sollten MRT-Verfahren zur regionalen und quantitativen Lungenfunktionspr{\"u}fung f{\"u}r die klinische Routine entwickelt werden. Im Hinblick auf die Strahlentherapie von Patienten mit Bronchialkarzinom sollen funktionelle Lungenareale erkannt werden, um diese w{\"a}hrend der Bestrahlung optimal schonen zu k{\"o}nnen. An den zahlreichen Luft-Gewebe-Grenzfl{\"a}chen in der Lunge entstehen Magnetfeldinhomogenit{\"a}ten. Daraus resultiert ein schneller Zerfall des MRT-Signals in der Lunge. Es wurde in dieser Arbeit ein Ansatz aufgezeigt, um die Ursache f{\"u}r den raschen Signalzerfall, n{\"a}mlich die unterschiedlichen magnetischen Suszeptibilit{\"a}ten von Luftr{\"a}umen und Lungengewebe, zu beseitigen. Durch die intravaskul{\"a}re Injektion von paramagnetischen Kontrastmitteln kann die Suszeptibilit{\"a}t des Blutes an die Suszeptibilit{\"a}t der Luftr{\"a}ume angeglichen werden. Durch die Entwicklung einer MR-kompatiblen aktiven Atemkontrolle (MR-ABC) wurde in dieser Arbeit ein weiteres fundamentales Problem der Lungen-MRT adressiert: Die Bewegung w{\"a}hrend der Datenakquisition. Die MR-ABC detektiert Herzschlag und Atemposition und ist in der Lage die Atembewegung in jeder beliebigen Atemphase reproduzierbar f{\"u}r eine definierte Zeit auszusetzen. Dies wird durch einen Verschluss der Atemluftzufuhr realisiert. Traditionelle Verfahren k{\"o}nnen zwar ebenfalls die Atemphase detektieren, gestatten jedoch nicht deren Konservierung. Es wurde demonstriert, dass mit der MR-ABC hochaufl{\"o}sende Bilder der Lunge in hoher Bildqualit{\"a}t und durch die Verwendung langer Akquisitionsfenster in relativ kurzer Messzeit erreicht werden k{\"o}nnen. Eine regionale Lungenfunktionspr{\"u}fung ist f{\"u}r die Diagnose und Evaluierung vieler Krankheitsbilder vorteilhaft. In diesem Sinne wird seit einigen Jahren das Potential der Sauerstoff-verst{\"a}rkten Lungen-MRT erforscht, die auf den paramagnetischen Eigenschaften des molekularen Sauerstoffs basiert. Im Blut gel{\"o}ster Sauerstoff f{\"u}hrt zu einer Verk{\"u}rzung der T1-Relaxationszeit. Statt diese T1-Verk{\"u}rzung quantitativ zu bestimmen wird aus praktischen Gr{\"u}nden meist ein T1-gewichteter Ansatz gew{\"a}hlt. In dieser Arbeit wurde jedoch gezeigt, dass nicht-quantitative Verfahren ein erhebliches Risiko zur Falschinterpretation beinhalten. Um Fehldiagnosen zu vermeiden, sollten deshalb prinzipiell quantitative Methoden zur Messung der durch die Sauerstoff-Verst{\"a}rkung bedingten T1-Verk{\"u}rzung in der Lunge verwendet werden. Herk{\"o}mmliche Techniken zur quantitativen T1-Messung ben{\"o}tigen allerdings l{\"a}ngere Messzeiten. Deshalb war zur Vermeidung von Bewegungsartefakten bisher die Datenaufnahme im Atemanhaltezustand notwendig. Wiederholtes Atemanhalten von mehreren Sekunden Dauer ist allerdings f{\"u}r einige Patienten sehr belastend. Aus diesem Grund wurden in dieser Arbeit zwei Methoden entwickelt, die eine quantitative Lungenfunktionspr{\"u}fung mittels MRT bei freier Atmung der Patienten erm{\"o}glichen. Eine gute Sauerstoffversorgung des Tumors wirkt sich positiv auf den Erfolg der Bestrahlung aus. Ein Ansatz zur Verbesserung der Strahlentherapie des Bronchialkarzinoms k{\"o}nnte daher in der Beatmung der Patienten mit hyperoxischen hypercapnischen Atemgasen w{\"a}hrend der Bestrahlung bestehen. In diesem Zusammenhang k{\"o}nnte die quantitative Messung der T1-Ver{\"a}nderung im Tumor nach Carbogenatmung ein Selektionskriterium darstellen, um diejenigen Patienten zu identifizieren, die von einer Carbogenbeatmung w{\"a}hrend der Bestrahlung profitieren k{\"o}nnen. Die Differenzierung zwischen vitalem Tumorgewebe, Nekrosen und atelektatischem Lungengewebe ist von großer Bedeutung bei der Bestrahlungsplanung des Bronchialkarzinoms. Einen neuen Ansatz bildet die in dieser Arbeit vorgestellte Magnetiserungstransfer-MRT. Um einen Magnetisierungstransfer zu erzeugen, wurde ein speziell auf die Bildgebung an der Lunge optimiertes Pr{\"a}parationsmodul entworfen. In Verbindung mit einer schnellen Bildakquisitionstechnik konnte die Magnetisierungstransfer-Lungenbildgebung in einem kurzen Atemstopp durchgef{\"u}hrt werden. Diese Technik wurde an mehreren Patienten mit Bronchialkarzinom evaluiert und die Ergebnisse mit denen der Fluor-Deoxyglykose-Positronen-Emissions-Tomographie (FDG-PET) verglichen. Es wurde festgestellt, dass mit diesem MRT-Verfahren {\"a}hnliche diagnostische Erkenntnisse erzielt werden k{\"o}nnen. Allerdings besitzt die MRT Vorteile im Hinblick auf r{\"a}umliche Aufl{\"o}sung, Messzeit, Bildqualit{\"a}t, Kosten und Strahlenbelastung. Das erhebliche Potential f{\"u}r die Bestrahlungsplanung des Bronchialkarzinoms durch eine Magnetisierungstransfer-Bildgebung wurde damit nachgewiesen.},
  subject      = {Magnetische Resonanz},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Heidemann2008,
  author    = {Heidemann, Robin},
  title     = {Non-Cartesian Parallel Magnetic Resonance Imaging},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-26893},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2008},
  abstract  = {Besides image contrast, imaging speed is probably the most important consideration in clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MR scanners currently operate at the limits of potential imaging speed, due to technical and physiological problems associated with rapidly switched gradient systems. Parallel imaging (parallel MRI or pMRI) is a method which allows one to significantly shorten the acquisition time of MR images without changing the contrast behavior of the underlying MR sequence. The accelerated image acquisition in pMRI is accomplished without relying on more powerful technical equipment or exceeding physiological boundaries. Because of these properties, pMRI is currently employed in many clinical routines, and the number of applications where pMRI can be used to accelerate imaging is increasing. However, there is also growing criticism of parallel imaging in certain applications. The primary reason for this is the intrinsic loss in the SNR due to the accelerated acquisition. In addition, other effects can also lead to a reduced image quality. Due to unavoidable inaccuracies in the pMRI reconstruction process, local and global errors may appear in the final reconstructed image. The local errors are visible as noise enhancement, while the global errors result in the so-called fold-over artifacts. The appearance and strength of these negative effects, and thus the image quality, depend upon different factors, such as the parallel imaging method chosen, specific parameters in the method, the sequence chosen, as well as specific sequence parameters. In general, it is not possible to optimize all of these parameters simultaneously for all applications. The application of parallel imaging in can lead to very pronounced image artifacts, i.e. parallel imaging can amplify errors. On the other hand, there are applications such as abdominal MR or MR angiography, in which parallel imaging does not reconstruct images robustly. Thus, the application of parallel imaging leads to errors. In general, the original euphoria surrounding parallel imaging in the clinic has been dampened by these problems. The reliability of the pMRI methods currently implemented is the main criticism. Furthermore, it has not been possible to significantly increase the maximum achievable acceleration with parallel imaging despite major technical advances. An acceleration factor of two is still standard in clinical routine, although the number of independent receiver channels available on most MR systems (which are a basic requirement for the application of pMRI) has increased by a factor of 3-6 in recent years. In this work, a novel and elegant method to address this problem has been demonstrated. The idea behind the work is to combine two methods in a synergistic way, namely non-Cartesian acquisition schemes and parallel imaging. The so-called non-Cartesian acquisition schemes have several advantages over standard Cartesian acquisitions, in that they are often faster and less sensitive to physiological noise. In addition, such acquisition schemes are very robust against fold-over artifacts even in the case of vast undersampling of k-space. Despite the advantages described above, non-Cartesian acquisition schemes are not commonly employed in clinical routines. A reason for that is the complicated reconstruction techniques which are required to convert the non-Cartesian data to a Cartesian grid before the fast Fourier transformation can be employed to arrive at the final MR image. Another reason is that Cartesian acquisitions are routinely accelerated with parallel imaging, which is not applicable for non-Cartesian MR acquisitions due to the long reconstruction times. This negates the speed advantage of non-Cartesian acquisition methods. Through the development of the methods presented in this thesis, reconstruction times for accelerated non-Cartesian acquisitions using parallel imaging now approach those of Cartesian images. In this work, the reliability of such methods has been demonstrated. In addition, it has been shown that higher acceleration factors can be achieved with such techniques than possible with Cartesian imaging. These properties of the techniques presented here lead the way for an implementation of such methods on MR scanners, and thus also offer the possibility for their use in clinical routine. This will lead to shorter examination times for patients as well as more reliable diagnoses.},
  subject      = {NMR-Bildgebung},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Hahn2010,
  author    = {Hahn, Tim},
  title     = {Integrating neurobiological markers of depression: an fMRI-based pattern classification approach},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-49962},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2010},
  abstract  = {While depressive disorders are, to date, diagnosed based on behavioral symptoms and course of illness, the interest in neurobiological markers of psychiatric disorders has grown substantially in recent years. However, current classification approaches are mainly based on data from a single biomarker, making it difficult to predict diseases such as depression which are characterized by a complex pattern of symptoms. Accordingly, none of the previously investigated single biomarkers has shown sufficient predictive power for practical application. In this work, we therefore propose an algorithm which integrates neuroimaging data associated with multiple, symptom-related neural processes relevant in depression to improve classification accuracy. First, we identified the core-symptoms of depression from standard classification systems. Then, we designed and conducted three experimental paradigms probing psychological processes known to be related to these symptoms using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. In order to integrate the resulting 12 high-dimensional biomarkers, we developed a multi-source pattern recognition algorithm based on a combination of Gaussian Process Classifiers and decision trees. Applying this approach to a group of 30 healthy controls and 30 depressive in-patients who were on a variety of medications and displayed varying degrees of symptom-severity allowed for high-accuracy single-subject classification. Specifically, integrating biomarkers yielded an accuracy of 83\% while the best of the 12 single biomarkers alone classified a significantly lower number of subjects (72\%) correctly. Thus, integrated biomarker-based classification of a heterogeneous, real-life sample resulted in accuracy comparable to the highest ever achieved in previous single biomarker research. Furthermore, investigation of the final prediction model revealed that neural activation during the processing of neutral facial expressions, large rewards, and safety cues is most relevant for over-all classification. We conclude that combining brain activation related to the core-symptoms of depression using the multi-source pattern classification approach developed in this work substantially increases classification accuracy while providing a sparse relational biomarker-model for future prediction.},
  subject      = {Patientenklassifikation},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Ziener2011,
  author    = {Ziener, Christian H.},
  title     = {Spindephasierung im Kroghschen Kapillarmodell des Myokards},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-73762},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2011},
  abstract  = {Der Zusammenhang zwischen den Parametern der Mikrostruktur des Myokards und der Spindephasierung wird hergestellt. Zur Beschreibung der Mikrostruktur des Myokards wurde das Kroghsche Kapillarmodell genutzt. In diesem Modell wird das Myokard auf eine einzige Kapillare reduziert, die von einem konzentrischen Gewebszylinder umgeben ist. In dem Gewebszylinder findet die Dephasierung und Diffusion statt. Mathematisch wird die Dephasierung durch die Bloch-Torrey-Gleichung beschrieben. Experimentell wurde der Signal-Zeit-Verlauf mittels einer PRESS-Sequenz und einer Gradienten-Echo-Sequenz gemessen. Mit den in dieser Arbeit vorgestellten Methoden ist der Zusammenhang zwischen Kapillarradius und Freien Induktionszerfall bekannt.},
  subject      = {Herzmuskel},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{Beringer2012,
  author    = {Beringer, Reiner Ernst},
  title     = {Synthese von Dextran-umh{\"u}llten Eisenoxid-Nanopartikeln als Kontrastmittel f{\"u}r die MR-Tomographie},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-77218},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2012},
  abstract  = {Durch F{\"a}llung von Eisen(II)- und Eisen(III)-salzen wurden Dextran-umh{\"u}llte Eisenoxid-Nanopartikel (SPIOs) und durch anschließende Umsetzung mit Epichlorhydrin und Ammoniak CLIOs gewonnen. An diesen Kolloiden wurden niedermolekulare Molek{\"u}le wie Diamine oder Bernsteins{\"a}ureanhydrid als Linker angebracht. Ein weiterer Aspekt dieser Arbeit stellt die Anbindung von Fluoreszenzmarkern und Antik{\"o}rpern an der Partikeloberfl{\"a}che sowie deren spektroskopische Untersuchung dar.},
  subject      = {Eisenoxide},
  language  = {de}
}
@phdthesis{PonceGarcia2018,
  author    = {Ponce Garcia, Irene Paola},
  title     = {Strategies for optimizing dynamic MRI},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-162622},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {In Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), acquisition of dynamic data may be highly complex due to rapid changes occurred in the object to be imaged. For clinical diagnostic, dynamic MR images require both high spatial and temporal resolution. The speed in the acquisition is a crucial factor to capture optimally dynamics of the objects to obtain accurate diagnosis. In the 90's, partially parallel MRI (pMRI) has been introduced to shorten scan times reducing the amount of acquired data. These approaches use multi-receiver coil arrays to acquire independently and simultaneously the data. Reduction in the amount of acquired data results in images with aliasing artifacts. Dedicated methods as such Sensitivity Encoding (SENSE) and Generalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisition (GRAPPA) were the basis of a series of algorithms in pMRI. Nevertheless, pMRI methods require extra spatial or temporal information in order to optimally reconstruct the data. This information is typically obtained by an extra scan or embedded in the accelerated acquisition applying a variable density acquisition scheme. In this work, we were able to reduce or totally eliminate the acquisition of the training data for kt-SENSE and kt-PCA algorithms obtaining accurate reconstructions with high temporal fidelity. For dynamic data acquired in an interleaved fashion, the temporal average of accelerated data can generate an artifact-free image used to estimate the coil sensitivity maps avoiding the need of extra acquisitions. However, this temporal average contains errors from aliased components, which may lead to signal nulls along the spectra of reconstructions when methods like kt-SENSE are applied. The use of a GRAPPA filter applied to the temporal average reduces these errors and subsequently may reduce the null components in the reconstructed data. In this thesis the effect of using temporal averages from radial data was investigated. Non-periodic artifacts performed by undersampling radial data allow a more accurate estimation of the true temporal average and thereby avoiding undesirable temporal filtering in the reconstructed images. kt-SENSE exploits not only spatial coil sensitivity variations but also makes use of spatio-temporal correlations in order to separate the aliased signals. Spatio-temporal correlations in kt-SENSE are learnt using a training data set, which consists of several central k-space lines acquired in a separate scan. The scan of these extra lines results in longer acquisition times even for low resolution images. It was demonstrate that limited spatial resolution of training data set may lead to temporal filtering effects (or temporal blurring) in the reconstructed data. In this thesis, the auto-calibration for kt-SENSE was proposed and its feasibility was tested in order to completely eliminate the acquisition of training data. The application of a prior TSENSE reconstruction produces the training data set for the kt-SENSE algorithm. These training data have full spatial resolution. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the proposed auto-calibrating method reduces significantly temporal filtering in the reconstructed images compared to conventional kt-SENSE reconstructions employing low resolution training images. However, the performance of auto-calibrating kt-SENSE is affected by the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of the first pass reconstructions that propagates to the final reconstructions. Another dedicated method used in dynamic MRI applications is kt-PCA, that was first proposed for the reconstruction of MR cardiac data. In this thesis, kt-PCA was employed for the generation of spatially resolved M0, T1 and T2 maps from a single accelerated IRTrueFISP or IR-Snapshot FLASH measurement. In contrast to cardiac dynamic data, MR relaxometry experiments exhibit signal at all temporal frequencies, which makes their reconstruction more challenging. However, since relaxometry measurements can be represented by only few parameters, the use of few principal components (PC) in the kt-PCA algorithm can significantly simplify the reconstruction. Furthermore, it was found that due to high redundancy in relaxometry data, PCA can efficiently extract the required information from just a single line of training data. It has been demonstrated in this thesis that auto-calibrating kt-SENSE is able to obtain high temporal fidelity dynamic cardiac reconstructions from moderate accelerated data avoiding the extra acquisition of training data. Additionally, kt-PCA has been proved to be a suitable method for the reconstruction of highly accelerated MR relaxometry data. Furthermore, a single central training line is necessary to obtain accurate reconstructions. Both reconstruction methods are promising for the optimization of training data acquisition and seem to be feasible for several clinical applications.},
  subject      = {Kernspintomografie},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Martens2020,
  author    = {Martens, Johannes},
  title     = {Development of an In-Silico Model of the Arterial Epicardial Vasculature},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-18247},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-182478},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {In dynamic CE MR perfusion imaging the passage of an intravenously injected CA bolus through tissue is monitored to assess the myocardial pefusion state. To enable this, knowledge of the shape of CA wash-in through upstream epicardial vessels is required, the so-called AIF. For technical reasons this cannot be quantified directly in the supplying vessels and is thus measured in the left ventricle, which introduces the risk of systematic errors in quantification of MBF due to bolus dispersion in coronary vessels. This means occuring CA dispersion must be accounted in the quantification process in order to produce reliable and reproducible results. In order to do this, CFD simulations are performed to analyze and approximate these errors and deepen insights and knowledge gained from previous CFD analyses on both idealized as well as realistic and pathologically altered 3D geometries. In a first step, several different procedures and approaches are undertaken in order to accelerate the performed workflow, however, maintaining a sufficient degree of numerical accuracy. In the end, the implementation of these steps makes the analysis of the cardiovascular 3D model of unprecedented detail including vessels at pre-arteriolar level feasible at all. The findings of the Navier-Stokes simulations are thus validated with regard to different aspects of cardiac blood flow. These include the distribution of VBF into the different myocardial regions, the areals, which can be associated to the large coronary arteries as well as the fragmentation of VBF into vessels of different diameters. The subsequently performed CA transport simulations yield results on the one hand confirming previous studies. On the other hand, interesting additional knowledge about the behavior of CA dispersion in coronary arteries is obtained both regarding travelled distance as well as vessel diameters. The relative dispersion of the so-called vascular transport function, a characterizing feature of vascular networks, shows a linear decrease with vessel diameter. This results in asymptotically decreased additional dispersion of the CA time curve towards smaller and more distal vessels. Nonetheless, perfusion quantification errors are subject to strong regional variability and reach an average value of \$(-28\pm16)\$ \\% at rest across the whole myocardium. Depending on the distance from the inlet and the considered coronary tree, MBF errors up to 62 \\% are observed.},
  subject      = {Computerunterst{\"u}tztes Verfahren},
  language  = {en}
}