Abstract
We apply innovative mathematical tools coming from optimal control theory to improve theoretical and experimental techniques in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). This approach allows us to explore and to experimentally reach the physical limits of the corresponding spin dynamics in the presence of typical experimental imperfections and limitations. We study in this paper two important goals, namely the optimization of image contrast and the maximization of the signal to noise per unit time. We anticipate that the proposed techniques will find practical applications in medical imaging in a near future to help the medical diagnosis.
Highlights
Optimality with respect to a given criterion is vital in many applications, but it presents a complexity that requires a lot of ingenuity to provide a solution
Optimal control theory was born in its modern version with the Pontryagin Maximum Principle (PMP) in the late 1950’s
Its development was originally inspired by problems of space dynamics, but it is a key tool to study a large spectrum of applications extending from robotics to economics and biology [5, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 23, 27, 29]
Summary
Optimality with respect to a given criterion is vital in many applications, but it presents a complexity that requires a lot of ingenuity to provide a solution. The development of theoretical techniques, such as composite and shaped pulses in MRI has so far relied on a relatively small number of concepts and numerical tools that have led to many practical improvements in the last decades [45] These improvements were largely incremental, none of those approaches was able to establish physical limits of the best possible performance in terms of energy deposition, sensitivity, robustness and contrast. The aim of this paper is to present two examples of recent results obtained in this direction both from the geometric and numerical approaches These examples will allow us to describe and discuss the efficiency and the limitations of this method in order to solve applied and concrete issues in MRI.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
