Simultaneous acquisition of spatial harmonics (SMASH): fast imaging with radiofrequency coil arrays

Magn Reson Med. 1997 Oct;38(4):591-603. doi: 10.1002/mrm.1910380414.

Abstract

SiMultaneous Acquisition of Spatial Harmonics (SMASH) is a new fast-imaging technique that increases MR image acquisition speed by an integer factor over existing fast-imaging methods, without significant sacrifices in spatial resolution or signal-to-noise ratio. Image acquisition time is reduced by exploiting spatial information inherent in the geometry of a surface coil array to substitute for some of the phase encoding usually produced by magnetic field gradients. This allows for partially parallel image acquisitions using many of the existing fast-imaging sequences. Unlike the data combination algorithms of prior proposals for parallel imaging, SMASH reconstruction involves a small set of MR signal combinations prior to Fourier transformation, which can be advantageous for artifact handling and practical implementation. A twofold savings in image acquisition time is demonstrated here using commercial phased array coils on two different MR-imaging systems. Larger time savings factors can be expected for appropriate coil designs.

MeSH terms

  • Abdomen / anatomy & histology
  • Adult
  • Artifacts
  • Brain / anatomy & histology
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods*
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / instrumentation*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Magnetics
  • Male
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Radio Waves
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Thorax / anatomy & histology