1. An Overview of Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) Douglas C. Noll, Ph.D. Depts. of Biomedical Engineering and Radiology University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

2. Acknowledgements • Scott Peltier, Alberto Vazquez • University of Michigan • Drs. S. Lalith Talagala and Fernando Boada (University of Pittsburgh) • SMRT and ISMRM

3. Objectives • Explain how EPI images are acquired and created • Describe hardware requirements • Describe EPI variants, terminology, and parameters • Demonstrate common EPI artifacts • Summarize applications of EPI

4. Outline • Pulse sequence basics • Localization • Variants on EPI • EPI Parameters • EPI Artifacts • EPI Hardware • Applications

5. Pulse Sequences • Two Major Aspects • Contrast (Spin Preparation)What kind of contrast does the image have?What is the TR, TE, Flip Angle, Venc? • Localization (Image Acquisition)How is the image acquired? How is “k-space” sampled?

6. Pulse Sequences • Spin Preparation (contrast) • Spin Echo (T1, T2, Density) • Gradient Echo • Inversion Recovery • Diffusion • Velocity Encoding • Image Acquisition Method (localization, k-space sampling) • Spin-warp • EPI • RARE, FSE, etc.

7. Localization vs. Contrast • In many cases, the localization method and the contrast weighting are independent. • For example, the spin-warp method can be used for T1, T2, or nearly any other kind of contrast. • T2-weighted images can be acquired with spin-warp, EPI and RARE pulse sequences.

8. Localization vs. Contrast • But, some localization methods are better than others at some kinds of contrast. • For example, RARE (FSE) is not very good at generating short-TR, T1-weighted images. • In general, however, we can think about localization methods and contrast separately.

9. Imaging Basics • EPI is an image localization method. • Two-dimensional localization. • To understand EPI, we will start at the beginning with one-dimensional localization. • Here we “image” in 1D - the x-direction.(e.g. the L-R direction) • We start with the simplest form of localization called “frequency encoding.”

10. 1D Pulse Sequence

11. 1D Localization • We acquire data while the x-gradient (Gx) is turned on and has a constant strength. • Recall that a gradient makes the magnetic field vary in a particular direction. • In this case, having a positive x-gradient implies that the farther we move along in the x-direction (e.g. the farther right we move) the magnetic field will increase.

12. 1D Pulse Sequence

13. Frequency Encoding • A fundamental property of nuclear spins says that the frequency at which they precess (or emit signals) is proportional to the magnetic field strength: • This says that precession frequency now increases as we move along the x-direction (e.g. as we move rightwards). f = gB - The Larmor Relationship

14. Frequency Encoding

15. Fourier Transforms • The last part of this story is the Fourier transform. • The Fourier transform is the computer program that breaks down each MR signal into its frequency components. • If we plot the strength of each frequency, it will form a representation (or image) of the object in one-dimension.

16. Fourier Transforms

17. Alternate Method for 1D Localization • In the case just described, the “frequency encoding” gradient was constant. • At different locations spins precessed at different frequencies. • This was true as long as the gradient was “on.” • We now look at an alternate situation where the gradient is turned “on” and “off” rapidly. • At different locations spins will precess at different frequencies, but only during the times that the gradient is “on.”

18. Alternate Method for 1D Localization

19. On/Off Gradients in 1D Localization • In the case previously described, the spins precessed smoothly. • In this case, the spins precess in a “stop-action” or jerky motion. • What is different here is that we sample the MR signal while it has stopped precessing. • At each step, the spatial information has been encoded into the phase. • This is a form of “phase encoding.”

20. Stop-Action Movement of Magnetization Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3

21. Different 1D Localization Methods • Upper - smooth precession at different frequencies. (frequency encoding) • Lower - precession in small steps, phase contains location info. (phase encoding). • Sampled data is the same (if we neglect T2). • The Fourier transform creates the 1D image.

22. Different 1D Localization Methods

23. Alternate Method #2 for 1D Localization • In the above cases, gradients were turned on and samples were acquired following a single RF excitation pulse. • At different locations spins precessed at different frequencies. • Motion was either smooth or “stop-action.” • We now look at a situation where a single sample is acquired after each RF pulse. • Spins precess for a particular length of time and then a single sample is acquired.

24. Alternate Method #2 for 1D Localization

25. Phase Encoding in 1D • Again, spins precess only as long as gradient is turned “on.” • If we look spins after each step (sample location), the precession will again appear as “stop-action” motion. • Again, spatial information has been encoded into the phase of spin. • Another form of “phase encoding.”

26. Phase Encoding in 1D Phase Encode 0 Phase Encode 1 Phase Encode 2

27. Three Methods for 1D Localization • 1D Localization: • Frequency encoding • Phase encoding following a single RF pulse • A single phase encode following each of many RF pulses • Sampled data is the same (if we neglect T2). • The Fourier transform creates the 1D image.

28. Three Methods for 1D Localization FrequencyEncoding PhaseEncoding Method #1 PhaseEncodingMethod #2

29. 2D Localization • In general, we will combine two 1D localization methods to create localization in two dimensions (2D). • The spin-warp method (used in almost all anatomical MRI) is a combination of : • Frequency encoding in one direction (e.g. Left-Right) • Phase encoding in the other direction (e.g. Anterior-Posterior)

30. 2D Localization - Spin Warp Frequency Encoding(in x direction) Phase EncodingMethod #2(in y direction)

31. Spin-Warp Imaging • For each RF pulse: • Frequency encoding is performed in one direction • A single phase encoding value is obtained • With each additional RF pulse: • The phase encoding value is incremented • The phase encoding steps still has the appearance of “stop-action” motion

32. Spin-Warp Pulse Sequence