Modified Look-Locker PETRA MRI for Quiet 3D T1 Mapping

Motivation: T1 mapping is essential for demyelination disease diagnosis and brain development assessment, but conventional sequences suffer from considerable acoustic noise or long scanning time. Goal(s): This study aims to develop a silent, accurate and fast 3D T1 mapping method. Approach: It uses inversion recovery-prepared rotating radial trajectories to avoid significant gradient switching, forming a series of images collected at different TIs. Results: Its accuracy is compared with IRSE method, acquiring 0.9994 R2, and its feasibility is tested on the human brain with gray and white matter T1 values close to literatures. The SPL is measured only 1.5 dBA higher than the background noise. Impact: The high acoustic noise of sequences like MPRAGE has disadvantages for pediatric imaging due to its risks of neonatal hearing loss and decreased scanning comfort. Our study might provide a solution with nearly silent sound and highly accurate measurements.