Explicit analytical solution for bSSFP with 3 general phase-cycled acquisitions

Motivation: Unlocking the phase-cycled bSSFP system with high efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility. Goal(s): To find and validate an explicit analytical solution to the bSSFP MRI framework using three general phase-cycled acquisitions. Approach: Using the elliptical signal model and trigonometrical relationships, this study obtains explicit, general, and closed form expressions of an analytical solution to the bSSFP system with only 3 acquisitions. To reduce noise sensitivity, the solution was also linearized using regional optimal weighted averaging. Results: Analytical results showed efficacy via validation by simulated data with noise covering all possible scan parameters. Impact: Phase-cycled bSSFP imaging is becoming prominent, and has recently been analytically unlocked with only 3 acquisitions. This development will allow even more widespread use of the technique due to its associated multi-parametric capability.