Inline automatic quality control of 2D phase-contrast flow MR imaging for subject-specific scan time adaptation

Motivation: Conventional fixed duration acquisitions can result in patient-dependent image quality, leading to either unnecessarily long scan times or insufficient quality across patients. Goal(s): We propose an inline automatic quality control based on signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to achieve consistent diagnostic image quality and apply it to 2D phase-contrast flow MRI. Approach: We designed a closed-loop feedback framework between image reconstruction and data acquisition to automatically stop the acquisition when a target SNR is achieved. Ten healthy volunteers and one patient were imaged at 0.55T. Results: Deployed inline, the SNR stop threshold saved 53% of the scan duration, with a variation of ±1min across subjects.Impact: The inline automatic quality control enables a subject-specific optimized scan time while ensuring consistent diagnostic image quality. The distribution of automated stopping times across the population revealed the value of a subject-specific scan time.