Single-Shot $$$T_1$$$ Mapping using an Interleaved SMS IR-FLASH Sequence and a NLINV Subspace Reconstruction

Motivation: Volumetric quantification of$$$~T_1~$$$is highly desirable but limited by long acquisition times especially for motion-affected organs, such as heart. Therefore, conventional cardiac$$$~T_1~$$$mapping techniques are limited to single slices and suffer from low spatial resolution. Goal(s): Develop a technique for rapid$$$~T_1~$$$mapping of multiple slices at high spatial resolution. Approach: A radial slice-interleaved SMS readout was developed for single-shot IR-FLASH acquisition. NLINV subspace reconstruction is further proposed to jointly estimate subspace coefficient maps and coil sensitivities for all slices. Results: Accurate$$$~T_1~$$$maps were achieved in a phantom and brain experiment for 9 slices within 4$$$~$$$seconds. Six cardiac short-axis myocardial$$$~T_1~$$$maps were reconstructed with an in-plane resolution of $$$1.25~mm^2$$$. Impact: Multi-slice $$$T_1$$$ mapping has been achieved with a slice-interleaved radial SMS IR-FLASH acquisition and subspace NLINV reconstruction. This development may facilitate high resolution whole-heart myocardial $$$T_1$$$ mapping within a short breathhold (4 seconds).