Parallel Imaging Using Virtual Conjugate Coils and Spatial Nulling Maps (VCC-SNMs)

Motivation: One of the key challenges in parallel imaging (PI) reconstruction is the amplification of noise. Effectively minimizing the noise is essential for achieving high-quality images. Goal(s): Implementation of highly robust and efficient PI reconstruction method with reduced noise amplification. Approach: The recent SNMs method has shown its robustness and efficiency as one hybrid-domain PI reconstruction method. Phase constraint was incorporated in the SNMs method by employing virtual conjugate coils (VCC-SNMs). Results: The VCC-SNMs method was successfully developed in the study, and it was shown to be effective in achieving less amplified noise, in comparison with VCC-GRAPPA, VCC-ESPIRiT, and the original SNMs method. Impact: A VCC-SNMs method leveraging the priori knowledge of the image phase constraint was successfully implemented for efficient and robust parallel imaging reconstruction with reduced noise amplification.