Efficient acquisition and reconstruction methods for MR flow and angiography

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has emerged in the past decade as a new imaging field with enormous versatility. Advances in CMR have enabled clinicians to query more than anatomy and move towards quantification of ventricular function, blood flow and perfusion, angiography and the direct assessment of atherosclerosis, tissue viability and oxygen saturation. Recent developments in imaging hardware including the ability to image at high magnetic field strengths have further opened new frontiers in CMR. Efficient acquisition methods in combination with the higher signal-to-noise available at high fields enables the acquisition of images with superior quality.;One of the main more successful and challenging fields of CMR pertains to angiography. MR angiography can be used for assessment of vascular disease in its many forms. In addition to morphological imaging, hemodynamic imaging of the vascular system can shed light on the functional significance of the disease in the vascular system. In fact, real-time MR imaging of flow could be used to study non-periodic blood flow in affected vasculature. However, low efficiency of acquisition have in the past led to results with low spatial and temporal resolution, compromising the diagnostic strength of the exam. In this thesis, we improve on current capabilities in flow imaging in terms of spatial and temporal resolution of hemodynamic imaging through design of more efficient acquisition and reconstruction schemes.;Recently, CMR has moved towards the use of higher magnetic fields though there are various challenges that are currently being researched. In this thesis, we explore some of these limitations and propose novel methodologies to enable acquisition of images of superior quality with techniques that fully utilize the increased SNR at high fields.;In conclusion, the multiple techniques developed and explored in this thesis allow acquisition and reconstruction of CMR images with high efficiency and enhanced contrast that could aid clinicians in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease in its many forms.