RINGLET motion correction for 3D MRI acquired with the elliptical centric view order

A new rigid-body motion correction algorithm is described that is compatible with 3D image sets acquired with the elliptical centric (EC) view order. With this view order, an annular ring of k-space data is acquired in the ky-kz plane during any short time interval. Images for tracking motion can be reconstructed in the yz-plane from any ring of the acquisition data. In these tracking images, a point source (such as an external marker) shows a characteristic bull's-eye pattern that permits motion monitoring and correction. The true position of the point object is located at the center of the bull's-eye pattern. Cross correlation can be performed to automatically track the positions of markers reconstructed from adjacent rings of k-space. To increase the marker signal, the markers are encased in inductively coupled RF coils. Rigid-body motion in the yz-plane is calculated directly with the Euclidean group for rotation and translation, and corrected by rotating and applying phase shifts to any corrupted rings of data. In the current work we present a theoretical analysis of this method, as well as results of volunteer and controlled phantom experiments that demonstrate its initial feasibility. Although the EC view order has mainly been used for MR angiography (MRA), it can also be used for most 3D acquisitions. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.