HyperSLICE: HyperBand optimized Spiral for Low-latency Interactive Cardiac Examination
This work addresses the need for better real-time imaging in cardiac interventions, but it is incremental as it builds on existing spiral and deep learning methods for a specific medical application.
The study tackled the problem of low spatio-temporal resolution in interactive cardiac MRI by optimizing undersampled spiral sampling with HyperBand and deep learning for low-latency reconstruction, resulting in improved image quality metrics such as SSIM increasing from 0.45/0.43 to 0.71 in simulations and higher resolution in prospective tests.
PURPOSE: Interactive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is used for fast scan planning and MR guided interventions. However, the requirement for real-time acquisition and near real-time visualization constrains the achievable spatio-temporal resolution. This study aims to improve interactive imaging resolution through optimization of undersampled spiral sampling and leveraging of deep learning for low-latency reconstruction (deep artifact suppression). METHODS: A variable density spiral trajectory was parametrized and optimized via HyperBand to provide the best candidate trajectory for rapid deep artifact suppression. Training data consisted of 692 breath-held CINEs. The developed interactive sequence was tested in simulations and prospectively in 13 subjects (10 for image evaluation, 2 during catheterization, 1 during exercise). In the prospective study, the optimized framework -HyperSLICE- was compared to conventional Cartesian real-time, and breath-hold CINE imaging in terms quantitative and qualitative image metrics. Statistical differences were tested using Friedman chi-squared tests with post-hoc Nemenyi test (p<0.05). RESULTS: In simulations the NRMSE, pSNR, SSIM and LAPE were all statistically significantly higher using optimized spiral compared to radial and uniform spiral sampling, particularly after scan plan changes (SSIM: 0.71 vs 0.45 and 0.43). Prospectively, HyperSLICE enabled a higher spatial and temporal resolution than conventional Cartesian real-time imaging. The pipeline was demonstrated in patients during catheter pull back showing sufficiently fast reconstruction for interactive imaging. CONCLUSION: HyperSLICE enables high spatial and temporal resolution interactive imaging. Optimizing the spiral sampling enabled better overall image quality and superior handling of image transitions compared to radial and uniform spiral trajectories.