Combined inverse Fourier transformation of magnetic resonance and intensity‐curvature functional images

Abstract

Abstract This research reports an image processing technique used to merge Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) with their intensity‐curvature functional (ICF). Given a two‐dimensional MR image, six 2D model polynomial functions were fitted to the image, and six ICF images were calculated. The MR image and its ICF were direct Fourier transformed. The phase of MR image is estimated pixel‐by‐pixel as arctangent of ratio between imaginary and real components of k‐space and is called phase ratio. The phase of ICF is the phase of inverse Fourier transformation and is called base phase. The two values of phase were summed up and used to reconstruct ICF images through inverse Fourier transformation. The reconstructed ICF image is the combination of MR and ICF. Data obtained with T2‐MRI and MRA indicate that the image processing technique elucidates two findings: improvement of vessel detection in T2‐MRI; and change of the contrast of T2‐MRI and MRA. ICF and reconstructed ICF images are sharper than T2‐MRI and MRA are. The degree of sharpness of such images causes improvement of vessel detection and also changes the contrast. The practical implication and potential clinical benefit that the technique offers is to allow expansion of T2‐MRI functionality because reconstructed ICF images allow detection and highlight of either hypo‐intense tissue or hyper‐intense tissue.

Keywords

• base phase
• intensity‐curvature functional
• inverse Fourier transformation
• magnetic resonance imaging
• phase ratio