Pulseq: A Rapid and Hardware-Independent Pulse Sequence Prototyping Framework
Pulseq: A Rapid and Hardware-Independent Pulse Sequence Prototyping Framework
复制标题
DOI：
10.1002/mrm.26235
复制
发表时间：
2017-04-01
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Zaitsev, Maxim
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Layton, Kelvin J.;Kroboth, Stefan;Zaitsev, Maxim
目的：实施新的磁共振实验或序列通常涉及在供应商特定平台上进行大量编程，这可能既耗时又昂贵。当需要在多个平台上同时实施研究序列时，例如在不同的场强下，这种情况会加剧。这项工作提出了一种独立于硬件的开源替代编程环境，并促进快速序列原型设计。方法：描述了一种新颖的文件格式，可以有效地存储 MR 脉冲序列所需的硬件事件和定时信息。依赖于平台的解释器模块将文件转换为适当的指令，以便在 MR 硬件上运行序列。序列可以用高级语言（例如 MATLAB）或图形界面来设计。自旋物理模拟工具被纳入框架中，允许在真实实验和虚拟实验之间进行比较。结果：使用提供的工具只需最少的努力即可实现相对先进的序列。序列在三个不同的 MR 平台上执行，展示了该方法的灵活性。结论：高级、灵活且独立于硬件的序列编程方法是快速开发新序列的理想选择。该框架目前不适合大型患者研究或常规扫描，尽管通过更深入地集成到现有工作流程中这将是可能的。 (C) 2016年国际医学磁共振学会
Purpose: Implementing new magnetic resonance experiments, or sequences, often involves extensive programming on vendor specific platforms, which can be time consuming and costly. This situation is exacerbated when research sequences need to be implemented on several platforms simultaneously, for example, at different field strengths. This work presents an alternative programming environment that is hardware-independent, open source, and promotes rapid sequence prototyping.Methods: A novel file format is described to efficiently store the hardware events and timing information required for an MR pulse sequence. Platform-dependent interpreter modules convert the file to appropriate instructions to run the sequence on MR hardware. Sequences can be designed in high-level languages, such as MATLAB, or with a graphical interface. Spin physics simulation tools are incorporated into the framework, allowing for comparison between real and virtual experiments.Results: Minimal effort is required to implement relatively advanced sequences using the tools provided. Sequences are executed on three different MR platforms, demonstrating the flexibility of the approach.Conclusion: A high-level, flexible and hardware-independent approach to sequence programming is ideal for the rapid development of new sequences. The framework is currently not suitable for large patient studies or routine scanning although this would be possible with deeper integration into existing workflows. (C) 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine