MRI Estimation of T1 Relaxation Time Using a Constrained Optimization Algorithm

International audienceWe propose a new method to improve T1 mapping with respect to the popular DESPOT1 algorithm. A distance function is de fined to model the distance between the pure signal and the measurements in presence of noise. We use a constrained gradient descent optimization algorithm to iteratively find the optimal values of T1 and M0. The method is applied to MR images acquired with 2 gradient echo sequences and diff erent flip angles. The performance of T1 mapping is evaluated both on phantom and on in vivo experiments