Reconstruction by weighted correlation for MRI with time-varying gradients.

A general reconstruction algorithm for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with gradients having arbitrary time dependence is presented. This method estimates spin density by calculating the weighted correlation of the observed free induction decay signal and the phase modulation function at each point. A theorem which states that this method can be derived from the conditions of linearity and shift invariance is presented. Since these conditions are general, most of the MRI reconstruction algorithms proposed so far are equivalent to the weighted correlation method. An explicit representation of the point spread function (PSF) in the weighted correlation method is given. By using this representation, a method to control the PSF and the static field inhomogeneity effects is studied. A correction method for the inhomogeneity is proposed, and a limitation is clarified. Some simulation results are presented.