MPRAGE Simulator

This is a simulator for T1-weighted MP-RAGE acquisitions for two tissue types using the extended-phase graph (EPG) algorithm as described in the article "Optimized inversion-prepared gradient echo imaging" published in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging." Source code is available here. The simulation works by simulating the EPG and linearly-ordered phase encoding for two tissue compartments (Tissue A and Tissue B) and comparing the relative signal between the two.

Parameters are defined as follows:
PD, T1, T2: are the relative Proton Density (ranging between 0 and 1), Longitudinal Relaxation Time (T1) in milliseconds, and Transverse Relaxation Time (T2) in milliseconds, for tissue a and b.
NP is the Number of Pulses or phase encoding lines acquired in the inner loop after the inversion pulse.
FA is the flip angle of the acquisition within the inner loop.
Spoiling Increment is the quadratic spoiling increment in degrees (try 50 or 117).
TR is the Repetition Time of the acquisition within the inner loop.
TD1 is the delay before the inversion pulse and subsequent data acquisition.
TD2 is the delay after acquisition of the inner loop (all of the phase encoding lines).

Hint: You may want to use the Parameter Database to find the T1 and T2 values you are looking for.

Hint: If you are looking at optimizing the contrast between two different tissues in MRI you may want to use the Contrastinator tool.

Tissue A PD
Tissue A T1 (ms)
Tissue A T2 (ms)
Tissue B PD
Tissue B T1 (ms)
Tissue B T2 (ms)
NP
FA (deg)
Spoil Incr.
TR (ms)
TD1 (ms)
TD2 (ms)