Parallel magnetic resonance imaging using localized receive arrays with sinc interpolation (PILARS)

Large arrays with localized coil sensitivity make it possible to use parallel imaging to significantly accelerate MR imaging speed. However, the need for auto calibration signals limits the actual acceleration factors achievable with large arrays. This paper presents a novel method for parallel imaging with large arrays. The method uses Sinc kernels for k‐space data interpolation that only requires one phase parameter to be estimated using a small size of calibration signals. Simulations based on synthetic array data and phantom experiments show that the new method can achieve higher actual acceleration factors with comparable reconstruction quality. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.