主权项 |
1. A method for reducing artifacts produced during a Fast Spin Echo (FSE) sequence in a nuclear magnetic resonance instrument comprising a gradient power amplifier and a permanent magnet comprising a plurality of pole pieces, said permanent magnet characterized by a gradient-dependent residual magnetization Bg, said FSE pulse sequence comprising, in order:
a 90° RF pulse 100 characterized by a duration T90; an echo train comprising a first 180° RF pulse 110, a first echo 130, X−1 additional 180° RF pulses 110a and X−1 additional echoes 130a, X≧1; and, a navigator pulse 120;wherein said method comprises:
applying a residual magnetization (RM) pulse 300 prior to said 90° RF pulse, said RM pulse having amplitude GRMpe along a phase axis and either positive or negative sign relative to an origin along said phase axis; applying a shim gradient pulse 200 of amplitude at least sufficient to cancel any net effect on said gradient-dependent residual magnetization Bg produced by said RM pulse 300; applying, prior to said first 180° RF pulse, a single preparation gradient pulse 310 characterized by amplitude Gshiftpe≦GRMpe, whereby for a gradient pulse duration T,kshiftpe=GshiftpeT along said phase axis; applying, for each 180° pulse i (1≦i≦X) in said echo train:
a first encoding gradient pulse 320 applied subsequent to 180° pulse i and prior to echo i, said first encoding gradient pulse characterized by amplitude Gaipe such that kaipe=GaipeT along said phase axis; and,a second encoding gradient pulse 330 applied subsequent to said echo i and prior to 180° pulse i+1, said second encoding gradient pulse characterized by amplitude Gbipe such that kbipe=GbipeT along said phase axis, said second encoding gradient Gbipe having an amplitude of identical sign to the sign of the amplitude of said RM pulse; and, applying, subsequent to said navigator pulse, a final gradient pulse 340, said final gradient pulse having an amplitude of sign identical to the sign of said RM pulse. |