IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE (NMR) IMAGING

摘要

The invention describes an improved NMR imaging technique having particular application in imaging of solid objects using gradient echo techniques. By applying a so called 90 DEG rf pulse substantially at zero gradient crossing it is possible to obtain frequency encoded information about an object being imaged, using a so called gradient echo technique. However, profile degradation occurs as a result of the very large magnetic fields which are used which spoil the rf pulse. By shortening the length of pulses below 90 DEG it has been possible to improve gradient echo imaging. However, this has resulted in the reduction in the signal-to-noise ratio of the echo following each pulse. The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a rapidly oscillating magnetic field gradient and applying a radio frequency pulse away from a zero gradient crossing and by substantially phase rotating the resultant profile. The result is the surprising effect that information is preserved, the pulse bandwidth remains constant and the signal-to-noise ratio is superior to that in existing systems.