INVENTION NOVELTY
A novel velocity-selective inversion pulse sequence that can be used for MR angiography applications.
VALUE PROPOSITION
There is a growing demand for high–performance imaging that is beneficial in cases where 1.5 Tesla does not work well enough, such as scanning for developmental abnormalities or performing high–resolution MR angiography, diffusion or perfusion imaging. There is a need for techniques to work with higher signal to noise ratio (SNR). With a three– to four–fold higher SNR, 3–tesla MRI more precisely localizes areas of activation, enabling accurate mapping of brain function in patients more than 90% of the time. Three–tesla MRI also makes potentially insensitive techniques clinically robust. It appears that 3T is good for neurological and musculoskeletal applications. This technology provides a novel pulse sequence that can work with 3T MRI scanning and has a number of other advantages, including:
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a novel velocity-selective inversion pulse train based on the k-space formalism. This pulse sequence has a more robust insensitivity to B0/B1 field inhomogeneity and eddy currents. These pulse trains have incorporated refocusing pulses for removing off-resonance effects, so that they can be used for higher signal to noise ratio (SNR) applications.
