Patent ID: 9474454
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: A61B,G01R

Claim Text:
1. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method comprising: applying, to a subject in an MRI scanner, a set of S radiofrequency (RF) multiband excitation pulses each of which simultaneously excites M respective slices in the subject in a simultaneous image refocusing pulse sequence, wherein S>1 and M>1; applying to the subject a set of slice selective magnetic gradient pulses on a Gs axis that alternate in polarity in a timed relationship with said RF excitation pulses, without requiring refocusing magnetic gradient pulses on the Gs axis timed with the RF pulses, thereby reducing time delays between onset of MRI signals created by the respective RF pulses; acquiring MRI signals with at least one set of RF receiver coils; further computer-processing at least some of said magnetic resonance image signals to produce magnetic resonance images of at least some of said slices of the subject.