Patent ID: 6486667
Filing Date: 2002-11-26
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A method of magnetic resonance imaging, said method comprising:(a) supporting a subject in an examination region of an MRI scanner; (b) setting up a spin system with a net magnetization in the subject; (c) producing an inversion-recovery pulse sequence with the MRI scanner, said producing including: (1) applying an RF inversion pulse via the MRI scanner, said RF inversion pulse inverting the magnetization of the spin system in a selected volume of the subject, and as the magnetization re-grows, generating a first set of raw data by acquiring MR signals from a series of regions within the selected volume, wherein for the first set of raw data the series of regions are acquired in a first temporal order with respect to the RF inversion pulse; (2) re-applying the RF inversion pulse, and as the magnetization re-grows, generating a second set of raw data by acquiring MR signals from the same series of regions within the selected volume, although for the second set of raw data the series of regions are acquired in a second temporal order with respect to the RF inversion pulse, said second temporal order being different from the first temporal order such that for respective regions in the series an amplitude difference exits between the MR signals acquired for the first set of raw data and the MR signals acquired for the second set of raw data; (d) generating first and second sets of complex image data from the first and second sets of raw data, respectively; (e) determining a complex phase correction factor; (f) applying the complex phase correction factor to one of, or both, the first and second sets of complex image data to thereby phase match the first and second sets of complex image data with one another; and, (g) generating a combined image, said combined image being generated via a pixel by pixel complex combination of the phase matched first and second sets of complex image data.