Patent ID: 6046588
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A magnetic resonance apparatus comprises:first applying means for applying, to a first nuclide of a subject, an RF pulse corresponding to a resonance frequency of the first nuclide;second applying means for applying, to a second nuclide whose spins are magnetically coupled to the first nuclide, an RF pulse corresponding to a resonance frequency of the second nuclide;gradient magnetic field applying means for applying a gradient magnetic field;detecting means for detecting the MR signal from the spins of the first nuclide; andcontrol means for controlling the first applying means, second applying means, gradient magnetic field applying means and detecting means in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence, wherein,in the predetermined pulse sequence,first and second RF pulses are applied to the first nuclide and, simultaneously with or after application of the second RF pulse, a third RF pulse is applied to the second nuclide magnetically coupled to the spins of the first nuclide, whereby there occurs a first polarization transfer from spins of the first nuclide to spins of the second nuclide;a fourth RF pulse is applied to the spins of the second nuclide after the first polarization transfer;after the application of the fourth RF pulse, a fifth RF pulse is applied to the first nuclide together with at least one slice gradient magnetic field pulse, whereby the spins of the first nuclide in the first area are selectively excited, there occurs a second polarization transfer from the spin of the second nuclide to the spin of the first nuclide and those first MR signals are collected from the spins of the first nuclides in the first area experiencing the first and second polarization transfers; andafter the collection of the first MR signals, a sixth RF pulse is applied to the first nuclide together with at least slice gradient magnetic field pulse, whereby the spins of the first nuclides in a second area are selectively excited, there occurs a third polarization transfer from the spin of the second nuclide to the spin of the first nuclide and those second MR signals are collected from the spins of the first nuclides in the second area experiencing the first and third polarization transfers.