Patent ID: 8947086
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A method to generate spatially resolved, quasi-T2-weighted magnetic resonance signals from an examination region of a subject, comprising: operating a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit with a first gradient-balanced SSFP sequence in which an initial magnetization in the subject is flipped in a first direction; operating said magnetic resonance data acquisition unit to detect spatially coded first magnetic resonance signals from the first gradient-balanced SSFP sequence during a transient portion of said first gradient-balanced SSFP sequence; operating said magnetic resonance data acquisition unit with a second gradient-balanced SSFP sequence with which said initial magnetization is flipped in a direction opposite said first direction, said second gradient-balanced SSFP sequence being of a same sequence type as said first gradient-balanced SSFP sequence; operating said magnetic resonance data acquisition unit to detect spatially coded second magnetic resonance signals from said gradient-balanced SSFP sequence during a transient portion of said second gradient-balanced SSFP sequence; in a computerized processor, constructively superimposing said first and second magnetic resonance signals to form overlay signals; and in said processor, processing said overlay signals into image data with a predominant T2 weighting or for spatially resolved estimation of a T2 relaxation time constant, and making said image data or said estimation of said T2 relaxation time constant available at an output of said processor.