Patent ID: 8076936

Claim:
A method for magnetic resonance imaging, the method comprising: 1) generating a pulse sequence that includes a T 1ρ preparation period, including generating a series of radio frequency (RF) pulses to obtain T 1ρ contrast, comprising first preparing a spinlock pulse cluster by: applying a first RF pulse for flipping magnetization, applying a one or more RF pulses, with different phase combinations, to spin lock and provide the T 1ρ contrast; and applying another RF pulse to flip the magnetization storage; then 2) applying at least one additional gradient pulse; 3) acquiring multiple lines of k-space, and restoring at least part of the T 1ρ -weighted magnetization created by the spin lock pulse cluster; and then following whole segment acquisition of the k-space, 4) allowing magnetization to relax toward thermal equilibrium for a time to restore at least partial equilibrium magnetization.