Patent ID: 8159222

Claim:
A method of k-space traversal in an MRI procedure using a static magnet without the need for gradient field coils, comprising: providing an RF transmitter array that is operable to produce two fields (B1a,B1b), both of which having a substantially uniform amplitude over a sample volume, and each having a spatial phase distribution along a first coordinate direction of the sample volume such that a difference between vector spatial derivatives (G1a,G1b, respectively) of the spatial phase distributions of B1a and B1b defines a gradient difference field G1; applying a pulse sequence to the RF transmitter array within one transverse relaxation period (T2), the pulse sequence including at least three iterations of refocusing pulses applying B1a and B1b in alternation, whereby accumulated spin magnetization phase from previous applications of B1a and B1b permits the uniform stepping through k-space with each iteration of the alternating refocusing pulses.