Patent ID: 7046004

Claim:
A method of steady-state free precession MR imaging comprising the steps of: providing a balanced steady-state free precession imaging sequence that includes a plurality of phase encoding steps, wherein each phase encoding step comprises a phase encoding gradient and a slice selection gradient; and acquiring imaging data by performing the plurality of phase encoding steps in sequence, wherein the imaging data acquired is compensated for image artefact caused by residual spin dephasing due to either eddy-currents or residual uncompensated first order phase encoding gradient moments arising from flow or motion, or the imaging data acquired is compensated for image artefact caused by residual spin dephasing due to both eddy-currents and residual uncompensated first order phase encoding gradient moments arising from flow or motion, wherein compensation for image artefact is obtained by either performing phase encoding gradients as pairs in k-space, or by performing the slice selection gradient as a slightly unbalanced slice selection gradient in order to achieve through slice equilibrium, or by performing the phase encoding gradient with the paired trajectory and by performing the slice selection gradient as the slightly unbalanced slice selection gradient.