Patent ID: 7545141

Claim:
An MRI apparatus configured to obtain an ASL (Arterial Spin Labeling) image of an image region to be imaged in a subject by performing scans independently in (a) a control mode, and (b) a tag mode according to an MRI pulse sequence based on an ASL technique, said apparatus comprising: an MRI pulse sequence controller adapted to produce a pulse sequence which includes (a) a slice-selective pulse that spatially selects an upstream region outside said image region and excites transverse magnetization spins within said upstream region, and (b) a velocity-selective pulse train that selectively excites transverse magnetization spins having a constant velocity range in a region including said image region, and then performs excitation to cause the transverse magnetization spins to flip back to longitudinal magnetization, said velocity-selective pulse train including a first flip pulse, an inversion pulse after said first flip pulse, a second flip pulse after said inversion pulse, a velocity encode pulse (a) after said first flip pulse and before said inversion pulse, and (b) after said inversion pulse and before said second flip pulse, and a gradient magnetic field pulse that is applied together with said first and second flip pulses as well as said inversion pulse to spatially select a region including said image region.