Patent ID: 8704518

Claim:
An MRI apparatus comprising: a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images; and a computer programmed to: apply a fluid suppression technique prior to an imaging pulse-gradient sequence, wherein the fluid suppression technique is configured to suppress signals from fluids having long longitudinal relaxation times; apply a fat suppression technique after the fluid suppression technique and prior to the imaging pulse-gradient sequence, wherein the fat suppression technique is configured to suppress fat signals; apply a flow suppression preparation sequence after the fat suppression technique and prior to the imaging pulse-gradient sequence, wherein the flow suppression preparation sequence is configured to suppress moving tissue signals; apply the imaging pulse-gradient sequence; cause the RF transceiver system to acquire MR signals during the imaging pulse-gradient sequence; and reconstruct an image from the acquired MR signals.