A simple method of generating variable T₁ contrast images using temporally reordered phase encoding

Abstract

A rapid method of generating T1 images by means of an inversion pulse followed by a fast low-angle imaging experiment is presented. The T1 contrast is manipulated by a temporal reordering of the phase-encoding gradient, resulting in an almost completely free choice of T1 contrast, without any extra restriction on the size of the data acquisition matrix. The intrinsic rapidity of the sequence renders it insensitive to motion artifacts and lends itself to multipoint T1 calculations. The method is particularly well suited to high-field imaging.