0.3-second FLASH MRI of the human heart.
Flow-suppressed FLASH MR images of the human heart have been recorded within a measuring time of 0.3 s using a 2.0-T whole-body research system (Siemens Magnetom) equipped with a conventional 10 mT m-1 gradient system. Subsecond imaging times have been achieved by reducing the repetition time to TR = 4.8 ms and by lowering the spatial resolution to 64 X 128 measured data points. The flip angle of the slice-selective radiofrequency (rf) pulses was adjusted to 10 degrees. Cardiac chambers, ventricular walls, and valves are well delineated in images from a single cardiac cycle using a field of 250 mm and a slice thickness of 8 mm. No motion artifacts were observed as a consequence of the short echo time of TE = 2.8 ms. Distinction between flowing blood and solid structures has been achieved by spatial presaturation of adjacent slices using two slice-selective 90 degrees rf pulses preceding the entire imaging sequence.
Frahm
J
J
Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
Merboldt
K D
KD
Bruhn
H
H
Gyngell
M L
ML
Hänicke
W
W
Chien
D
D
D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D013997:Time Factors