MR angiography using 3-cycle steady-state free precession

Abstract

A new method for MR angiography is described. Principle of the method is based on the 3-cycle steady-state free precession using the modified line scan method. The3-cycle SSFP sequence which is also proposed first in this thesis is an ideal method for the suppression of stationary signal. In addition modified line scan method is used to obtain the high intensity of inflow signal and used for the MR angiogram reconstruction. Due to the good suppression of stationary signals, the proposed imaging method is highly sensitive to flow and it is not necessary to subtract the stationary signal. The method is, therefore, free from eddy-current effects and consequently such as the misregistrations usually arising from subtraction methods can be avoided. Experiments are performed with KAIS 2.0T whole body MRI system for a phantom constructed for the purpose as well as normal volunteer.