TE INTERLEAVING - NEW MULTISECTION IMAGING TECHNIQUE

A new pulse sequence that increases the number of sections that can be acquired with a T2-weighted multisection imaging prescription is presented. The sequence achieves a higher efficiency in section acquisition per unit time by interleaving excitation and data collection for up to three separate sections during the long TE (greater-than-or-equal-to 8O msec) of a T2-weighted spin-echo pulse sequence. The necessary modifications of the section-select and readout gradient waveforms for the implementation of TE-interleaved (TEI) sequences, with and without flow compensation, are described. Secondary- and stimulated-echo artifacts are present on some TEI images, but these can be controlled with appropriate spoiler gradients. The signal-to-noise ratio for contiguous sections is slightly reduced compared with that of a standard multisection pulse sequence. These observations indicate that the effects of radio-frequency section interference are enhanced by the TEI sequence.