MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD FOR IMAGING COMPONENTS WITH SHORT TRANSVERSE RELAXATION TIMES (T2) IN A HUMAN OR AN ANIMAL HEART

摘要

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method for imaging components with short transverse relaxation times (T₂) is provided, in which a human or an animal heart is subjected to a segmented spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) sequence. Each segment of this SPGR sequence comprises a plurality of basic sequence elements in each of which a radiofrequency (RF) pulse and a frequency encoding gradient moment kx are applied, in order to generate an MRI signal at an echo time TE₁. The RF pulses and the frequency encoding gradient moments kx are applied such, that in different basic sequence elements the MRI signal is generated at varying echo times TE₁, in order to reduce the effective echo time in the center of k-space. The segments of the SPGR sequence are synchronized with at least one measured cycle indicator reflecting the timing of the cardiac cycles. The MRI signals generated by the SPGR sequence are used for reconstructing at least one first cardiac image.