Assignee:
Toshiba America MRI, Inc. - S. San Francisco CA
International Classification:
G01R 3348
Abstract:
An NMR parallel imaging method and apparatus in a single sequence has a plurality of RF pulses applied substantially simultaneously, each having a different frequency, in the same contiguous time period in a subinterval of time during which the select slice magnetic gradient is applied, to activate a plurality of different physical slices. The refocusing RF pulses also comprise a plurality of RF pulses each having a different frequency, applied non-simultaneously but within the same slice select magnetic gradient in the same subinterval of time. A plurality of echo signals from the plurality of different excited slices are then read out during the same single read out magnetic pulse in the same subinterval. The method and apparatus of the present invention can be applied in MRI spin echo, pre-saturation or inversion.