Accelerated multislice MRI with patterned excitation

Purpose: Accelerate multislice 2D MRI by using RF pulses that simultaneously act on different slices to combine contrast preparation and image acquisition. Theory and Methods: MRI applications often require the use of multiple RF pulses to generate desired contrast and prepare the signal for readout. Examples are the use of inversion prepulses to generate T₁ contrast, or the use of spin-echo preparations to generate T₂ or diffusion contrast. In multislice MRI, this separation of contrast preparation and readout can render scans time-inefficient and lengthy. We introduce a class of pulse sequences that overcomes this inefficiency by combining contrast preparation and signal readout. This is accomplished by using RF pulses that manipulate the magnetization of multiple slices simultaneously and a gradient crusher scheme that selects a target slice for readout. Results: Feasibility of the method was demonstrated for spin echo–based measurement of water diffusion and tissue pulsation in human brain at 3 T. Increases in time-efficiency and reductions in scan time were highly dependent on specific implementation and reached as high as 25% and 53%, respectively. Conclusion: A novel approach to multislice MRI is demonstrated that reduces scan time for specific applications.