A Time-of-flight (TOF) MRI scanning method may include: a TOF MRI scan including a first slice selection gradient applied in the Z direction at the same time as an RF pulse being applied to an imaging target; after applying the RF pulse and first slice selection gradient has ended, applying a slice selection encoding gradient and a phase encoding gradient in the Z direction and Y direction respectively; when application of the slice selection encoding gradient and phase encoding gradient ends, applying a readout gradient in the X direction; when application of the readout gradient ends, applying a tracking saturation pulse to the imaging target, and simultaneously applying a second slice selection gradient in the Z direction; when application of the tracking saturation pulse ends, applying a spoiler gradient in the X, Y and/or Z directions of the magnetic field. The method advantageously reduces the TOF MRI scanning time.

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence controlling circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence controlling circuitry is configured to execute (i) a first pulse sequence in which a spatially selective Inversion recovery (IR) pulse and a spatially non-selective IR pulse are applied, and subsequently an acquisition is performed and (ii) a second pulse sequence in which the spatially non-selective IR pulse is applied without applying the spatially selective IR pulse, and subsequently an acquisition is performed, while varying the first TI period, with respect to a plurality of first TI periods. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate a second TI period to be used in a third pulse sequence and a fourth pulse sequence, based on data obtained from the first pulse sequence and the second pulse sequence. The sequence controlling circuitry executes (iii) the third pulse sequence in which the spatially selective IR pulse and the spatially non-selective IR pulse are applied, and subsequently an acquisition is performed and (iv) the fourth pulse sequence in which the spatially non-selective IR pulse is applied without applying the spatially selective IR pulse, and subsequently an acquisition is performed. The processing circuitry generates a magnetic resonance image of an imaged region based on data obtained from the third pulse sequence and the fourth pulse sequence.

A method to compensate for chemical shift displacement includes, prior to applying an imaging pulse sequence to acquire MRI data of a subject, applying a first saturation pulse within a slice location of an imaging volume of the subject in which the MRI data is to be acquired, wherein the first saturation pulse results in a first chemical shift displacement between water and fat in a first spatial saturation band. The method also includes, prior to applying the imaging pulse sequence, subsequently applying a second saturation pulse within the slice location, wherein the second saturation pulse results in a second chemical displacement between the water and the fat in a second spatial saturation band that results in a final spatial saturation band being free of chemical shift displacement after application of the second saturation pulse, the second chemical shift displacement being different from the first chemical shift displacement.

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence controlling circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence controlling circuitry is configured to execute (i) a first pulse sequence in which a spatially selective Inversion recovery (IR) pulse and a spatially non-selective IR pulse are applied, and subsequently an acquisition is performed and (ii) a second pulse sequence in which the spatially non-selective IR pulse is applied without applying the spatially selective IR pulse, and subsequently an acquisition is performed, while varying the first TI period, with respect to a plurality of first TI periods. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate a second TI period to be used in a third pulse sequence and a fourth pulse sequence, based on data obtained from the first pulse sequence and the second pulse sequence. The sequence controlling circuitry executes (iii) the third pulse sequence in which the spatially selective IR pulse and the spatially non-selective IR pulse are applied, and subsequently an acquisition is performed and (iv) the fourth pulse sequence in which the spatially non-selective IR pulse is applied without applying the spatially selective IR pulse, and subsequently an acquisition is performed. The processing circuitry generates a magnetic resonance image of an imaged region based on data obtained from the third pulse sequence and the fourth pulse sequence.

In various embodiments, the invention teaches systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging. In some embodiments, the invention teaches systems and methods for determining the source of pain in intervertebral discs by measuring one or more physiological biomarkers associated with disc pain and/or disc degeneration.

A method for determining a saturation pulse for suppressing signals from unwanted areas in the context of acquiring measurement data from a target volume of an object under examination by means of a magnetic resonance system, includes: loading the characteristics of the unwanted areas from which signals are to be suppressed; determining area saturation pulses for signal suppression in each of the unwanted areas; and determining a saturation pulse for signal suppression in all the unwanted areas on the basis of the area saturation pulses determined.

In a method for actuating a magnetic resonance system including a radio-frequency unit configured to generate a radio-frequency (RF) pulse for saturating nuclear spins in an examination area of an examination object, a BO card of the magnetic resonance system is loaded, frequency information of nuclear spins to be saturated in the examination area is loaded, a subarea of the examination area in which nuclear spins are to be saturated is determined, at least one RF saturation pulse for saturating the nuclear spins to be saturated in the determined subarea is determined based on the BO card and the frequency information, and the RF saturation pulse is output via the radio-frequency unit of the magnetic resonance system.

A method for actuating a magnetic resonance system having a radiofrequency unit designed to generate a radiofrequency pulse for the saturation of nuclear spins in an area under examination of an object under examination. The method includes loading a B0 map of the magnetic resonance system; loading frequency information on nuclear spins to be saturated in the area under examination; ascertaining at least one global RF saturation pulse for the global saturation of the nuclear spins to be saturated on the basis of the B0 map and the frequency information; and outputting the RF saturation pulse via the radiofrequency unit of the magnetic resonance system.

Systems and methods are provided for producing an image of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The method includes designing a saturation- based labeling pulse sequence for an MRI process that includes radio-frequency (RF) pulses and gradients forming a ratio of RF slice-selection gradient to time-averaged gradient that maintains multiple aliased labeling planes within an envelope of the RF pulses. The method also includes performing the MRI process to acquire image data from the subject using the saturation-based labeling pulse sequence and reconstructing a saturation-based spin labeled images of the subject using image data.

In various embodiments, the invention teaches systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging. In some embodiments, the invention teaches systems and methods for determining the source of pain in intervertebral discs by measuring one or more physiological biomarkers associated with disc pain and/or disc degeneration.