Pulse

definition Uses Advantages Disadvantages

sequences
Ø These are the most commonly used
pulse sequences
Ø May be used for almost every Ø Scan times are
Conventional
a 90° excitation RF pulse examination Ø Good image quality relatively long
Spin Echo
is given followed by 180° Ø Produce optimum signal-to-noise Ø True T2 weighting is Ø More RF
(CSE) Pulse
rephasing RF pulse ratio (SNR) and contrast-tonoise possible. power deposition
Sequence
ratio (CNR) in the body
Ø T1, T2 and proton density
weighting is possible
Ø Scan times are greatly
Ø Fat remains
Fast Spin 90° excitation RF pulse Ø Can be used as an alternative to reduced
bright on T2
Echo (FSE) will be delivered followed spin echo Ø High resolution matrices
weighted images
Pulse by several 180o rephasing Ø Reduction in the scan time and multiple NEX can be
Ø Image blurring
Sequence RF pulses compared to conventional spin echo. used
may result
Ø Improved image quality.
use 180° inverting RF
pulse followed by 90°
Inversion Ø Produces heavily T1
excitation RF
Recovery weighted images Ø Long scan
pulse after certain time
(IR) Pulse Ø Very good signal-to-noise times.
[Inversion Time (IT) or
Sequences ratio (SNR).
Time from Inversion
(TI)].
STIR (Short
sequence is used to
Inversion Ø Used to suppress the fat signal in Ø Should not be used with
suppress the fat signal
Recovery) T1 contrast
from the anatomy of
Pulse weighted image. enhancement Parameters
interest
Sequence
FLAIR
suppress the signal from
(Fluid uses a TI value around 2000 ms
CSF containing areas
Attenuated
 Inversion
Recovery)

Ø Can be used to produce T1, proton

density and T2*weighting
Ø Very minimal scan times
Ø Less signal-to-noise ratio
Ø Can be used for single slice breath
when compared to SE pulse
hold acquisitions in abdomen and
sequences
Gradient dynamic
Ø True T2 weighting is not
Echo (GE) variable flip angles and contrast enhancement
possible (T2* contrast rather
Pulse lesser repetition time (TR) Ø Since these sequences are flow
than true T2)
Sequences sensitive, can be used for MR
Ø More work for the
angiography/MR
gradients
myelography
Ø More noise to the patient.
Ø Less RF deposition into the body,
i.e. less specific absorption rate
(SAR).
Ø More gradient noise to the
Ø Increased T2* Dependence
Coherent (in patient
Ø Very fast scans
phase) TR shorter than the T1 Ø Poor SNR in 2D
Ø Preserves the transverse signal
Gradient and T2 times acquisitions compared to
Ø Good for angiography
Echo Pulse of the tissues. spin echo.
Ø Can be acquired in a volume
Sequences Ø More magnetic
acquisition.
susceptibility.
 Ø These pulse sequences
begin with a variable flip
angle excitation pulse and
Ø Increased T1 weighting
use frequency encoding
Incoherent Ø Spoils the transverse signal
gradient rephasing to give
(Spoiled) Ø Only the longitudinal signal
a gradient echo. Ø Decreased SNR in 2D
Gradient contributes to the next RF pulse
Ø These sequences spoil Ø Loud gradient noise
Echo Pulse Ø Good SNR in volume acquisition
(or) dephase the residual
Sequences Ø Can be acquired in 2D (or) volume
transverse magnetization
Ø Breath holding is possible.
so
that its effect on image
contrast is minimal.
These sequences are used
Steady State to attain more T2 • True T2 weighting is • Loud gradient
Free weighting. In this achieved noise
Precession sequence • Can be acquired in volume • Poor image
(SSFP) the steady state is or 2D quality
maintained
• Only a portion of the RF pulse is
These sequences use used
Ultrafast coherent (or) incoherent • Only a portion of the echo is read
Sequences gradientecho pulse Because of the above reasons, the
sequences scan
time is drastically reduced.
 • The fastest scan acquisition
modes in MRI are the EPI
and the gradient echo
pulse sequences.
• In echoplanar imaging all
the lines of K-space will be
filled in one shot. This is
called single shot EPI (SS-
EPI).
• If the echoes are generated
by multiple 180° pulses, this
is termed as spin
• Improved cardiac and abdominal echo echoplanar imaging
Echoplanar imaging (SE-EPI).
Imaging #NAME? • Used in perfusion weighted imaging • If the gradients are used for
(EPI) • Useful in real time and the purpose of rephasing in
interventional MR-guided procedures. EPI, then this
sequence is called GE-EPI.
• GE-EPI and SS-EPI are
faster than SE-EPI.
• • SS-EPI sequences are
more prone to artifacts such
as chemical shift,
distortion and blurring.
• In EPI the image may
contain more T2* weighting
which can be minimized by
using 180° inverting pulse
before excitation pulse.