The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 30, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 06, 2001
Robert A. Kraft, Menomonee Falls, WI (US);
Jeffrey A Hopkins, Pewaukee, WI (US);
GE Medical Systems Global Technology Co., LLC, Waukesha, WI (US);
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a process and system for removing artifacts resulting from the interactions of a preparation sequence and a gradient echo sequence. A process for suppressing stimulated echoes for spatial preparation sequences without affecting sequence timing or image contrast is disclosed. Stimulated echoes often form when gradient crushers of a preparation sequence are constant in magnitude and direction throughout the imaging sequence. Changing the direction or effective areas of these gradient crushers throughout imaging acquisition prevents stimulated echoes from forming, thereby eliminating ghosting and blurring artifacts. By applying unbalanced gradients or sets of unbalanced gradients between selective RF pulses of an RF pulse sequence, signals attributable to spin transverse magnetization are suppressed resulting in reduced ghosting and/or artifacts. Additionally, the process varies the phase of each RF pulse with each application of the RF pulse to minimize any artifacts generated by stimulated echoes.