MRI imaging methods using a single excitation

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , wherein the single excitation pulse comprises a matched quadratic excitation pulse.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 , wherein the compensation pulse comprises a z-shimming pulse.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 , wherein the first partial k-space frame has associated therewith a first sampling direction and the second partial k-space frame has associated therewith a second sampling direction and wherein the first sampling direction and the second sampling direction are substantially the same direction.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 , wherein the first partial k-space frame and the second partial k-space frame are sampled so that a center of each partial k-space frame are proximate each other.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of obtaining a first image comprises the steps of: completely sampling a first half of the first partial k-space frame; and partially sampling a second half of the first partial k-space frame; and wherein the step of obtaining a second image comprises the steps of: partially sampling a first half of the second k-space frame; and completely sampling a second half of the second k-space frame.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 , wherein sampling of the first half and the second half of the first k-space frame and sampling of the first half and the second half of the second k-space frame are carried out following substantially the same direction.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1 , wherein a TE associated with the first partial k-space frame and a TE associated with the second partial k-space frame are asymmetric with reference to the beginning of the respective k-space frames and are mirrored about a division between the first and second partial k-space frames.

Claim 10

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of inserting alignment indicia in the first and second images, and wherein the combining step comprises the step of aligning the indicia in each of the first and second images.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9 , wherein the alignment indicia comprise a centerline of the first k-space frame and a centerline of the second k-space frame.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: sampling a centerline of the first partial k-space frame in two sampling directions, wherein the centerline comprises the center of a full k-space frame corresponding to the first partial k-space frame; and sampling a centerline of the second partial k-space frame in two sampling directions, wherein the centerline comprises the center of a full k-space frame corresponding to the second partial k-space frame.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 , wherein the target region of a subject is an in vivo ventral frontal or inferior temporal area of the human brain.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 , wherein said combined image provides information about the function of the human brain including human memory and attention processes in areas near air/tissue interfaces.

Claim 17

The system of claim 14 , wherein the single excitation pulse comprises a matched quadratic excitation pulse.

Claim 18

The system of claim 15 , wherein the compensation pulse comprises a z-shimming pulse.

Claim 19

The system of claim 14 , wherein the first partial k-space frame has associated therewith a first sampling direction and the second partial k-space frame has associated therewith a second sampling direction and wherein the first sampling direction and the second sampling direction are substantially the same direction.

Claim 20

The system of claim 14 , wherein the first partial k-space frame and the second partial k-space frame are sampled so that a center of each partial k-space frame is proximate to each other.

Claim 21

The method of claim 14 , wherein the means for obtaining a first image comprises: means for completely sampling a first half of the first partial k-space frame; and means for partially sampling a second half of the first partial k-space frame; and wherein the means for obtaining a second image comprises: means for partially sampling a first half of the second k-space frame; and means for completely sampling a second half of the second k-space frame.

Claim 22

The system of claim 19 , wherein sampling of the first half and the second half of the first k-space frame and sampling of the first half and the second half of the second k-space frame are carried following substantially the same direction.

Claim 23

The system of claim 14 , wherein a TE associated with the first partial k-space frame and a TE associated with the second partial k-space frame are asymmetric with reference to the beginning of the respective k-space frames and are mirrored about a division between the first and second partial k-space frames.

Claim 24

The system of claim 14 , further comprising means for inserting alignment indicia in the first and second images, and wherein the means for combining comprises means for aligning the indicia in each of the first and second images.

Claim 25

The system of claim 22 , wherein the alignment indicia comprise a centerline of the first k-space frame and a centerline of the second k-space frame.

Claim 26

The system of claim 14 , further comprising: means for sampling a centerline of the first partial k-space frame in two sampling directions, wherein the centerline comprises the center of a full k-space frame corresponding to the first partial k-space frame; and means for sampling a centerline of the second partial k-space frame in two sampling directions, wherein the centerline comprises the center of a full k-space frame corresponding to the second partial k-space frame.

Claim 27

The system of claim 14 , wherein the target region of a subject is an in vivo ventral frontal or inferior temporal area of the human brain.

Claim 28

The system of claim 14 , wherein the combined image provides information about the function of the human brain including human memory and attention processes in areas near air/tissue interfaces.

Claim 29

A computer program product for recovering a signal of a functional magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising: a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code configured to excite a target region of a subject with a single excitation pulse; computer readable program code configured to obtain a first image using a first partial k-space frame of the target region; computer readable program code configured to subject the target region to a compensation pulse responsive to the computer readable program code configured to obtain a first image; computer readable program code configured to obtain a second, compensated, image using a second partial k-space frame of the target region responsive to the computer readable program code configured to subject the target region to a compensation pulse; and computer readable program code configured to combine the first and second images to form a combined image of the target region.

Claim 30

A computer program product for recovering a signal of a functional magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising: a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code comprising: computer readable program code configured to excite a target region of a subject with a single excitation pulse; computer readable program code configured to obtain a first image using a first partial k-space frame of the target region; computer readable program code configured to subject the target region to a compensation pulse responsive to the computer readable program code configured to obtain a first image; computer readable program code configured to obtain a second, compensated, image using a second partial k-space frame of the target region responsive to the computer readable program code configured to subject the target region to a compensation pulse; and computer readable program code configured to combine the first and second images to form a combined image of the target region.

Claim 31

The computer program product of claim 27 , wherein the single excitation pulse comprises a matched quadratic excitation pulse.

Claim 32

The computer program product of claim 28 , wherein the compensation pulse comprises a z-shimming pulse.

Claim 33

The computer program product of claim 27 , wherein the first partial k-space frame has associated therewith a first sampling direction and the second partial k-space frame has associated therewith a second sampling direction and wherein the first sampling direction and the second sampling direction are substantially the same direction.

Claim 34

The computer program product of claim 27 , wherein the first partial k-space frame and the second partial k-space frame are sampled so that a center of each partial k-space frame is proximate each other.

Claim 35

The computer program product of claim 27 , wherein the means for obtaining a first image comprises: computer readable program code configured to completely sample a first half of the first partial k-space frame; and computer readable program code configured to partially sample a second half of the first partial k-space frame; and wherein the means for obtaining a second image comprises: computer readable program code configured to partially sample a first half of the second k-space frame; and computer readable program code configured to completely sample a second half of the second k-space frame.

Claim 36

The computer program product of claim 32 , wherein sampling of the first half and the second half of the first k-space frame and sampling of the first half and the second half of the second k-space frame are carried out in substantially a same direction.

Claim 37

The computer program product of claim 27 , wherein a TE associated with the first partial k-space frame and a TE associated with the second partial k-space frame are asymmetric with reference to the beginning of the respective k-space frames and are mirrored about a division between the first and second partial k-space frames.

Claim 38

The computer program product of claim 27 , further comprising computer readable program code which inserts alignment indicia in the first and second images, and wherein the computer readable program code configured to combine comprises computer readable program code configured to align the indicia in each of the first and second images.

Claim 39

The computer program product of claim 35 , wherein the alignment indicia comprise a centerline of the first k-space frame and a centerline of the second k-space frame.

Claim 40

The computer program product of claim 27 , further comprising: computer readable program code configured to sample a centerline of the first partial k-space frame in two sampling directions, wherein the centerline comprises the center of a full k-space frame corresponding to the first partial k-space frame; and computer readable program code configured to sample a centerline of the second partial k-space frame in two sampling directions, wherein the centerline comprises the center of a full k-space frame corresponding to the second partial k-space frame.

Claim 41

The computer program product of claim 27 , wherein the target region of a subject is an in vivo ventral frontal or inferior temporal area of the human brain.

Claim 42

The computer program product of claim 27 , wherein the combined image provides information about the function of the human brain including human memory and attention processes in areas near air/tissue interfaces.