Method for obtaining T1-weighted and T2-weighted NMR images for a plurality of selected planes in the course of a single scan

A method for obtaining T1-weighted and T2-weighted NMR image data for at least two selected planes in an object in a single scan using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, said method comprising:

• positioning an object in an NMR imaging apparatus which includes means for generating a magnetic field, means for exciting selected nuclei to generate NMR signals and for reading of such NMR signals to provide a collection of NMR signals from selected regions of an object placed in said NMR imgaging apparatus, and means for obtaining NMR imaging data from said collection of NMR signals;
• conducting a plurality of NMR sampling operations to obtain NMR imaging data from a first selected plane of said object, said step of conducting said sampling operations for said first plane being commenced at a first time during the course of a single scan and being continued substantially throughout said single scan so as to obtain NMR imaging data for producing T1-weighted and T2-weighted images for said first selected plane of said object;
• conducting a plurality of NMR sampling operations to obtain NMR imaging data from a second selected plane of said object which is different from said first selected plane, said step of conducting said sampling operations for said second selected plane being commenced at a second time during the course of said single scan which is later than said first time but prior to completion of said step of conducting said sampling operations for said first selected plane, and said step of conducting said NMR sampling operations for said second selected plane being continued substantially throughout said single scan to obtain NMR imaging data for producing T1-weighted and T2-weighted images for said second selected plane;
• each of said plurality of NMR sampling operations including first and second sets of NMR excitation and reading operations, one of said first and second sets of NMR excitation and reading operations being performed in a manner to provide T1-weighted NMR imaging data and the other of said first and second sets of excitation and reading operations being performed in a manner to provide T2-weighted imaging data;
• and each of said first set of operations being performed at a different time during the course of said single scan than each other of said first set of operations and each of said second set of operations, and each of said second set of operations being performed at a different time during the course of said single scan than each other of said second set of operations and each of said first set of operations.

A method for obtaining first and second NMR imaging data for at least two selected planes in an object in a single scan using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, said method comprising:

• positioning an object in an NMR imaging apparatus which includes means for generating a magnetic field, means for exciting selected nuclei to generate NMR signals and for reading of such NMR signals to provide a collection of NMR signals from selected regions of an object placed in said NMR imaging apparatus, and means for obtaining NMR imaging data from said collection of NMR signals;
• conducting a plurality of NMR sampling operations to obtain NMR imaging data from a first selected plane of said object, said step of conducting said sampling operations for said first plane being commenced at a first time during the course of a single scan and being continued substantially throughout said single scan so as to obtain NMR imaging data for producing first and second images for said first selected plane of said object;
• conducting a plurality of NMR sampling operations to obtain NMR imaging data from a second selected plane of said object which is different from said first selected plane, said step of conducting said sampling operations for said second selected plane being commenced at a second time during the course of said single scan which is later than said first time but prior to completion of said step of conducting said sampling operations for said first selected plane, and said step of conducting said NMR sampling operations for said second selected plane being continued substantially throughout said single scan to obtain NMR imaging data for producing first and second images for said second selected plane;
• each of said plurality of NMR sampling operations including a first NMR excitation operation followed by a first NMR reading operation and a second NMR excitation operation followed by a second NMR reading operation, said first NMR excitation operations being performed at a first interval of time after a preceding NMR excitation operation to provide first NMR imaging data for producing said first images and said second NMR excitation operation being performed at a second interval of time after a preceding first NMR excitation operation to provide second NMR imaging data for producing said second images, said first interval of time being different from said second interval of time, whereby the overall time for obtaining said first and second NMR imaging data for said first and second selected planes is minimized.