Method for 3-D magnetic resonance imaging

A method for removing unwanted signal components acquired by applying a three dimensional magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequence to a sample, wherein signal acquisition is desired from a selected planar slice, but unwanted signal components are also acquired from a plurality of planar slices located outside the boundaries of said selected slice, said method comprising the following steps in the named order:

• p1 applying both a radio frequency saturation pre-pulse and a linear field gradient to said sample, which pre-pulse and field gradient create a comb-like pattern of planar nuclear magnetic saturation regions in said sample each of said regions being spatially positioned between a respective pair of contiguous planar slices;
• and
• applying a 3-D imaging sequence to said sample, the timing of said application of the 3-D imaging sequence being such that the comb-like saturation pattern of said pre-pulse sequence is imposed upon said 3-D imaging sequence so as to reduce the acquisition of signal originating from said regions when acquiring signal from said selected slice.