Preparatory pulse sequence for suppression of artifacts in MR images

A method for reducing image artifacts produced by spins located outside the designed spherical volume (DSV) of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the steps comprising:

• a) acquiring an image with the MRI system by performing a series of imaging pulse sequences that acquire NMR signals from spins in a prescribed field of view (FOV) located within the DSV;
• b) interleaving preparatory pulse sequences among the series of imaging pulse sequences to suppress the longitudinal magnetization of spins located outside the DSV, each preparatory pulse sequence including:
• i) producing a first RF pulse having a flip angle that excites spins in a first region which includes the FOV;
• and
• ii) producing a second RF pulse that has a flip angle which excites spins in a second region that intersects the first region, such that the intersection of the first and second regions includes the FOV and the spin magnetization in the FOV is restored by the second RF pulse;
• and
• iii) producing a first slab select gradient concurrently with the production of the first RF pulse;
• and
• iv) producing a second slab select gradient perpendicular to the first slab select gradient and concurrently with the production of the second RF pulse;
• wherein the first RF pulse is a selective pulse and the first region is a slab disposed in a plane perpendicular to the gradient axis of the first slab select gradient;
• and
• the second RF pulse is a selective pulse and the second region is a slab disposed in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the first region.