T2 contrast in magnetic resonance imaging with gradient echoes

An MRI apparatus to rapidly acquire T2 weighted MR images using gradient echo imaging comprising:

• a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet to impress a polarizing magnetic field, an RF transceiver system, and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit and receive RF signals to and from an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images;
• and
• a computer programmed to:
• acquire multiple sets of MR data from a series of read-out gradient pulses in a pulse sequence;
• determine signal intensity for each MR data;
• fit the MR data to a signal magnitude equation that includes a nonlinear function;
• and
• reconstruct T2 weighted MR images that are substantially free of magnetic field inhomogeneities.

A computer program for use with an MRI apparatus comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

• apply a pulse sequence with a train of gradient read-out pulses;
• acquire MR data during the train of gradient read-out pulses;
• depending upon identification of an object scanned, determine a nonlinear function of gradient echo time;
• fit signal magnitude of the MR data to a signal magnitude equation;
• reconstruct MR images using results of the fit wherein the MR images reconstructed can include S(0) and T2 weighted images.