A novel technique for imaging with inhomogeneous fields

We introduce a simple, efficient, low-SAR method for magnetic resonance imaging in the presence of a static field with a permanent, and possibly large gradient. The technique, which is called slant-slice imaging is essentially a spin-echo imaging sequence except that the imaging slice is oriented such that the static field gradient can be used in conjunction with applied gradients during readout. Data are collected for 2D slices. Unlike single point imaging techniques, entire lines of k-space are acquired with each readout. The slant-slice pulse sequence is used to obtain high quality images, using a clinical scanner to simulate a static field with a large permanent gradient. The effects of the inhomogeneity are quantified by two parameters nu and q, which are useful for assessing the utility of a magnet design for 3D-MR imaging.