MR imaging of motion with spatial modulation of magnetization

A novel magnetic resonance imaging technique provides direct imaging of motion by spatially modulating the degree of magnetization prior to imaging. The preimaging pulse sequence consists of a radio-frequency (RF) pulse to produce transverse magnetization, a magnetic field gradient to "wrap" the phase along the direction of the gradient, and a second RF pulse to mix the modulated transverse magnetization with the longitudinal magnetization. The resulting images show periodic stripes due to the modulation. Motion between the time of striping and image formation is directly demonstrated as a corresponding displacement of the stripes. This technique can be used to study heart wall motion, to distinguish slowly moving blood from thrombus, and to study the flow of blood and cerebrospinal fluid.