Fast anatomical imaging of the heart and assessment of myocardial perfusion with arrhythmia insensitive magnetization preparation

A new contrast preparation based on modified driven equilibrium Fourier transfer is introduced and evaluated for generation of T₁-weighted images for assessment of the myocardial perfusion with contrast agent first-pass kinetics. The new preparation scheme produces T₁ contrast with insensitivity to arrhythmias in prospectively triggered sequential imaging thereby eliminating one of the major sources of problems in potential patient studies with previously employed contrast preparations schemes.