Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system using a double inversion recovery (DIR) imaging pulse sequence for acquiring black-blood images for obtaining a first level of nulling of a blood signal from acquired imaging slices is provided. The MRI system comprises an image processor configured changing a respective time order of the imaging slices at a selected point or points during the pulse sequence to obtain a second level of nulling of the residual blood signal from the imaging slices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) by spiral trajectory scanning comprises an MR imaging device for acquiring and processing data samples of an object to be imaged, wherein the data samples are acquired by spiral trajectory scanning. An interface is coupled to the MR imaging device for receiving operator-defined spiral scanning parameters, and a computer is coupled to the interface and the MR imaging device. The computer is configured to generate an approximated spiral trajectory in k-space in accordance with operator-defined spiral scanning parameters. The approximated spiral trajectory is used by the MR imaging system to perform spiral trajectory scanning.