Problems with achieving saturation using methods based on bursts of rf pulses with spoilers in magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Attempts at saturation by nonselective rf pulses, followed by gradient spoiler pulses, are sometimes used as the basis of a method of measuring T₁ in magnetic resonance imaging, because a method of this type is perceived as being less affected by slice shape artifact than partial saturation methods. This note suggests that, unless care is taken, this assumption can be quite erroneous.