Reduction of Slice Select Artifacts in Half Pulse Excitations Used in Ultrashort TE (UTE) Imaging

Atsushi M. Takahashi¹

In ultra short TE (UTE) imaging, so-called half pulses are used because they do not require a refocusing gradient, thus reducing the echo time. Two half pulses are required and cancellation of signal outside the desired slice desired. Poor cancellation results in artifacts generated by signals from out of slice. Here we present a method for improving the cancellation of out-of-slice signal to improve slice selection.