Variable Flip Angles and Echo Train Lengths in Segmented 3D-EPI at 3 and 7 Tesla

Two novel sequence modifications for segmented 3D-EPI are proposed, which increase signal sensitivity by boosting signal-to-noise ratio on the one hand (variable flip angles) and by reducing the effective volume repetition time on the other hand (variable echo train lengths). Simulations and experiments are performed at 3 and 7 Tesla confirming the effectiveness of these modifications. On the example of 7 Tesla whole brain acquisitions at 0.75mm isotropic resolution it is shown that, with respect to temporal SNR, the proposed 3D-EPI based method is superior to a popular simultaneous multi-slice method using equivalent acceleration factors.

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