DIFFUSION-INSENSTIVE VELOCITY SELECTIVE LABELLING MODULE FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

1 . A velocity selective preparation method, for Velocity Selective Magnetisation Transfer Insensitive labelling technique (VS-TILT), said VS-TILT method using non-selective RadioFrequency (RF) pulses and magnetic field gradients to modulate the longitudinal magnetization of moving spins in magnetic resonance imaging that is insensitive to diffusion effects, said method comprising the steps of:

a) play out two velocity selective pulses: VS-A and VS-B, sequentially without any spoiling between said pulses;

b) each individual pulse VS-A and VS-B having half the first gradient moment m 1 of the original velocity selective pulse;

c) assigning the VS-TILT tag condition gradients to have the same polarity, such that total m 1 is perserved;

d) assigning the VS_TILT control condition, negating the n gradients in the first pulse such total m 1 =0, but the b-value remains unchanged.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in the tag condition, two +90° RF pulses are played out to produce a spatially selective 180° inversion.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein in the control condition a +90°-90° pattern is played out, to balance magnetization transfer effects.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a B 1 Insensitive Rotation pulse of order 4 is used as the base velocity selective pulse.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a B 1 Insensitive Rotation pulse of order 8 is used as the base velocity selective pulse.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a B 1 Insensitive Rotation pulse of order 16 is used as the base velocity selective pulse.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a B 1 Insensitive Rotation pulse of order 32 is used as the base velocity selective pulse.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cut off velocity is set in the range 2-16 cm/s.