Experimental analysis of T 1 imaging with a single‐scan, multiple‐point, inversion‐recovery technique

Look and Locker's single‐scan, multiple‐point, T 1 determination technique modified for imaging applications was evaluated experimentally for its accuracy and reliability with respect to the pulse sequence parameters. in particular. to the interpulse delay, T D , and the tip angle, α. T 1 imaging experiments were performed with a 0.5‐T imaging system on a phantom which consisted of an array of vials containing 2% agarose gels doped with various amount of Mn 2+ using different combinations of the parameter set { T D . α}. T 1 , results obtained with this technique were compared with those measured by a conventional inversion‐recovery procedure using the same spectrometer. Strategic choice of pulse sequence parameters to minimize experimental errors and the criteria for these choices will be discussed. © 1992 Academic Press, Inc.