Ultra-fast Brain MR Imaging Using Simultaneous Multi-slice Acquisition (SMA) Technique

Whole-brain images were acquired with a 2times acceleration factor by using simultaneous multi-slice acquisition (SMA). Utilizing a Sinc pulse modulated by cosine/sine functions combined with an extra gradient along the slice-selection direction during acquisition, we are able to take multiple magnetic resonance images of different slice simultaneously. 2-slice and 4-slice SMA experiments were also conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of this method; also a volumetric image of the phantom was taken, achieving an overall 3times acceleration.