(MLSI) Variations of sequential line imaging techniques that can be used if selective excitation methods that do not affect adjacent lines are employed. Adjacent lines are imaged while waiting for relaxation of the first line toward equilibrium, which may result in decreased image acquisition time. A different type of MLSI uses simultaneous excitation of two or more lines with different phase encoding followed by suitable decoding.
(MOTSA) This technique combines the best features of 2D time of flight angiography (2D TOF) and 3D TOFMRA. The MOTSA technique consists of multiple 2 cm thick 3D TOF slabs (which minimize saturation effects for
through plane flow) combine to provide unlimited coverage similar to multiple 2D TOF slices. High resolution imaging of the carotid arteries is possible when image quality is of greater concern than acquisition time.
Images with 1 mm (or less) spatial resolution in all three planes are required. The slabs typically overlap 25-40 to
minimize the venetian blind artifactvenetian blind artifact due to minimal saturation effects.
MOTSA is an useful technique for the evaluation of vertebrobasilar ischemia and aneurysm scanning from the foramen
magnum through the circle of Willis.
Excitation by a RF pulse can be considered as creating a transition (or 'coherence') between different energy levels. Formally, transitions are only allowed between states of the spin system differing in spin quantum number by one unit (single quantum coherence), but multiple RF pulses can act in cascade and produce multiple quantum coherence. Only single quantum coherence produces a directly observable signal, requiring indirect observation of multiple quantum frequencies.