Dual inversion recovery, ultrashort echo time (DIR UTE) imaging: creating high contrast for short-T(2) species

Imaging of short-T(2) species requires not only a short echo time but also efficient suppression of long-T(2) species in order to maximize the short-T(2) contrast and dynamic range. This paper introduces a method of long-T(2) suppression using two long adiabatic inversion pulses. The first adiabatic inversion pulse inverts the magnetization of long-T(2) water and the second one inverts that of fat. Short-T(2) species experience a significant transverse relaxation during the long adiabatic inversion process and are minimally affected by the inversion pulses. Data acquisition with a short echo time of 8 mus starts following a time delay of inversion time (TI1) for the inverted water magnetization to reach a null point and a time delay of TI2 for the inverted fat magnetization to reach a null point. The suppression of long-T(2) species depends on proper combination of TI1, TI2, and pulse repetition time. It is insensitive to radiofrequency inhomogeneities because of the adiabatic inversion pulses. The feasibility of this dual inversion recovery ultrashort echo time technique was demonstrated on phantoms, cadaveric specimens, and healthy volunteers, using a clinical 3-T scanner. High image contrast was achieved for the deep radial and calcified layers of articular cartilage, cortical bone, and the Achilles tendon.