Extended-FOV magnetic resonance imaging with table translation and frequency cycling

A new method for MR imaging of an extended field-of-view (FOV) has been developed and validated. The method employs concurrent MR data acquisition and continuous table motion. Interference of motion to image formation is removed by sweeping the center frequency of the receiver at a rate matching the table's speed. Multiple regional images are collected and combined to reconstruct the full FOV. The imaging parameters and table speed are chosen to ensure that each regional image of the subject is collected while the corresponding anatomy is in the usable imaging volume of the scanner. The method is robust and can be easily incorporated into most multi-slice 2D and volumetric 3D imaging pulse sequences. A variety of uses are anticipated that include, for example, whole-body screening, angiographic runoffs, and short magnet imaging applications.