Enhanced MR imaging sequencing and calibration with a personal computer

This paper reports on a commercial MR imaging system to permit all combination of parameter values that the machine can support the facilitate implementation of experimental sequences. Personal computers (PCs) were connected to Toshiba 0.35-T MR imaging systems by means of special file-transfer software. PC programs generated control sequences dynamically. Calibration was performed using numeric calculation of phase moments from a multiparameter model of gradient coil performance. An associated data base allowed new sequence types to be introduced without programming or calibration. Options included velocity nulling, cardiac multiphase imaging, and presaturation of arbitrary volumes