Core Sequences

Core sequences at the UBC MRI Research Centre that are in use in many studies.

3D T1

Hi Res (0.8 x 0.8 x 0.8 mm3) MPRAGE
CoildSTREAM 32 channel head coil
OrientationSagittal Oblique
FOV (mm)256 x 256 x 180
Slice thickness (mm)0.8
# of Slices225
Matrix320
Voxel size F x P x S (mm)0.8 x 0.8 x 0.8
TR (ms)2400
TE (ms)4.3
Inversion Time950
Flip angle (deg)8
Parallel Imaging FactorCS = 3.6
Acquisition time5:50
1 x 1 x 1 MPRAGE
CoildSTREAM 32 channel head coil
OrientationSagittal Oblique
FOV (mm)256 x 256 x 180
Slice thickness (mm)1
# of Slices180
Matrix256 x 256
Voxel size F x P x S (mm)1 x 1 x 1
TR (ms)2400
TE (ms)3.6
Inversion Time950
Flip angle (deg)8
Parallel Imaging FactorCS = 3.6
Acquisition time3:42

Functional MRI (fMRI)

VBRAIN Single Echo fMRI
CoildSTREAM 32 channel head coil
OrientationAxial Oblique
FOV (mm)240 x 240 x 155
Slice thickness (mm)2.5
Slice gap (mm)0
# of Slices62
Matrix96
Voxel size F x P x S (mm)2.5 x 2.5 x 2.5
TR (ms)2000
TE (ms)30
Flip angle (deg)77
Echos1
Parallel Imaging Factor 2
Multiband Factor2
Acquisition timeTask dependent, 8-10min recommended for resting state

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)

DTI Hardi60 b1000
CoildSTREAM 32 channel head coil
OrientationAxial Oblique
FOV (mm)224 x 224 x 150
Slice thickness (mm)2
Slice gap (mm)0
# of Slices75
Acquisition matrix112
Voxel size F x P x S (mm)2 x 2 x 2
Reconstruction matrix112
TR (ms)3800
TE (ms)67
b-values (s/mm2)0, 1000
# of directions60
# of T2 images4
Parallel Imaging Factor 1
Multiband Factor3
Acquisition time4:11
Reverse gradient polarity scan0:11
Total scan time4:21
DTI 98dir
CoildSTREAM 32 channel head coil
OrientationAxial Oblique
FOV (mm)224 x 224 x 150
Slice thickness (mm)2
Slice gap (mm)0
# of Slices75
Acquisition matrix112
Voxel size F x P x S (mm)2 x 2 x 2
Reconstruction matrix112
TR (ms)3900
TE (ms)75
b-values (s/mm2)0, 500, 1000, 2000
# of directions98
# of b=0 (T2) images10
Parallel Imaging Factor 1
Multiband Factor3
Acquisition time7:07
Reverse gradient polarity scan0:11
Total scan time7:18
DTI 128dir
CoildSTREAM 32 channel head coil
OrientationAxial Oblique
FOV (mm)224 x 224 x 150
Slice thickness (mm)2
Slice gap (mm)0
# of Slices75
Acquisition matrix112
Voxel size F x P x S (mm)2 x 2 x 2
Reconstruction matrix112
TR (ms)4000
TE (ms)79
b-values (s/mm2)0, 500, 1000, 2000
# of directions128
# of T2 images12
Parallel Imaging Factor 1
Multiband Factor3
Acquisition time9:26
Reverse gradient polarity scan0:13
Total scan time9:39

Susceptibility Weighted Imagine (SWI) / Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM)

SWI
CoildSTREAM 32 channel head coil
OrientationAxial
FOV (mm)220 x 180 x 170
Acquired slice thickness (mm)0.9
Recon slice thickness (mm)0.76
# of Slices224
Acquired matrix244 x 200
Recon matrix288
Acquired voxel F x P x S (mm)0.9 x 0.9 x 0.9
Recon voxel F x P x S (mm)0.76 x 0.76 x 0.76
Bandwidth (Hz)180
TR (ms)35
TE/Delta TE (ms)5.2/6.4
# of echos5
Flip angle (deg)15
Parallel Imaging FactorCS = 4.5
Acquisition time5:37
FlybackYes
Flow compYes
ReconstructionsSWI Magnitude & SWI Filtered Phase,
QSM Magnitude & Unfiltered Phase of each echo
Fast SWI
CoildSTREAM 32 channel head coil
OrientationAxial
FOV (mm)220 x 180 x 180
Acquired slice thickness (mm)0.9
Recon slice thickness (mm)0.76
# of Slices224
Acquired matrix256 x 152
Recon matrix288
Acquired voxel F x P x S (mm)0.8 x 1.1 x 1.3
Recon voxel F x P x S (mm)0.76 x 0.76 x 0.76
Bandwidth (Hz)180
TR (ms)35
TE/Delta TE (ms)5.2/6.4
# of echos5
Flip angle (deg)15
Parallel Imaging FactorCS = 6
Acquisition time2:26
FlybackYes
Flow compYes

MR Spectroscopy (MRS)

semi-LASER MRS
CoildSTREAM 32 channel or Neurovascular 15 channel head coil
OrientationStudy specific
Minimum voxel volume (mL)6
Minimum shim volume (cm)1 in each direction
Samples2048
Spectral bandwidth2000
Sat bands/REST slabs0
Centre frequency (ppm)2.0
Shifted metabolite display (ppm)4.7
# water suppression shots64
# non-water suppression shots4
Save individual shotsyes (.data/.list and .sdat/.spar files)
TR (ms)5000
TE (ms)33
Flip angle (deg)90
ShimVolume based, 2nd order
Water suppressionPhilips “Excitation” option with 100Hz window
PNS modeHigh
Gradient modeMaximum
Acquisition timeApprox. 7 min depending on voxel size