Floating table isotropic projection (FLIPR) acquisition: A time-resolved 3D method for extended field-of-view MRI during continuous table motion

In this work, 3D vastly undersampled isotropic projection (VIPR) acquisition is used simultaneously with continuous table motion to extend the superior/inferior (S/I) FOV for MR angiograms. The new technique is termed floating table isotropic PR (FLIPR). The use of 3D PR in conjunction with table motion obviates the need to locate and prescribe imaging volumes containing the major blood vessels over the large superior–inferior (S/I) ranges encountered in whole‐body imaging. In addition, the FLIPR technique provides extended anterior–posterior (A/P) abdominal coverage, isotropic spatial resolution, and temporal resolution. In volunteer studies, FLIPR MR angiograms with 1.6‐mm isotropic spatial resolution that approached whole body in extent were acquired in less than 2 min. Magn Reson Med 52:1093–1102, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.