Sequence Overview
Sequence Type: 3D High-Resolution Spin-Echo Gradient (SEG) with Black-Blood Imaging

Field Strength: 1.5T / 3T (Optimized for 3T)

Primary Applications:

Neurovascular Imaging (Vessel Wall, Aneurysms)

Cardiac Black-Blood Morphology

MSK (Tendon/Ligament Microstructure)

Vendor Classification: Proprietary Woodward Protocol

Core Technical Parameters
1. Sequence Encoding (BL1840024)
BL18: Black-Blood Prep (Double Inversion Recovery)

40024: High-Definition Matrix (400 × 240 interpolated to 800)

2. Acquisition Parameters
TR (Repetition Time): 1500-3000 ms (Flow-Compensated)

TE (Echo Time): 25-40 ms (T2-Weighted Dominant)

Inversion Times (TI):

Blood Nulling: TI1 = 450 ms (3T)

Fat Suppression: TI2 = 150 ms (STIR-like)

Resolution:

In-Plane: 0.3 × 0.3 mm (Max)

Slice Thickness: 0.6-1.0 mm (Isotropic Optional)

3. Contrast Options
T2-Weighted Vessel Wall: TR/TE = 2500/35 ms

Proton Density (PD): TR/TE = 1500/25 ms

T1-Weighted (Post-Contrast): TR/TE = 600/15 ms

Advanced Features
1. Flow/Artifact Suppression
Quadruple Motion Compensation:

Blood Flow (Black-Blood)

CSF Pulsation

Respiratory Motion (Navigator-Gated)

Cardiac Triggering (Optional)

Metal Artifact Reduction (MARS-V™): Vessel-Specific k-Space Filtering

2. Acceleration
Compressed SENSE: 3× Acceleration (5 min Full Brain Vessel Wall)

Tilted CAIPIRINHA: Reduces Slab Boundary Artifacts

3. Post-Processing
Vessel Wall Thickness Mapping: Automated Lumen-Wall Segmentation

Plaque Component Analysis: LRP (Lipid-Rich Plaque) Detection AI

4D Cine Mode: Cardiac Cycle-Resolved Imaging

Clinical Protocols
1. Neurovascular (Vessel Wall)
Recommended:

TR/TE = 2500/35 ms, 0.4 mm Isotropic

Double Inversion Recovery + FatSat

Scan Time: 6 min 20 sec

Key Applications:

Atherosclerotic Plaque Vulnerability

Dissection Membrane Visualization

2. Cardiac (Black-Blood)
Recommended:

TR/TE = 1 R-R/28 ms, Navigator-Gated

TI = 450 ms (Blood Nulling)

Scan Time: 8-12 beats/slice

Key Applications:

Myocardial Fibrosis (Late-Gadolinium Enhancement)

Pericardial Thickening

3. MSK (Micro-Tendon Imaging)
Recommended:

TR/TE = 1800/30 ms, 0.3 mm Res

MARS-V for Post-Surgical Metal

Scan Time: 7 min 15 sec

Key Applications:

Rotator Cuff Tendon Delamination

ACL Graft Integrity

Performance Metrics
Vessel Wall SNR: ≥22 dB (3T)

Lumen-Wall CNR: ≥4.1

Temporal Resolution (Cine Mode): 45 ms/frame

Technologist Guide
3T Optimization:

Reduce TI1 to 400 ms (3T vs 1.5T)

Increase bandwidth 15% if SAR-limited

Troubleshooting:

Incomplete Blood Nulling: Adjust TI ±20 ms

Fat Contamination: Enable spectral fat saturation

Contraindications:

Non-gated studies in arrhythmia

Implants with RF-heating risks