High-resolution whole-brain multi-parameter mapping at 7 Tesla with interleaved fly-back 3D-EPI and universal pTX pulses

We present a versatile high-resolution whole-brain multiparametric/susceptibility mapping protocol at 7T, introducing interleaved fly-back skipped-CAIPI 3D-EPI. To overcome the impeding limitations of B1+ inhomogeneity, universal pTX pulses for excitation and magnetization transfer saturation are employed. Within 17 minutes scan time, 0.6mm isotropic whole-brain MT-/PD-/T1-weighted magnitude and phase images at four echo times and corresponding quantitative parameter maps are obtained. Supplementary output, like SWI and MPRAGE-like images can be generated as well. Scan efficiency is high and geometric distortions are negligible. Optionally, the interleaved fly-back acquisition allows a separate analysis of two monopolar readout images.