A technique for imaging materials with short transverse relaxation times an
d prepared longitudinal magnetization is proposed. The technique is single-
point ramped imaging with T-1-enhancement (SPRITE) MRI with centric k-space
sampling. The effects of transient state behavior on image resolution and
signal/noise are estimated, Centric sampling in the basic SPRITE sequence g
ives increased signal-to-noise and permits a quantitative determination of
the MR parameters associated with longitudinal spin preparation, Spin-lock
and inversion recovery preparation experiments are presented. (C) 1999 Acad
emic Press.