Figure 1

Accuracy, precision and reproducibility of the proposed sequence obtained in Monte Carlo simulation (20,000 repetitions, fixed T₂ of 50 ms, SNR corresponding to 50 in the ∞ image) (a) and phantom experiments (set of vials with NiCl2 doped agarose, 15 repetitions of the sequence) (b). Results were compared to the MOLLI (5-(3)-3 scheme) sequence. Accuracy was measured in each vial as the difference between spin echo T₁ measurements and the average T₁ over all 15 repetitions. Precision was measured in each vial as the average (over all 15 repetitions) of the standard deviation of T₁ within a vial. Reproducibility was measured in each vial as the standard deviation (over all 15 repetitions) of the mean T₁ within a vial. Improved accuracy and similar precision were achieved using the proposed sequence in both simulations and phantom experiments. T₁ mapping reproducibility was slightly decreased with the proposed sequence.