(UTSE) The ultrashort turbo spin echo (TSE / FSE) sequence is a technique with extremely short echo spacing, resulting in shorter scan times. This is an advantage in areas where motion is a problem, for example dynamic or abdominal imaging. The shorter scan time and echo spacing are achieved by using a higher TSE factor and an increased data sampling rate.
Disadvantages are the decrease in SNR (caused through the increase of the bandwidth) and artifacts if minimum echo spacing is used (incomplete dephasing of the 180° pulse FID).

See also Fast Spin Echo.

The company changed its name from Advanced Magnetics, Inc. to AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in July 2007.
AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, developed and manufactured organ-specific diagnostic contrast agents that provide clearer images during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests used to detect tumors and other abnormalities.
The company had two MRI related products on the market: Feridex I.V. (for the diagnosis of liver lesions) and GastroMARK (used for bowel and abdominal MR imaging). In November 2008, AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. decided to discontinue the manufacturing of Feridex. The development of Combidex as a contrast agent for lymph disease has also been stopped.
The Company has now two commercial products: Feraheme® and GastroMARK®. Feraheme® is the trade name of Ferumoxytol (formerly Code 7228) and is indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. Feraheme® is also being developed as a diagnostic agent for vascular-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess peripheral arterial disease.

MRI Contrast Agents:

From Siemens Medical Systems;
The Magnetom Trio™, a 3T whole body MRI system with Tim (total imaging matrix technology), targets clinical applications such as abdominal, cardiac, spine, whole body and orthopedics. TIM enables flexible coil combinations for high resolution imaging of large anatomical areas without the need to change coils.

From Siemens Medical Systems;
with the introduction of this system, it is possible to perform contrast MR angiography for abdominal, thoracic and neck vessels from the origins to the circle of Willis. The system also has many newer features including functional imaging, spectroscopy, advanced body, ortho- and neuroimaging.

Biphasic oral contrast agents may produce either high or low signal intensities depending on the pulse sequence used, for example low signal intensity on T1 weighted MR images and high signal intensity on T2 weighted images. The combination of different oral contrast agents can generate a macroscopic cancellation of negative and positive magnetic susceptibility, thereby eliminating susceptibility artifacts.
Possible combinations are e.g., ferric ammonium citrate and corn oil, or ferrous sulfate emulsified with baby formula. Paramagnetic agents combined with oil emulsion may be used in MRI as positive abdominal contrast agents. The combination of diamagnetic barium sulfate and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in one suspension may be a useful negative contrast agent.

See also Gastrointestinal Paramagnetic Contrast Agents, Gastrointestinal Superparamagnetic Contrast Agents, Gastrointestinal Diamagnetic Contrast Agents, Gastrointestinal Imaging.