A STIR sequence with a TI time of 160 ms will null signal from fat at which field strength?

In STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery) sequences, the timing of the inversion pulse is critical for nulling the signal from fat. The TI (inversion time) used in these sequences is based on the T1 relaxation times of fat, which can vary depending on magnetic field strength. At different field strengths, the T1 values of fat change, which influences the TI required to null its signal.

At a field strength of 1.5 T, it is generally accepted that a TI of around 160 ms is effectively tuned to null the fat signal. This is because the T1 relaxation time for fat is approximately 230-300 ms at this field strength. Thus, a TI of 160 ms would be sufficient to achieve the desired effect of nulling fat’s signal in a STIR sequence.

At lower field strengths, such as 0.5 T or 1.0 T, the T1 values for fat are longer, meaning that a TI of 160 ms would not adequately suppress the fat signal. Conversely, at 3.0 T, the T1 value for fat is typically shorter than at 1.5 T, which would require a different TI to achieve the same suppression. When determining which field