The aim of the present work was to validate and optimize adiabatic T
Phantom and in vivo experiments were systematically performed on a 3T clinical system to evaluate the sequences using hyperbolic secant HS1 and HS4 pulses. R
Relaxation rates depended on agarose and chondroitin sulfate concentration. The sequences were able to generate relaxation time maps with pulse lengths of 8 and 6 ms for HS1 and HS4, respectively. In vivo findings were in good agreement with the phantoms. The implemented adiabatic T
The findings indicate that sequences are suitable for quantitative in vivo assessment of articular cartilage at 3 T. Magn Reson Med 77:1265-1275, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.