Multiple echoes acquired in a gradient echo scan are combined into an image, for less artifacts and higher SNR; the early echoes provide increased SNR, whilst later echoes boost contrast. This sequence type is also known as MERGE (Multiple Echo Recombined Gradient Echo)

See also Multi Echo Data Image Combination, Bipolar Gradient Pulse.

From Siemens Medical Systems; Received FDA clearance in 2013.
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(July 20, 2009 - EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that, in light of the company's lack of capital and inability to obtain additional financing or consummate a strategic transaction, it has entered into an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors, effective immediately, in accordance with Massachusetts law).
EPIX has been a specialty pharmaceutical firm developing targeted contrast agents to improve the capability of MRI as a diagnostic tool for a variety of diseases. Gadofosveset trisodium (formerly MS-325, Vasovist™, now ABLAVARt™), is an injectable intravascular contrast agents designed for multiple vascular imaging applications, including peripheral vascular disease and coronary artery disease. EPIX conducted a pivotal Phase III trial for the detection of peripheral vascular disease, as well as a Phase II feasibility trial for coronary artery disease diagnosis.
To ensure rapid development and adoption of gadofosveset trisodium into clinical practice upon regulatory approval, EPIX pursued an aggressive product development plan and commercialization strategy. The Company established an exclusive, worldwide sales and marketing agreement with Bayer Schering Pharma AG. EPIX also established corporate collaborations with GE Healthcare, Philips Medical Systems and Siemens Medical Systems, the three leading MRI manufacturers, which together account for approximately 80 percent of the MRI machines installed worldwide.
EPIX had other MRI contrast agents under development, most significantly a novel prototype blood clot agent (EP-2104R). Potential clinical applications for this type of agent include detection of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and blood clots in the coronary and carotid arteries. Currently, there is no high resolution imaging technique to directly visualize blood clots in patients with suspected cardiovascular disease.

From GE Healthcare;
'EXCITE technology has the potential to open the door to new imaging techniques and clinical applications, leaping beyond conventional two and three-dimensional MRI to true 4D imaging that will improve the diagnosis of disease throughout the human body from head to foot.' Robert R. Edelman, M.D., Professor of Radiology at Northwestern University Medical School and Chairman, Department of Radiology, at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare.