Magnetic resonance imaging method including acquiring echo signals from each k-space slice with different relaxation time weightings after echo signals from different k-space splices are acquired

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of an object. It is an object of the invention to enable MR imaging using the stack-of-stars acquisition scheme with an enhanced control of the contrast of the reconstructed MR image. The method of the invention comprises the steps of: a) generating MR signals by subjecting the object () to a number of shots of a multi-echo imaging sequence comprising RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients, wherein a train of echo signals is generated by each shot; b) acquiring the echo signals according to a stack-of-stars (i.e. a hybrid radial 3D acquisition scheme wherein radial sampling is performed in each slice plane and phase encoding is performed along the slice encoding direction) or stack-of-spirals scheme, wherein the echo signals are acquired as radial or spiral k-space profiles (S-S) arranged at different positions along a slice direction in k-space, wherein echo signals from different k-space slices are acquired in each shot of the imaging sequence and wherein the echo signals are acquired from each k-space slice with different relaxation time weightings; and c) reconstructing at least one MR image of a desired contrast from the acquired echo signals using a k-space weighted image contrast (KWIC) filter. Moreover, the invention relates to a MR device () and to a computer program for a MR device ().