Time and memory optimized method of acquiring and reconstructing multi-shot 3d mri data

Abstract

A three-dimensional fast spin echo (FSE) scan is performed by stepping ( ) through a plurality of phase encode k-space views from a computed view list ( ). The view list is computed such that (i) magnetic resonance echoes having a selected image contrast are encoded in the center of k-space, (ii) adjacent data lines in k-space have similar contrast, and (iii) common planes of data lines in k-space are completed at regular intervals. As each data line is read, it is Fourier transformed ( ) and stored ( ) within a fast-access memory ( ). Once a plane of data lines is acquired, it is Fourier transformed ( ) along a second direction using a plurality of parallel processors ( ). The twice-transformed data is stored ( ) in conventional memory ( ). Once all of the phase encode views on the view list are acquired, a final Fourier transform ( ) along a third direction is performed ( ), rendering a volumetric image representation. The method of data acquisition uses fewer memory buffers and takes less time than conventional methods.