Systems and methods for designing magnetic resonance fingerprinting imaging parameters

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprising:

• a magnet system configured to generate a polarizing magnetic field about at least a portion of a subject arranged in the MRI system;
• a plurality of gradient coils configured to apply a gradient field to the polarizing magnetic field;
• a radio frequency (RF) system configured to apply an excitation field to the subject and acquire MR image data from a ROI;
• a computer system programmed to:
• receive an indication of an MRF imaging process to be performed by the MRI system;
• receive a desired design objective for the MRF imaging process and a configuration metric associated with the MRF imaging process;
• use the configuration metric to bound a variance of tissue parameter estimates associated with the MRF imaging process to determine imaging parameters that achieve the desired design objective;
• and
• control the plurality of gradient coils and the RF system using the determined imaging parameters to perform the MRF imaging process and acquire MRF data.