Minimization of signal losses in multi-echo imaging

A magnetic resonance (MR) system configured to acquire MR signals of an object under examination using a multi echo imaging sequence, the MR system comprising:

• imaging sequence control circuitry configured to:
• apply an RF excitation pulse to the object under examination to generate a transverse magnetization,
• apply at least two RF refocusing pulses for refocusing the transverse magnetization to generate at least two MR signal echoes for the RF excitation pulse;
• apply a first magnetic field gradient in a read out direction between the RF excitation pulse and a first of the at least two refocusing pulses, the first magnetic field gradient being a bipolar gradient having only one negative gradient lobe and only one positive gradient lobe;
• apply at least two second magnetic field gradients in the read out direction after each respective one of the at least two RF refocusing pulses such that a zeroth order gradient moment and a first order gradient moment of each of the second magnetic field gradients is zero;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to acquire the at least two MR signal echoes during the at least two second magnetic field gradients.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium of a control unit associated with a magnetic resonance (MR) system, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors of the control unit, cause the MR system to:

• apply an RF excitation pulse to the object under examination to generate a transverse magnetization,
• apply at least two RF refocusing pulses for refocusing the transverse magnetization to generate at least two MR signal echoes for the RF excitation pulse;
• apply a first magnetic field gradient in a read out direction between the RF excitation pulse and a first of the at least two refocusing pulses, the first magnetic field gradient being a bipolar gradient having only one negative gradient lobe and only one positive gradient lobe;
• apply at least two second magnetic field gradients in the read out direction after each respective one of the at least two RF refocusing pulses such that a zeroth order gradient moment and a first order gradient moment of each of the second magnetic field gradients is zero;
• and
• acquire the at least two MR signal echoes during the at least two second magnetic field gradients.