Technique for simultaneous acquisition of multiple independent MR imaging volumes with optimization of magnetic field homogeneity for spin preparation

A method for acquiring MR imaging data simultaneously from more than one independently prescribed volume that comprises the steps of

• identifying a first sagittal volume (R),
• providing RF coils (RF1, RF2) for acquiring an image from said first sagittal volume (R),
• identifying a second sagittal volume (L),
• providing RF coils (RF3, RF4) for acquiring an image from said second sagittal volume (L),
• decoupling the RF coils sufficiently that the first volume coils (RF1, RF2) receive signal only from the first volume (R) and the second volume coils (RF3, RF4) receive signal only from the second volume (L), and
• reconstructing the MR signal,
• wherein an image corresponding only to the first volume (R) and an image corresponding only to the second volume (L) is reconstructed.

A method for the simultaneous acquisition of high-resolution sagittal volumes in a patient (10) during MR imaging that comprises the steps of

• identifying each sagittal volume (L, R),
• providing RF coils (RF1, RF2, RF3, RF4) for acquiring an image from each of said sagittal volumes (L, R),
• decoupling the RF coils (RF1, RF2, RF3, RF4) sufficiently that certain coils receive signal only from a corresponding volume, and
• reconstructing the MR signal,
• wherein an image corresponding to each volume (L, R) is reconstructed.

A method for acquiring MR imaging data from a patient (10), said acquisition being conducted simultaneously of two sagittal volumes that may include breast volumes (L, R), carotid arteries, shoulders, hips, temporomandibular joints, separate specimens or multiple samples of any clinical type, comprising the steps of

• identifying a first sagittal volume (R),
• providing RF coils (RF1, RF2) for acquiring an image from said first sagittal volume (R),
• identifying a second sagittal volume (L),
• providing RF coils (RF3, RF4) for acquiring an image from said second sagittal volume (L),
• decoupling the RF coils sufficiently that the first volume (RF1, RF2) coils receive signal only from the first volume (R) and the second volume coils (RF3, RF4) receive signal only from the second volume (L), and
• reconstructing the MR signal,
• wherein an image corresponding only to the first volume (R) and an image corresponding only to the second volume (L) is reconstructed.

A method for acquiring MR imaging data from a patient (10), said acquisition being conducted simultaneously of two sagittal volumes that may include breast volumes (L, R), carotid arteries, shoulders, hips, temporomandibular joints, separate specimens or multiple samples of any clinical type, comprising the steps of

• identifying a first sagittal volume (R),
• providing one or more RF coil elements (RF1, RF2) for acquiring an image from said first sagittal volume (R),
• identifying a second sagittal volume (L),
• providing one or more RF coil elements (RF1, RF2) for acquiring an image from said second sagittal volume (R),
• using a first spectral-spatial RF pulse (62) to selectively invert the magnetization from adipose tissue in the first sagittal volume (R), using a second spectral-spatial RF pulse (62) to selectively invert the magnetization from adipose tissue in the second sagittal volume (L), and
• recovering the longitudinal magnetization (30, 40) of adipose tissue,
• decoupling the RF coils sufficiently that the first volume elements (RF1, RF2) receive signal only from the first volume (R) and the second volume elements (RF3, RF4) receive signal only from the second volume (L), and
• reconstructing the MR signal,
• wherein an image corresponding only to the first volume (R) and an image corresponding only to the second volume (L) is reconstructed.