Multiple magnetic resonance image acquisition with multiple contrasts during multi-echo gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging

A method of operating medical system that comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system configured for acquiring k-space data from a subject, wherein the method comprises:

• controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system with the pulse sequence commands to acquire the k-space data, wherein the pulse sequence commands are configured to control the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire the k-space data during multiple acquisition shots according to a multi-echo gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging protocol, wherein the multi-gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging protocol is a Dixon magnetic resonance imaging protocol, wherein for each of the multiple acquisition shots the pulse sequence commands are further configured to control the magnetic resonance imaging system to perform multiple k-space data readouts to acquire three or more k-space data portions, wherein the pulse sequence commands are further configured such that each of the three or more k-space data portions has a readout delay, wherein the pulse sequence commands are further configured to initially perform magnetization preparation pulses for each of the multiple acquisition shots, wherein the magnetization preparation pulses are configured to suppress magnetic resonance imaging signals from muscle tissue, nerve tissue, and/or internal organ tissue, and wherein the pulse sequence commands are further configured to perform an inversion recovery pulse with the magnetization preparation pulse;
• forming a first k-space data group by aggregating a first selected k-space data portion selected from the three or more k-space data portions from each of the multiple acquisition shots;
• forming a second k-space data group by aggregating a second selected k-space data portion selected from the three or more k-space data portions, wherein the first k-space data group has a first readout delay, wherein the second k-space data group has a second readout delay, wherein the second readout delay is greater than the first readout delay, wherein the second readout delay is configured such that longitudinal magnetization of blood has a magnitude below a predetermined blood magnetization threshold, and wherein the first readout delay is configured such that the longitudinal magnetization of blood is below a predetermined tissue magnetization threshold;
• forming at least one additional k-space data group by aggregating an additional selected k-space data portion each selected from the three or more k-space data portions;
• reconstructing a first Dixon water image from the first k-space data group to provide a bright blood non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging angiogram;
• reconstructing a second Dixon water image from the second k-space data group to provide a black-blood magnetic resonance vessel wall image;
• and
• reconstructing an additional magnetic resonance image from each of the at least one additional k-space data group.

A computer program comprising machine executable instructions for execution by a computational system controlling a medical system, wherein the medical system comprises a magnetic resonance imaging system configured for acquiring k-space data from a subject;

• a memory storing machine executable instructions and pulse sequence commands, wherein execution of the machine executable instructions causes the computational system to:
• control the magnetic resonance imaging system with pulse sequence commands to acquire the k-space data, wherein the pulse sequence commands are configured to control the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire the k-space data during multiple acquisition shots according to a multi-echo gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging protocol, wherein the multi-gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging protocol is a Dixon magnetic resonance imaging protocol, wherein for each of the multiple acquisition shots the pulse sequence commands are further configured to control the magnetic resonance imaging system to perform multiple k-space data readouts to acquire three or more k-space data portions, wherein the pulse sequence commands are configured such that each of the three or more k-space data portions has a readout delay, wherein the pulse sequence commands are further configured to initially perform magnetization preparation pulses for each of the multiple acquisition shots, wherein the magnetization preparation pulses are configured to suppress magnetic resonance imaging signals from muscle tissue, nerve tissue, and/or internal organ tissue, and wherein the pulse sequence commands are further configured to perform an inversion recovery pulse with the magnetization preparation pulse;
• form a first k-space data group by aggregating a first selected k-space data portion selected from the three or more k-space data portions from each of the multiple acquisition shots;
• form a second k-space data group by aggregating a second selected k-space data portion selected from the three or more k-space data portions, wherein the first k-space data group has a first readout delay, wherein the second k-space data group has a second readout delay, wherein the second readout delay is greater than the first readout delay, wherein the second readout delay is configured such that longitudinal magnetization of blood has a magnitude below a predetermined blood magnetization threshold, and wherein the first readout delay is configured such that the longitudinal magnetization of blood is below a predetermined tissue magnetization threshold;
• form at least one additional k-space data group by aggregating an additional selected k-space data portion each selected from the three or more k-space data portions;
• reconstruct a first Dixon water image from the first k-space data group to provide a bright blood non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging angiogram;
• reconstruct a second Dixon water image from the second k-space data group to provide a black-blood magnetic resonance vessel wall image;
• and
• reconstruct an additional magnetic resonance image each of the at least one additional k-space data group.