Method and apparatus for high speed magnetic resonance imaging with improved image quality

An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging, comprising:

• means for producing a static magnetic field in which a body to be examined is to be place;
• pulse sequence execution means for carrying out a pulse sequence, including:
• first means for applying RF pulses and a slicing gradient magnetic field for exciting a desired imaging region in the body to be examined;
• second means for applying a reading gradient magnetic field which regularly fluctuates between a negative value and a positive value onto the body to be examined;
• third means for applying initial phase encoding gradient magnetic field for specifying a partial region in a k-space, onto the body to be examined before the reading gradient magnetic field is applied by the second means, and applying a predetermined pulse shaped phase encoding gradient magnetic field onto the body to be examined, every time the reading gradient magnetic field changes polarity;
• data acquisition means for collecting echo signals for the partial region in the k-space emitted from the desired imaging region, every time the reading gradient magnetic field changes polarity;
• control means for controlling the pulse sequence execution means to repeat the pulse sequence by the first, second, and third means and the data acquisition means a plurality of times, while sequentially changing a setting of the initial phase encoding gradient magnetic field applied by the third means, such that the echo signals are collected for an entire region of the k-space;
• and
• image reconstruction means for reconstructing MR images from the echo signals for the entire region of the k-space collected by the data acquisition means by a repeated application of the pulse sequence by the pulse sequence execution means.