Magnetic resonance system and method for obtaining magnetic resonance images of a body region with a flowing medium therein

A magnetic resonance apparatus for generating a magnetic resonance image of an imaging volume of a patient, comprising the steps of:

• a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit;
• a control unit configured to operate the magnetic resonance data acquisition unit to localize an anatomical inflow structure that supplies blood to an imaging volume of a patient located in the data acquisition unit;
• said control unit being configured to operate said magnetic resonance data acquisition unit to acquire magnetic resonance diagnostic data from said imaging volume in an imaging sequence, and said control unit being configured to formulate a protocol for said imaging sequence to designate a specific volume that includes said imaging volume and to adapt said specific volume to said anatomical inflow structure to produce an adapted specific volume having a recess therein, by making a recess-producing, three-dimensional incision into said specific volume that removes at least a three-dimensional portion of said anatomical inflow structure from said specific volume;
• said control unit being configured to operate said magnetic resonance data acquisition unit to produce a modification of a magnetization of the adapted specific volume, said modification being selected from the group consisting of saturating the magnetization of the adapted specific volume and inverting the magnetization of the adapted specific volume;
• said control unit being configured to operate said magnetic resonance data acquisition unit to implement said imaging sequence according to said protocol to obtain diagnostic magnetic resonance data from said imaging volume during the modified magnetization of the adapted specific volume;
• and
• an imaging computer configured to generate a magnetic resonance image of said imaging volume from said diagnostic magnetic resonance data.

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium encoded with programming instructions, said storage medium being loaded into a computerized control and processing system of a magnetic resonance apparatus, which comprises a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit, said programming instructions causing said computerized control and processing system to:

• operate the magnetic resonance data acquisition unit to localize an anatomical inflow structure that supplies blood to an imaging volume of a patient located in the data acquisition unit;
• for acquiring magnetic resonance diagnostic data from said imaging volume in an imaging sequence, formulate a protocol for said imaging sequence in a processor to designate a specific volume that includes said imaging volume and adapt said specific volume to said anatomical inflow structure to produce an adapted specific volume having a recess therein, by making a recess-producing, three-dimensional incision into said specific volume that removes at least a three-dimensional portion of said anatomical inflow structure from said specific volume;
• operate said magnetic resonance data acquisition unit to produce a modification of a magnetization of the adapted specific volume, said modification being selected from the group consisting of saturating the magnetization of the adapted specific volume and inverting the magnetization of the adapted specific volume;
• operate said magnetic resonance data acquisition unit to implement said imaging sequence according to said protocol to obtain diagnostic magnetic resonance data from said imaging volume during the modified magnetization of the adapted specific volume;
• and
• generate a magnetic resonance image of said imaging volume from said diagnostic magnetic resonance data.