Patent ID: 6414487
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A method of magnetic resonance imaging comprising:(a) exciting magnetic resonance in a volume of interest; (b) inducing a train of magnetic resonance echoes, said echoes generating magnetic resonance echo signals; (c) computing an ordered list of k-space views to be sampled; (d) phase and frequency encoding each magnetic resonance echo of the train into predetermined regions of a three-dimensional k-space in accordance with the ordered view list; (e) sampling each encoded magnetic resonance echo to create a row of data; (f) performing a plurality of one-dimensional Fourier transforms along a first direction on each row of data; (g) assigning and storing the transformed rows of data in one of a plurality of predetermined fast-access memory buffers; (h) upon sampling a complete plane of k-space, performing a plurality of Fourier transforms along a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction; (i) storing the twice-transformed data into an intermediate memory media; and (j) upon sampling each k-space view in accordance with step (e), performing a plurality of Fourier transforms along a third direction which is orthogonal to the first and second directions, rendering a volumetric image representation.