Patent ID: 7941204

Claim:
A method of acquiring magnetization prepared steady-state magnetic resonance imaging data from a tissue, comprising the steps of: defining a plane within k-space; dividing said plane within k-space into a plurality of pairs of radial wedges, wherein each pair of radial wedges has a common vertex at the center of k-space, further wherein each pair of radial wedges reside on opposite sides of the center of k-space, and further wherein said plurality of pairs of radial wedges represent all of said plane within k-space; collecting a series of images from said tissue by following a trajectory in k-space, wherein said trajectory comprises a first sequence of steps, wherein said first sequence comprises a first collection step across the width of the first of said first pair of radial wedges; and a second collection step along the border of said first of said first pair of radial wedges, wherein the second collection step is oriented towards the center of k-space; further wherein said first and second collection steps are repeated until said trajectory reaches the center of k-space, wherein said trajectory further comprises a second sequence of steps wherein said second sequence comprises a first collection step across the width of the second of said first pair of radial wedges; and a second collection step along the border of said second of said first pair of radial wedges, wherein the second collection step is oriented away from the center of k-space; further wherein said trajectory comprises a third sequence of steps wherein said third sequence comprises a third collection step across the width of said second of said first pair of radial wedges and further across the first of a second pair of radial wedges, wherein said second pair of radial wedges is adjacent to said first pair of radial wedges; and a fourth collection step along the border of said second of said first pair of radial wedges or along the border of said first of said second pair of radial wedges, wherein the second collection step is oriented away from the center of k-space.