Patent ID: 7176686

Claim:
An MR imaging method for forming an image of the nuclear magnetization distribution in an examination zone, which method includes the steps of: a) applying a first MR imaging sequence with a selectable minimum number of phase encoding steps, b) acquiring at least two separate MR signal data sets by means of at least two MR receiving coils, c) reconstructing a first MR image by Fourier transformation and combination of the separate MR signal data sets while taking into account the respective spatial sensitivity profiles of the MR receiving coils, d) evaluating the reconstructed MR image and, in dependence on the evaluation result either: (i) terminating the ima in method or (ii) refining the image by: e) applying a further MR imaging sequence with a number of further phase encoding steps, f) acquiring at least two additional MR signal data sets by means of the MR receiving coils, g) reconstructing a further MR image by Fourier transformation and combination of the previously acquired and additional MR signal data sets while taking into account the respective spatial sensitivity profiles of the MR receiving coils, h) evaluating the further MR image, and i) repeating steps e) to h) as necessary until the quality of the further MR image is evaluated as being adequate in the step e) then terminating the method.