Magnetic resonance method, apparatus and radiofrequency coil for acquiring magnetic resonance data of at least one tooth

1. A method to acquire magnetic resonance data from at least one tooth of an examination subject comprising:

operating a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit with a data acquisition sequence to acquire magnetic resonance data from at least one tooth of an examination subject;

using, as said pulse sequence, a pulse sequence having an echo time of less than 0.5 milliseconds and that spatially codes the acquired measurement data from said at least one tooth in only two spatial directions;

providing the acquired magnetic resonance data to a processor and, in said processor, generating projection image data representing a two-dimensional projection of said at least one tooth from said magnetic resonance data that are spatially coded in only two spatial directions; and

making said projection image data available in electronic form at an output of said processor, as a data file.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising operating said magnetic resonance data acquisition unit by activating phase coding gradients in said pulse sequence that cause a projection direction of said projection image data to proceed along a predetermined axis.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising operating said magnetic resonance data acquisition unit with said pulse sequence to enter said measurement data into k-space corresponding to an imaging region that comprises said at least one tooth, by entering said magnetic resonance data into a first region of k-space along radial trajectories and entering magnetic resonance data into a second region of k-space, that is not covered by said first region and that includes a center of k-space, at least twice, point-by-point, according to a single point imaging sequence.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising entering said magnetic resonance data into a portion of k-space that is not covered by said first region and that includes said k-space center, along a Cartesian trajectory.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising operating said magnetic resonance data acquisition unit with said pulse sequence to radiate radiofrequency pulses into said examination subject with a coil having a shape and dimensions dedicated to dental imaging, and having an exposure volume comprising at least two molars or up to four incisors of said examination subject.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising operating said magnetic resonance data acquisition unit in said pulse sequence to acquire said magnetic resonance data with a coil dedicated to dental imaging having an acquisition volume comprising at least two molars or up to four incisors of said examination subject.

7. A magnetic resonance coil dedicated to dental imaging comprising

a plurality of coil elements each comprising a coil conductor; and

each coil conductor being configured with a shape and dimensions that allow said coil elements to fit in gaps around and within a row of teeth of an examination subject, so as to cause each coil conductor to radiate or receive radiofrequency signals only within a volume of a size encompassing at least two molars or up to four incisors of said row of teeth.

8. A coil as claimed in claim 7 wherein each coil element is configured to respectively radiate or detect signals in respective volumes of equal size, or different sizes.

9. A coil as claimed in claim 7 wherein said coil elements are shaped and dimensioned to follow a curve of said row of teeth of the examination subject.

10. A magnetic resonance apparatus comprising:

a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit;

a control unit configured to operate the magnetic resonance data acquisition unit with a data acquisition sequence to acquire magnetic resonance data from at least one tooth of an examination subject;

said control unit being configured to use, as said pulse sequence, a pulse sequence having an echo time of less than 0.5 milliseconds and that spatially codes the acquired measurement data from said at least one tooth in only two spatial directions;

a processor provided with the acquired magnetic resonance data, said processor being configured to generate projection image data representing a two-dimensional projection of said at least one tooth from said magnetic resonance data that are spatially coded in only two spatial directions; and

said processor being configured to make said projection image data available in electronic form at an output of said processor, as a data file.

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

operate the magnetic resonance data acquisition unit with a data acquisition sequence to acquire magnetic resonance data from at least one tooth of an examination subject;

use, as said pulse sequence, a pulse sequence having an echo time of less than 0.5 milliseconds and that spatially codes the acquired measurement data from said at least one tooth in only two spatial directions;

generate projection image data representing a two-dimensional projection of said at least one tooth from said magnetic resonance data that are spatially coded in only two spatial directions; and

make said projection image data available in electronic form at an output of said control and evaluation unit, as a data file.