System for performing echo-planar spectroscopic imaging

1. A system for performing echo-planar spectroscopic imaging, comprising:

an acquisition unit for acquiring magnetic resonance data, wherein the acquisition unit is structured to use a first encoding gradient (G R ) in a readout direction and a second encoding gradient (G P ) in a phase-encoding direction, wherein the first encoding gradient and the second encoding gradient are stepped, wherein each combination of a step of the first encoding gradient in the readout direction and a step of the second encoding gradient in the phase-encoding direction defines a respective segment within a k-space, and wherein a first direction (k x ) in the k-space corresponds to the readout direction and a second direction (k y ) in the k-space corresponds to the phase-encoding direction; and

a reconstruction unit for reconstructing a magnetic resonance image based on the acquired magnetic resonance data.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the magnetic resonance data such that in the k-space magnetic resonance data are not acquired for all segments.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the magnetic resonance data such that segments, for which magnetic resonance data are acquired, and segments, for which magnetic resonance data are not acquired, are distributed randomly.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the stepping of the first encoding gradient in the first direction (k x ) of the k-space divides the k-space into several columns each comprising several of the segments, wherein the acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the magnetic resonance data such that the distribution of segments, for which magnetic resonance data are acquired, and of segments, for which magnetic resonance data are not acquired, is different in at least two different columns.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the magnetic resonance data such that the distribution of segments, for which magnetic resonance data are acquired, and of segments, for which magnetic resonance data are not acquired, is different in different columns having different absolute positions in the first direction (k x ) of the k-space.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the magnetic resonance data such that in each column the segments, for which magnetic resonance data are acquired, and the segments, for which magnetic resonance data are not acquired, are distributed randomly.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the magnetic resonance data such that at least some columns comprise first ranges of segments, which include randomly distributed segments for which MR data are acquired, and second ranges of segments, for which MR data are not acquired, wherein the size of these ranges is different for at least two different columns.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the magnetic resonance data such that the first ranges decrease and the second ranges increase with increasing distance from the centre of k-space in the first direction (k x ) of the k-space for the respective column.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein the acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the magnetic resonance data such that a ratio of the segments, for which magnetic resonance data are not acquired, to the segments, for which magnetic resonance data are acquired, is different in at least two different columns.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the magnetic resonance data such that the ratio depends on the position of the respective column in the first direction (k x ) of the k-space.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein the acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the magnetic resonance data for different points in time such that magnetic resonance data are acquired for several k-spaces which correspond to the different points in time, wherein a ratio of the segments, for which magnetic resonance data are not acquired in the respective k-space, to the segments, for which magnetic resonance data are acquired in the respective k-space, increases with time.

12. The system of claim 2 wherein the acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the MR data for different points in time such that magnetic resonance data are acquired for several k-spaces which correspond to the different points in time, wherein a range, in which magnetic resonance data are acquired, in the second direction (k y ) increases with increasing time while preserving the same field-of-view, without increasing the number of steps of the second encoding gradient (G P ).

13. The system of claim 2 wherein the acquisition unit is adapted to acquire the MR data for different points in time such that magnetic resonance data are acquired for several k-spaces which correspond to the different points in time, wherein a field-of-view in an image domain is increased with increasing time while preserving spatial resolution, without increasing the number of steps of the second encoding gradient (G P ).

14. A method for performing echo-planar spectroscopic imaging, comprising:

under control of an acquisition unit, acquiring magnetic resonance data using a first encoding gradient (G R ) in a readout direction and a second encoding gradient (G P ) in a phase-encoding direction, wherein the first encoding gradient and the second encoding gradient are stepped, wherein each combination of a step of the first encoding gradient in the readout direction and a step of the second encoding gradient in the phase-encoding direction defines a respective segment within a k-space, and wherein a first direction (k x ) in the k-space corresponds to the readout direction and a second direction (k y ) in the k-space corresponds to the phase-encoding direction; and

under control of a reconstruction unit, reconstructing a magnetic resonance image based on the acquired magnetic resonance data.

15. A non-transitory computer readable memory medium containing computer program instructions for controlling a computer processor in an echo-planar spectroscopic imaging system having an acquisition unit and a reconstruction unit, when executed, to perform echo-planar spectroscopic imaging by performing a method comprising:

under control of the acquisition unit, acquiring magnetic resonance data, using a first encoding gradient (G R ) in a readout direction and a second encoding gradient (G P ) in a phase-encoding direction, wherein the first encoding gradient and the second encoding gradient are stepped, wherein each combination of a step of the first encoding gradient in the readout direction and a step of the second encoding gradient in the phase-encoding direction defines a respective segment within a k-space, and wherein a first direction (k x ) in the k-space corresponds to the readout direction and a second direction (k y ) in the k-space corresponds to the phase-encoding direction; and

under control of the reconstruction unit, reconstructing a magnetic resonance image based on the acquired magnetic resonance data.