Methods and systems for improved magnetic resonance acquisition using a single acquisition type

1. A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method of simultaneously estimating multiple physical parameters using a single gradient echo acquisition type, comprising:

from an MR scanner, obtaining at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions of a common acquisition type;

in a computer, interleaving the at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions with a R 1 -sensitizing phase, a R 2 sensitizing phase and a delay time; and

in the computer, generating measures for R 1 relaxation rate and R 2 relaxation rate and proton density (PD) from the at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions, thereby simultaneously estimating multiple physical parameters using the single gradient echo acquisition type.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least three acquisitions are preformed performed twice, resulting in at least six acquisitions; the at least six acquisitions are interleaved with at least two R 1 -sensitizing phases, a R 2 sensitizing phase, a diffusion sensitizing phase, and at least one delay time(s) time; and measures for R 1 relaxation rate and R 2 relaxation rate, PD and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) are generated from the at least six acquisitions.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one acquisition is a spoiled gradient acquisition.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one acquisition is a balanced steady state free precession acquisition (bSSFP).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one acquisition is an echo planar imaging acquisition (EPI).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one acquisition is performed on a two-dimensional (2D) slice.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one acquisition is performed on a three-dimensional (3D) volume.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the R 1 sensitizing phase comprises a 90 degrees RF saturation pulse.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the R 2 sensitizing phase comprises a 90 degrees RF pulse, a 180 degrees refocusing pulse, and a −90 degrees RF pulse.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the R 2 sensitizing phase comprises a 90 degrees RF pulse, multiple 180 degrees refocusing pulses, and a −90 degrees RF pulse.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the diffusion sensitizing phase comprises a 90 degrees RF pulse, a 180 degrees refocusing pulse, and a −90 degrees RF pulse; and the 180 degrees refocusing pulse is straddled by gradients.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the R 1 relaxation rate is estimated using image signal intensity of all acquisitions after the R 1 sensitizing phase.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the R 2 relaxation rate is estimated using image signal intensity of the acquisitions at least one gradient-echo acquisition prior to and at least one gradient-echo acquisition after the R 2 sensitizing phase.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein a B 1 field of a scanner for obtaining the gradient-echo acquisitions is estimated using image signal intensity of the acquisitions prior to and after the R 1 sensitizing phase.

15. The method of claim 2 , wherein the ADC is estimated using image signal intensity of the gradient-echo acquisitions prior to and after the R 2 sensitizing phase and prior to and after the diffusion sensitizing phase.

16. A magnetic resonance imaging device for simultaneously estimating multiple physical parameters using a single gradient echo acquisition type, the magnetic resonance imaging device being configured for:

obtaining at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions of the single gradient echo acquisition type, and

interleaving the at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions with a R 1 -sensitizing phase, a R 2 sensitizing phase, and a delay time, thereby simultaneously estimating multiple physical parameters using the single gradient echo acquisition type.

17. The magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 16 , wherein the device is further configured for generating measures for R 1 relaxation and R 2 relaxation rate and proton density (PD) from the at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions.

18. The magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 16 , wherein the device is configured for performing the at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions twice, resulting in at least six acquisitions, and for interleaving the acquisitions with at least two R 1 -sensitizing phases, a R 2 sensitizing phase, a diffusion sensitizing phase, and at least one delay time(s) time.

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein the device is further configured for generating measures for R 1 relaxation rate and R 2 relaxation rate, PD, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from the at least six acquisitions.

20. A non-transitory digital storage medium having stored thereon computer program instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform:

from a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, obtaining at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions of a single gradient echo acquisition type,

in the computer, interleaving the at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions with a R 1 -sensitizing phase, a R 2 sensitizing phase, and a delay time, and

in the computer, generating measures for R 1 relaxation rate and R 2 relaxation rate and proton density (PD) from the at least three parallel, segmented gradient-echo acquisitions, thereby simultaneously estimating multiple physical parameters using a single gradient echo acquisition type.