Abstract: A method and system for MR imaging are disclosed that include a fractional readout FOV to provide flexibility in scan volume prescription as well as reduce scan artifacts typically associated with uninteresting anatomy. The fractional readout FOV is defined by a frequency encode dimension smaller than the phase encode dimension.

Abstract: An MR imaging pulse sequence provides a method for simultaneous data acquisition from more than one independently prescribed volume while providing optimized field uniformity during both the magnetization preparation and data acquisition parts of the acquisition. The method is based on the use of a multi-element array coil where individual RF coil elements are more sensitive to one of the separate volumes of interest than to the other volumes. In the example of breast imaging, one scenario would have two coil elements that are designed to be most sensitive to the signal from the left breast, and two coil elements that are designed to be most sensitive to the signal from the right breast. An optimized pulse sequence and reconstruction technique is used to simultaneously acquire two separate sagittal imaging volumes corresponding to the left and right breasts with optimized fat suppression.

Abstract: An imaging method for an MRI system includes identifying a low signal region within a scanning volume. An overlap calculation of the scanning volume is generated. The low signal region is substantially eliminated from the overlap calculation thereby generating an adjusted overlap structure. A SENSE calculation is generated in response to the adjusted overlap structure.

Abstract: An MR imaging pulse sequence provides a method for simultaneous data acquisition from more than one independently prescribed volume while providing optimized field uniformity during both the magnetization preparation and data acquisition parts of the acquisition. The method is based on the use of a multi-element array coil where individual RF coil elements are more sensitive to one of the separate volumes of interest than to the other volumes. In the example of breast imaging, one scenario would have two coil elements that are designed to be most sensitive to the signal from the left breast, and two coil elements that are designed to be most sensitive to the signal from the right breast. An optimized pulse sequence and reconstruction technique is used to simultaneously acquire two separate sagittal imaging volumes corresponding to the left and right breasts with optimized fat suppression.