The disclosed embodiments provide a method for acquiring MR data at resolutions down to tens of microns for application in
in vivo diagnosis and monitoring of
pathology for which changes in fine tissue textures can be used as markers of
disease onset and progression. Bone diseases, tumors, neurologic diseases, and diseases involving fibrotic growth and / or destruction are all target pathologies. Further the technique can be used in any biologic or
physical system for which very high-resolution characterization of fine scale morphology is needed. The method provides
rapid acquisition of
signal at selected values in k-space, with multiple successive acquisitions at individual k-values taken on a time scale on the order of microseconds, within a defined
tissue volume, and subsequent combination of the multiple measurements in such a way as to maximize SNR. The reduced acquisition volume, and acquisition of only
signal values at select places in k-space, along selected directions, enables much higher
in vivo resolution than is obtainable with current
MRI techniques.