The period of time required to collect the image data. This time does not include the time necessary to reconstruct the image. The total time for performing a scan must take into consideration the additional image reconstruction time when determining how quickly the image may be viewed.

The time required to carry out a MR imaging. The total image acquisition time will be equal to the product of repetition time (TR), number of signals averaged (NSA), and the number of different signals (encoded for position) to be acquired for use in image reconstruction. The additional image reconstruction time will also be important to determine how quickly the image can be viewed. In comparing sequential plane imaging and volume imaging techniques, the equivalent image acquisition time per slice must be considered as well as the actual image acquisition time.

(MLSI) Variations of sequential line imaging techniques that can be used if selective excitation methods that do not affect adjacent lines are employed. Adjacent lines are imaged while waiting for relaxation of the first line toward equilibrium, which may result in decreased image acquisition time. A different type of MLSI uses simultaneous excitation of two or more lines with different phase encoding followed by suitable decoding.

A usual variation of sequential plane imaging technique that can be used with selective excitation technique that does not affect adjacent slices. Since, in SE imaging TR longer than TE, the machine would be idling most of the time, if a single slice would be acquired; multiple slice imaging was introduced early on. Adjacent slices are imaged while waiting for relaxation of the first slice toward equilibrium, resulting in decreased image acquisition time for the set of slices. The maximum number of slices of a pulse sequence depends on the repetition time.

Reconstruction of an image from a MR data set comprising an asymmetric sampling of k-space. For example, it can be used either to shorten image acquisition time, by reducing the number of phase encoding steps required, or to shorten the echo time, TE, by moving the echo off-center in the acquisition window. In either case the signal to noise ratio is reduced and the resolution can be improved to correspond to the maximum available resolution in the data.