A method of acquiring MR echo data and MRI system to reconstruct a three or more dimensional image of an object use a 'hybrid echo volume imaging (EVI)' technique. In the hybrid EVI, applied to the object at predetermined timings are one RF excitation pulse concurrently with a slice-selective pulse, a readout gradient pulse, and a plurality of RF refocusing pulses. After each of the plurality of RF refocusing pulses, applied to the object is a slice-encoding gradient pulse having a first encoding value changed at every application of each of the RF refocusing pulses. After the slice-encoding gradient pulse, applied are a plurality of further readout magnetic gradient pulses whose polarities are alternately inverted, thereby a plurality of echoes are generated from the object in response to inversion of the polarities. Concurrently with applying the slice-encoding pulse and the plurality of further readout gradient pulses, applied are phase-encoding gradient pulses having a second encoding value changed at every inversion of the polarities. GRASE-specific ringing artifacts are preferably eliminated without degrading an imaging matrix size or spatial resolution and without prolonging imaging time.
Method of echo volume imaging and MRI system using the same