MR data acquisition and reconstruction using efficient sampling schemes.

Fast Fourier algorithms are presented for image reconstruction from nonrectangularly sampled data. Since standard display devices require image matrices with rectangular pixels, these algorithms accept nonrectangularly sampled input and calculate output points on a rectangular array. Images are reconstructed with no loss of resolution on a 256x256 square pixel format from 224x256 hexagonally sampled raw data points with no interpolation. The images demonstrate aliasing in a hexagonal pattern around the primary image. This technique can be used to reduce scan time, data throughput, and data-storage requirements while maintaining resolution or to improve resolution while maintaining scan time.