(SMASH) Several lines of data are acquired for each phase encoding step, which is also referred to as a k-space trajectory.
SMASH imaging with a four-element array coil is four times faster and can be used to achieve almost real-time imaging. The maximum reduction in acquisition time is determined by the number of array coil elements. Thus, the heart can be scanned with higher temporal resolution and increased spatial resolution.
SMASH and SENSE differ from other techniques in which only one line of k-space data is acquired for each phase encoding gradient step.
An RF array coil consisting of 2 - 6 several separately resonant elements, 2 or more of which can be selected as the receiver coil at a particular time. Coils not in use are decoupled. The spatial information related to the coils of a receiver array are utilized, reference images are required, obtained with each array element and with a body coil. Fast parallel imaging techniques using surface multicoils, such as sensitivity encoding (SENSE) or simultaneous acquisition of spatial harmonics (SMASH), have recently raised interest in the field of MR imaging.