A magnetic resonance cardiac imaging method for imaging during a cardiac cycle
interval includes monitoring an electrocardiographic signal (90) associated
with the imaged heart for a first trigger event (102). Responsive to the
first trigger event, a data acquisition sequence (112, 120) is applied,
including a first preparation sequence block (114), a first imaging sequence
block (116) having at least one readout interval (228) that collects
first data (118), a second preparation sequence block (122), and
a second imaging sequence block (124) having at least one readout interval
(228) that collects second data (126). The data acquisition sequence
(112, 120) occupies an acquisition time interval which is less than the
cardiac cycle interval of the imaged heart.