Methods, systems and computer program products of magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) using ultra short echo times and spiral sampling in k-space
are disclosed. A long inversion radio frequency (RF) pulse that inverts
magnetization of long T2 components are applied to a sample that exhibits
long transverse relaxation time (T2) components and short T2 components
to minimize signals corresponding to the long T2 components. In addition,
half RF excitation pulses are applied to the sample to select one or more
echo times. Data corresponding to the selected one or more echo times are
acquired using a spiral trajectory, and a first echo image is obtained
based on the acquired data.