Abstract: The invention provides for medical instrument (200, 300) comprising a medical imaging system (202, 302) for acquiring medical image data (236) from an imaging zone (204) and a treatment system (206, 322) for depositing energy into a treatment zone (208). A processor executing instructions receives (100) a selection of a reference location and one or more anatomical references.

Abstract: A system (20) for quality assurance of a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging device (23) used in magnetic resonance based radiation therapy planning includes a phantom (10) weighing less than 18.2 kg (40 lbs.). The phantom includes a three dimensional spatial distribution of MR and CT imagable elements (12) located in an MR and CT inert foam support (14), and an MR and CT inert external support structure (16) which surrounds and hermetically seals the foam support. The spatial distribution is sized to completely fill an imaging volume of the magnetic resonance imaging device.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (78) includes a magnetic resonance imaging device (80), one or more processors (104), and a display (106). The magnetic resonance imaging device (80) includes a magnet (82), gradient coils (88), and one or more radio frequency coils (92). The magnet (82) generates a Bo field. The gradient coils (88) apply gradient fields to the Bo field. The one or more radio frequency coils (92) generate a radio frequency pulse to excite magnetic resonance and measure generated gradient echoes. The one or more processors (104) are configured to activate (116) the one or more radio frequency coils (92) to generate a series of radio frequency pulses spaced by repetition times and to induce magnetic resonance.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) system (10) generates an attenuation or density map. The system (10) includes a MR scanner (48) defining an examination volume (16) and at least one processor (54). The at least one processor (54) is programmed to control the MR scanner (48) to apply imaging sequences to the examination volume (16). In response to the imaging sequences, MR data sets of the examination volume (16) are received and analyzed to identify different tissue and/or material types found in pixels or voxels of the attenuation or density map. One or more tissue-specific and/or material-specific attenuation or density values are assigned to each pixel or voxel of the attenuation or density map based on the tissue and/or material type(s) identified as being in each pixel or voxel during the analysis of the MR data sets. In one embodiment, the tissue and/or material types are identified on the basis of a time series of MR phase images.

Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a magnetic resonance imaging system for acquiring magnetic resonance data from an imaging volume, a processor for controlling the medical apparatus, and a memory containing machine executable instructions and a pulse sequence. The magnetic resonance data acquired using the pulse sequence comprises free induction decay data and multiple gradient echo data. Execution of the instructions causes the processor to acquire the magnetic resonance data using the magnetic resonance imaging system in accordance with the pulse sequence, and reconstruct an in-phase image, a fat-saturated image, a water-saturated image, and an ultra-short echo time image from the magnetic resonance data, wherein the ultra-short echo time image comprises bone image data.

Abstract: A dual magnetic resonance imaging method simultaneously acquires a first and a second time series of MR images wherein the temporal resolution of the first time series of images is larger than that of the second time series while the spatial resolution of the first time series of images is smaller than that of the second time series. Accordingly, in the context of DCE-MRI, the first time series can be used to determine the arterial input function (AIF) while the second time series can be used to determine the concentration time course in the tissue of interest, e.g. in a vessel wall. Therefore, both the AIF and the tissue time course can be acquired with their optimal dynamic signal range.

Abstract: The invention provides for medical instrument (200, 300) comprising a medical imaging system (202, 302) for acquiring medical image data (236) from an imaging zone (204) and a treatment system (206, 322) for depositing energy into a treatment zone (208). A processor executing instructions receives (100) a selection of a reference location and one or more anatomical references.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) system (10) generates an attenuation or density map. The system (10) includes a MR scanner (48) defining an examination volume (16) and at least one processor (54). The at least one processor (54) is programmed to control the MR scanner (48) to apply imaging sequences to the examination volume (16). In response to the imaging sequences, MR data sets of the examination volume (16) are received and analyzed to identify different tissue and/or material types found in pixels or voxels of the attenuation or density map. One or more tissue-specific and/or material-specific attenuation or density values are assigned to each pixel or voxel of the attenuation or density map based on the tissue and/or material type(s) identified as being in each pixel or voxel during the analysis of the MR data sets. In one embodiment, the tissue and/or material types are identified on the basis of a time series of MR phase images.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (78) includes a magnetic resonance imaging device (80), one or more processors (104), and a display (106). The magnetic resonance imaging device (80) includes a magnet (82), gradient coils (88), and one or more radio frequency coils (92). The magnet (82) generates a Bo field. The gradient coils (88) apply gradient fields to the Bo field. The one or more radio frequency coils (92) generate a radio frequency pulse to excite magnetic resonance and measure generated gradient echoes. The one or more processors (104) are configured to activate (116) the one or more radio frequency coils (92) to generate a series of radio frequency pulses spaced by repetition times and to induce magnetic resonance.

Abstract: A system (20) for quality assurance of a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging device (23) used in magnetic resonance based radiation therapy planning includes a phantom (10) weighing less than 18.2 kg (40 lbs.). The phantom includes a three dimensional spatial distribution of MR and CT imagable elements (12) located in an MR and CT inert foam support (14), and an MR and CT inert external support structure (16) which surrounds and hermetically seals the foam support. The spatial distribution is sized to completely fill an imaging volume of the magnetic resonance imaging device.

Abstract: The invention discloses a dual magnetic resonance imaging method for simultaneously acquiring a first and a second time series of MR images wherein the temporal resolution of the first time series of images is larger than that of the second time series while the spatial resolution of the first time series of images is smaller than that of the second time series. Accordingly, in the context of DCE-MRI, the first time series can be used to determine the arterial input function (AIF) while the second time series can be used to determine the concentration time course in the tissue of interest, e.g. in a vessel wall. Therefore, both the AIF and the tissue time course can be acquired with their optimal dynamic signal range.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a magnetic resonance imaging system, a processor for controlling the apparatus, and a memory containing machine executable instructions and a pulse sequence. The machine executable instructions and pulse sequence cause the processor to control the apparatus to: acquire magnetic resonance data from an imaging volume, wherein the magnetic resonance data includes gradient echo data; segment the magnetic resonance data into a plurality of segments, the segments including a fat segment, a water segment, a cortical bone segment, and an air segment; and create a bulk density map of the imaging volume from the segments.

Abstract: A medical apparatus includes a magnetic resonance imaging system for acquiring magnetic resonance data from an imaging volume, a processor for controlling the medical apparatus, and a memory containing machine executable instructions and a pulse sequence. The magnetic resonance data acquired using the pulse sequence comprises free induction decay data and multiple gradient echo data. Execution of the instructions causes the processor to acquire the magnetic resonance data using the magnetic resonance imaging system in accordance with the pulse sequence, and reconstruct an in-phase image, a fat-saturated image, a water-saturated image, and an ultra-short echo time image from the magnetic resonance data, wherein the ultra-short echo time image comprises bone image data.