Abstract: A magnetic resonance antenna includes a surface coil and a receive coil. The magnetic resonance antenna includes one or more antenna elements. The magnetic resonance antenna further includes a preamplifier for the antenna element and a coil former for supporting the antenna element. The coil former is formed from a porous material. The antenna is divided into an irradiation zone and at least one reduced radiation zone. The preamplifier for each of multiple antenna elements is located within the at least one reduced radiation zone. The multiple antenna elements are located at least partially within the irradiation zone. The coil former has a perimeter. The irradiation zone extends continuously from a first edge of the perimeter to a second edge of the perimeter. The first edge and the second edge are opposing edges.

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: The invention provides for a medical apparatus (300, 500, 600) comprising a high intensity focused ultrasound system (302), a memory containing instructions, and a processor. Execution of the instructions causes the processor to receive (100, 202) surface data (342) descriptive of the location of a surface (322). The surface data defines the location of the heating volume. Execution of the instructions further cause the processor to determine (102, 204) a set of transducer switching commands (344) using the heating location data and an ultrasound transducer element model (352) and control (104, 206) the high intensity focused ultrasound system with the set of transducer switching commands to heat the heating volume. The set of transducer switching commands comprises an intensity level for the multiple ultrasound transducer elements either above or below a predetermined intensity for controlling a cross sectional shape of the heating volume to encompass the surface.

Abstract: The invention provides for magnetic resonance antenna (100), wherein the magnetic resonance antenna is a surface coil and is a receive coil. The magnetic resonance antenna comprises one or more antenna elements (104, 404). The magnetic resonance antenna further comprises a preamplifier (402) for the antenna element and a coil former (106) for supporting the antenna element. The coil former is formed from a porous material. The antenna is divided into an irradiation zone (204) and at least one reduced radiation zone (202, 206). The preamplifier for each of multiple antenna elements is located within the at least one reduced radiation zone. The multiple antenna elements are located at least partially within the irradiation zone. The coil former has a perimeter, wherein the irradiation zone extends continuously from a first edge (208) of the perimeter to a second edge (210) of the perimeter. The first edge and the second edge are opposing edges.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical instrument (200, 300, 400, 500, 502, 600, 700, 702, 800, 802) comprising a LINAC guided by a magnetic resonance imaging system (204). Execution of the instructions by processor to controlling the medical instrument cause the processor to: receive (100) a treatment plan (260) for irradiating the target zone; modify (102) the treatment plan in accordance with an X-ray transmission model of an accessory; acquire (104) magnetic resonance data using the magnetic resonance imaging system; reconstruct (106) a magnetic resonance image (268) from the magnetic resonance data; register (108) a location (272) of the target zone in the magnetic resonance image; generate (110) control signals (274) in accordance with the location of the target zone and the X-ray transmission model; and control (112) the LINAC to irradiate the target zone using the control signals.

Abstract: It is an insight of the invention that to achieve good treatment efficiency there is a need to minimize the cooling times and while preventing overheating of a subject treated. This object is achieved by a guided thermal treatment system, comprising:—a thermal treatment system configured for applying thermal treatment pulses to a patient, wherein the thermal treatment pulses are spaced in time by a cool-down period,—a guidance system, configured to provide guidance to the thermal treatment, wherein the guidance system comprises a thermal module configured for providing a first and second level of cool-down period, the first level indicating a mandatory part of the cool-down period in which applying of a thermal treatment pulse is prohibited, the second level indicating a recommended part of the cool-down period in which applying a thermal treatment pulse would result in an elevated risk of overheating in a sensitive patient, but not in a non-sensitive patient.

Abstract: A high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy system comprises an ultrasound transduce to emit a focused ultrasound beam along a beam path. An ultrasound transparent window is positioned in the beam path. A fluid cooling system to provide cooling of an object to which the focused ultrasound beam is directed. The fluid cooling system includes a fluid receptacle mounted adjacent to the ultrasound transparent window and a cooling unit to cool a coolant and pass the coolant trough the fluid receptacle to and from the fluid receptacle. A degassing module and preferably also a filter to remove volatile components from the coolant. Dissolved air or other gases are removed from the coolant, so that the formation of bubbles in the coolant is avoided or at least suppressed.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical apparatus (500, 700, 800) comprising a high intensity focused ultrasound system (506). The medical apparatus further comprises a memory (550) for storing machine executable instructions (560, 562) for execution by a processor (544). Execution of the instructions cause the processor to: receive (100, 200, 304) previous sonication data (522) descriptive of a previous sonication of the subject; construct (102, 202, 306) a thermal property map (554) of the subject using the previous sonication data and a thermoacoustic model (562); determine (104, 204, 308) a maximum energy map (556) using the thermoacoustic model and the thermal property map, wherein the maximum energy is time dependent; display (106, 206, 310) the maximum energy map on a display (672); and receive (108, 208, 312) a selection of at least one thermoacoustic model and thermal property map sonication volume (580, 582) from a user interface (570).

Abstract: An RF/MR transmit and/or receive antenna is disclosed for use in a hybrid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (or MR scanner), which comprises an MRI system and another imaging system for example in the form of a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system. The RF transmit and/or receive antenna (40, 50) is provided with respect to its conductor structure such that it does not disturb or in any other way detrimentally influence the related other (i.e. HIFU) of the two systems, especially if both systems are operated simultaneously and if the RF antenna is positioned in close proximity to an object to be imaged.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical instrument (200, 300, 400, 500, 502, 600, 700, 702, 800, 802) comprising a LINAC guided by a magnetic resonance imaging system (204). Execution of the instructions by processor to controlling the medical instrument cause the processor to: receive (100) a treatment plan (260) for irradiating the target zone; modify (102) the treatment plan in accordance with an X-ray transmission model of an accessory; acquire (104) magnetic resonance data using the magnetic resonance imaging system; reconstruct (106) a magnetic resonance image (268) from the magnetic resonance data; register (108) a location (272) of the target zone in the magnetic resonance image; generate (110) control signals (274) in accordance with the location of the target zone and the X-ray transmission model; and control (112) the LINAC to irradiate the target zone using the control signals.

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: An RF transmit and/or receive antenna is disclosed, especially in the form of a coil structure or coil or loop arrangement, having one or more removable conductors, especially for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system or a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, for transmitting RF excitation signals (Bi field) for exciting nuclear magnetic resonances (NMR), and/or for receiving NMR relaxation signals. The RF antenna is provided such that it can be adapted in an easy way according to an application which either requires a large opening through the RF antenna or a parallel imaging capability.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical apparatus (300, 500, 600) comprising a high intensity focused ultrasound system (302), a memory containing instructions, and a processor. Execution of the instructions causes the processor to receive (100, 202) surface data (342) descriptive of the location of a surface (322). The surface data defines the location of the heating volume. Execution of the instructions further cause the processor to determine (102, 204) a set of transducer switching commands (344) using the heating location data and an ultrasound transducer element model (352) and control (104, 206) the high intensity focused ultrasound system with the set of transducer switching commands to heat the heating volume. The set of transducer switching commands comprises an intensity level for the multiple ultrasound transducer elements either above or below a predetermined intensity for controlling a cross sectional shape of the heating volume to encompass the surface.

Abstract: An RF/MR transmit and/or receive antenna is disclosed for use in a hybrid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (or MR scanner), which comprises an MRI system and another imaging system for example in the form of a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system. The RF transmit and/or receive antenna (40, 50) is provided with respect to its conductor structure such that it does not disturb or in any other way detrimentally influence the related other (i.e. HIFU) of the two systems, especially if both systems are operated simultaneously and if the RF antenna is positioned in close proximity to an object to be imaged.

Abstract: An RF transmit and/or receive antenna is disclosed, especially in the form of a coil structure or coil or loop arrangement, having one or more removable conductors, especially for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system or a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, for transmitting RF excitation signals (Bi field) for exciting nuclear magnetic resonances (NMR), and/or for receiving NMR relaxation signals. The RF antenna is provided such that it can be adapted in an easy way according to an application which either requires a large opening through the RF antenna or a parallel imaging capability.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (10) includes a main field magnet (12) which generates a B 0 magnetic field through an examination region (14). One or more electric power generators (30) are disposed in the B 0 magnetic field. Each of the electric power generators includes at least one winding or coil (34) which is rotatably mounted for movement relative to the B0 magnetic field. A mechanical mechanism (60) such as vanes or propellers (62), a turbine (74) in conjunction with a fluid pump (72), or a motor (78) in conjunction with a drive shaft (76) and gear box (74), drive the at least one winding (34) to move in such a manner that it interacts with the B 0 magnetic field to generate an electric current.