Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a sequence controlling unit that, by controlling an execution of a pulse sequence, acquires magnetic resonance (MR) signals corresponding to a plurality of channels in the pulse sequence executed as a series, the MR signals being configured to be arranged into a first region of a k-space at first intervals and into a second region larger than the first region at second intervals larger than the first intervals; an arranging unit that arranges the MR signals corresponding to the channels into the k-space as k-space data; and an image generating unit that generates first-interval k-space data corresponding to the channels based on the second-interval k-space data acquired by executing the pulse sequence and generates a magnetic resonance image based on the generated first-interval k-space data, the first-interval k-space data acquired by executing the pulse sequence, and sensitivity distributions corresponding to the channels.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging condition setting unit, a data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The imaging condition setting unit sets respective imaging conditions corresponding to plural imaging regions. The respective imaging conditions include at least one non-contrast-enhanced imaging condition. The data acquisition unit acquires respective pieces of data corresponding to the plural imaging regions according to the respective imaging conditions. The image data generating unit generates image data based on the respective pieces of data corresponding to the plural imaging regions.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, process, display processing system and/or computer readable medium with stored program code structure thereon is configured to provide for obtaining a composite image which simultaneously includes information from a magnitude MR image and a phase MR image. The composite image is generated by assigning a first color display channel to the magnitude MR image and a second color display channel to the phase MR image, and generating the composite image by assigning to respective pixels in the composite image color values based upon a combination of corresponding pixels in the assigned first and second color display channels.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable medium is configured to effect MR imaging based upon arterial spin labeling (ASL) by forming a plurality of ASL perfusion images of an object where each perfusion image corresponds to a respective phase offset, and by generating a corrected perfusion image by fitting corresponding points from each of the plurality of perfusion images to a polynomial function for respective points of the corrected perfusion image.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a memory, a specifying unit, and a display controller. The memory stores a corresponding color table representing correspondence relationships between T1 values of which value ranges with respect to each tissue are known and colors to be assigned to pixels with the T1 values. The specifying unit analyzes a T1-valued image and specifies colors to be assigned to each pixel on the basis of T1 values converted from pixel values of each pixel and the corresponding color table. The display controller displays on a display the image color-coded with the specified colors.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes at least one controller configured to first acquire at least MRI locator image data for different portions of patient anatomy at each of different imaging stations for a defined multi-station locator sequence. An operator may interface with a respectively corresponding displayed locator image for each imaging station to set diagnostic scan sequence parameters for subsequent diagnostic MRI scans of corresponding portions of patient anatomy. Diagnostic MRI scan data is automatically acquired at each of the imaging stations in a multi-station diagnostic scan sequence that, if desired, can be seamlessly continued without operator interruption once begun.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a first imaging unit, an identifying unit, and a second imaging execution unit. The first imaging execution unit acquires, after applying a labeling RF pulse to blood flowing into the myocardium of a subject, multiple non-contrast MR data for which the time intervals between labeling and acquiring data are different by performing sequential imaging of an imaging area including the myocardium in each segment of a k-space for a given time interval. The identifying unit identifies a time interval taken by the labeled blood to reach a given position in the imaging area. The second imaging execution unit sets the identified time interval and, after applying a labeling RF pulse to the blood flowing into the myocardium of the subject, acquires non-contrast MR data by imaging the imaging area including the myocardium.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable medium is configured to effect MR imaging based upon arterial spin labeling (ASL) using a tagging image and a control image. The tagging image is based upon applying a tagging pulse train including a plurality of saturation pulses to a tagging area followed by applying a first imaging pulse train to an imaging area; and the control image is based upon applying a control pulse train to a control area followed by applying a second imaging pulse train to the imaging area. The tagging area, the control area, and the imaging area are located at respectively different positions in relation to the object being imaged.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a first data acquisition unit, a second data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The first data acquisition unit acquires first data from a slice to be a target after a first delay time from a reference of a first heart rate in synchronized with an electrocardiogram. The second data acquisition unit acquires second data from the slice after a second delay time from a reference of a second heart rate which is different from the first heart rate. The image data generating unit generates image data with image reconstruction processing using the first data and the second data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a first data acquisition unit, a second data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The first data acquisition unit acquires first data from a slice to be a target after a first delay time from a reference of a first heart rate in synchronization with an electrocardiogram. The second data acquisition unit acquires second data from the slice after a second delay time from a reference of a second heart rate which is different from the first heart rate. The image data generating unit generates image data with image reconstruction processing using the first data and the second data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a collecting unit, a specifying unit, an acquiring unit and a calculating unit. The collecting unit collects a plurality of fluid images that are images of a fluid traveling though a subject. The specifying unit specifies a distance traveled by the fluid by using a difference image between a reference image that is one of the fluid images and each fluid image. The acquiring unit acquires an elapsed time corresponding to the traveled distance from pulse sequence information that is used to collect the fluid images. The calculating unit calculates a flow velocity of the fluid by dividing the traveled distance by the elapsed time.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable storage medium is configured to effect QISS (quiescent interval single shot) MR imaging (e.g., MR angiography or MRA) where an optimized flip angle for one or more initial saturation pulses minimizes background signal from tissue and/or venous blood. Upon expiration of first configurable time interval from a start of a scan interval, at least one saturation pulse having a flip angle greater than ninety degrees is applied so that longitudinal magnetization of background tissue and venous blood in the selected area is approximately at a null value at the beginning of a readout time (occurring upon expiry of a second time interval) and/or when a lowest frequency of k-space data is acquired for the selected area.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, method and/or computer readable storage medium is configured to effect enhanced magnetic transfer (MT) effects and chemical exchange saturation transfer (LEST) effects. The configured techniques include irradiating an object in an MRI gantry by applying a sequence of magnetic transfer (MT) pulses over a range of different frequencies, and then applying an MR imaging sequence to the irradiated object.

Abstract: Elicited MRI signals are processed into MR image data in conjunction (a) with use of an initial spatially-selective RF tag pulse (tag-on) and (b) without use of an initial spatially-selective NMR RF tag pulse (tag-off) in respectively corresponding data acquisition subsequences. Multi-dimensional tag-on and tag-off data acquisition subsequences are used for each of plural time-to-inversion (TI) intervals without using an injected contrast agent. Acquired image data sets are subtracted for each TI interval to produce difference values as a function of time representing blood perfusion for the ROI that differentiates between normal, ischemic and infarct tissues.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system obtains an MR image of an object. The system detects an ECG signal and performs a pulse sequence of RF gradient magnetic fields toward the object. Imaging defined by the pulse sequence is longer in temporal length than one heartbeat. The system further acquires an MR signal from the object in response to performance of the pulse sequence and produces the MR image based on the acquired MR signal. Also possible are: a plurality of divided MT pulses instead of the conventional single MT pulse, an SE-system pulse sequence having a shorter echo train spacing, and the generation of sounds by applying gradient pulses incorporated in an imaging pulse sequence so as to automatically instruct a patient to perform an intermittent breath hold.

Abstract: Velocity of MR-imaged fluid flows is measured. Data representing a measure of distance traveled by flowing fluid appearing in at least two MR images of a subject's tissue taken at different respective imaging times is generated. Data representing at least one fluid velocity measurement of the flowing fluid is generated by calculating at least one instance of distance traveled by the fluid divided by elapsed time during travel based on different respective imaging times. Data representing at least one fluid velocity measurement is then output to at least one of: (a) a display screen, (b) a non-transitory data storage medium, and (c) a remotely located site.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance image (MRI) data array representing an image is filtered in k-space (Fourier space) domain to produce a low-pass filtered data array, a band-pass filtered data array and a high-pass filtered data array. These filtered k-space arrays are two-dimensionally Fourier-Transformed into the image domain where the magnitude of the band-pass filtered data array is thresholded and feathered to produce a fuzzy continuous valued (“gray-scale”) edge mask data array, and the real part of the high-pass filtered data array may, if desired, be soft-thresholded to produce a soft thresholded sharpening mask data array. The edge mask data array is multiplied with the sharpening mask data array and the result is added to the magnitude of the low-pass filtered data array in the image domain to produce a Gibbs' ringing and noise-filtered image to better represent the underlying anatomy.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a sequence controller. The sequence controller is configured to apply MT (Magnetization Transfer) pulses having a frequency different from a resonance frequency of free water protons and then acquires magnetic resonance signals of an object to be imaged. The sequence controller acquires the magnetic resonance signals for each of multiple frequencies while changing the frequency of MT pulses within a frequency band based on a T2 relaxation time of restricted protons contained in the object to be imaged.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system acquires MRI data within one patient breath-hold sufficient to generate (a) at least one tag-off first type non-contrast cardiac perfusion image using a data acquisition sub-sequence including a non-selective IR (inversion recovery) pulse and (b) at least one tag-on second type non-contrast cardiac perfusion image using a data acquisition sub-sequence including a non-selective IR pulse and a spatially selective IR pulse. A set of registered tag-on and tag-off images are differentially combined to produce an accurate cardiac perfusion image.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a sequence controller and a data processor. The sequence controller executes a pulse sequence using a combination of multiple types of labeling methods to acquire magnetic resonance signals. The data processor generates multiple types of labeled images based on the magnetic resonance signals.