Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with tracking an ablative device and monitoring an ablation produced by the ablative device are described. One example method includes acquiring a magnetic resonance (MR) image of an ablative device inserted in a body and selectively controlling positioning of the ablative device based, at least in part on the MR image. The MR image may be continuously provided in real-time by an interventional MR imaging apparatus programmed to image using a tri-orthogonal plane sequence. The method may also include acquiring an MR image of an ablation performed by the ablative device, and selectively controlling the ablative device based, at least in part, on the MR image. The MR image may also be provided by the IMRI apparatus operating according to a tri-orthogonal plane sequence. In one example, the ablation may treat hypopharyngeal obstructive sleep apnea by reducing tongue base volume.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus to perform a balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) technique that includes magnetization preparation with differentiated velocity encoding and spoiling residual transverse magnetization are described. The example systems, methods, and other embodiments are also associated with acquiring a dark blood image in response to the bSSFP technique. A dark blood image is one in which NMR signal acquired from an object subjected to the bSSFP technique and magnetization preparation includes NMR signal from flowing spins and NMR signal from non-flowing spins in a desired ratio.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus to perform a balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) technique that includes magnetization preparation with differentiated velocity encoding and spoiling residual transverse magnetization are described. The example systems, methods, and other embodiments are also associated with acquiring a dark blood image in response to the bSSFP technique. A dark blood image is one in which NMR signal acquired from an object subjected to the bSSFP technique and magnetization preparation includes NMR signal from flowing spins and NMR signal from non-flowing spins in a desired ratio.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus to perform a balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) technique that includes magnetization preparation with differentiated velocity encoding and spoiling residual transverse magnetization are described. The example systems, methods, and other embodiments are also associated with acquiring a dark blood image in response to the bSSFP technique. A dark blood image is one in which NMR signal acquired from an object subjected to the bSSFP technique and magnetization preparation includes NMR signal from flowing spins and NMR signal from non-flowing spins in a desired ratio.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus to perform a balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) technique that includes magnetization preparation with differentiated velocity encoding and spoiling residual transverse magnetization are described. The example systems, methods, and other embodiments are also associated with acquiring a dark blood image in response to the bSSFP technique. A dark blood image is one in which NMR signal acquired from an object subjected to the bSSFP technique and magnetization preparation includes NMR signal from flowing spins and NMR signal from non-flowing spins in a desired ratio.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with tracking an ablative device and monitoring an ablation produced by the ablative device are described. One example method includes acquiring a magnetic resonance (MR) image of an ablative device inserted in a body and selectively controlling positioning of the ablative device based, at least in part on the MR image. The MR image may be continuously provided in real-time by an interventional MR imaging apparatus programmed to image using a tri-orthogonal plane sequence. The method may also include acquiring an MR image of an ablation performed by the ablative device, and selectively controlling the ablative device based, at least in part, on the MR image. The MR image may also be provided by the IMRI apparatus operating according to a tri-orthogonal plane sequence. In one example, the ablation may treat hypopharyngeal obstructive sleep apnea by reducing tongue base volume.