Abstract: An ultrasound probe configured for use in a multi-modality imaging system includes a body including one or more electrical components of the ultrasound probe, an outermost housing enclosing the ultrasound probe, and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield disposed between the body and the housing, wherein the EMI shield is configured to reduce interference between the ultrasound probe and one or more different imaging systems of the multi-modality imaging system. The ultrasound probe further includes a transducer disposed on a patient-facing surface of the ultrasound probe and a cable coupled to the body and configured to communicatively couple the ultrasound probe to an ultrasound imaging system of the multi-modality imaging system, wherein the ultrasound probe comprises substantially non-ferromagnetic material.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to magnetic resonance imaging systems and, more specifically, to the manufacturing of a gradient coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. For example, in one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a gradient coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes depositing a first layer comprising a base material onto a surface to form a substrate and depositing a second layer onto the first layer. The second layer may enable bonding between a conductor material and the substrate. The method also includes depositing a third layer onto the second layer using a consolidation process. The consolidation process uses the conductor material to form at least a portion of a gradient coil.

Abstract: A system and method for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is disclosed that facilitates the phase sensitive reconstruction of inversion recovery magnetization prepared data with minimal scan time penalty by acquiring the phase reference data with low spatial resolution. The technique can be applied for the investigation of myocardial tissue characterization by acquiring 2D and/or 3D late Gadolinium enhancement (LGE) scans after the injection of a Gadolinium contrast agent. Regional areas of contrast accumulation in scarred myocardial tissue appear bright on these T1-weighted images. As disclosed here the proposed technique for phase sensitive inversion recovery acquisition with low resolution phase reference is robust against changes in inversion time, change in T1 due to Gadolinium contrast washout, high signal-to-noise ratio, and low scan time penalty compared to magnitude LGE.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to magnetic resonance imaging systems and, more specifically, to the manufacturing of a gradient coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems. For example, in one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a gradient coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes depositing a first layer comprising a base material onto a surface to form a substrate and depositing a second layer onto the first layer. The second layer may enable bonding between a conductor material and the substrate. The method also includes depositing a third layer onto the second layer using a consolidation process. The consolidation process uses the conductor material to form at least a portion of a gradient coil.

Abstract: Magnetic material imaging (MMI) system including first and second sets of field-generating coils. Each of the field-generating coils of the first and second sets has an elongated segment that extends along an imaging axis of the medical imaging system. The imaging axis extends through a region-of-interest (ROI) of an object. The elongated segments of the first set of field-generating coils are positioned opposite the elongated segments of the second set of field-generating coils and the ROI is located between the first and second sets of field-generating coils. The MMI system also includes a coil-control module configured to control a flow of current through the first and second sets of field-generating coils to generate a selection field and to generate a drive field. The selection and drive fields combine to form a movable 1D field free region (FFR) that extends through the ROI.

Abstract: A method for determining an arterial pulse wave velocity representative of a health condition of a blood vessel includes receiving an image data set comprising a plurality of images of a subject, from an imaging modality. The method also involves determining a blood vessel region in an image from the plurality of images. The method further includes determining a plurality of cross-sectional area values of a blood vessel at a plurality of locations in the blood vessel region, corresponding to a plurality of phases of a cardiac cycle of the subject and determining a plurality of flow rate values of blood flowing in the blood vessel corresponding to the plurality of cross-sectional area values. The method also includes determining a hemodynamic model based on the plurality of cross-sectional area values and the plurality of blood flow rate values and determining the arterial pulse wave velocity based on the hemodynamic model.

Abstract: A gradient coil comprises a curved conductor, which is tubular and has a general spiral shape. The curved conductor is formed by a process comprising depositing at least one non-conductive material layer by layer to form a substrate, and coating at least a portion of a surface of the substrate with a conductive material. The substrate has a shape matching with the general spiral shape of the curved conductor. Embodiments of the present disclosure further refer to a method for manufacturing the gradient coil.

Abstract: A system and method for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is disclosed that facilitates the phase sensitive reconstruction of inversion recovery magnetization prepared data with minimal scan time penalty by acquiring the phase reference data with low spatial resolution. The technique can be applied for the investigation of myocardial tissue characterization by acquiring 2D and/or 3D late Gadolinium enhancement (LGE) scans after the injection of a Gadolinium contrast agent. Regional areas of contrast accumulation in scarred myocardial tissue appear bright on these T1-weighted images. As disclosed here the proposed technique for phase sensitive inversion recovery acquisition with low resolution phase reference is robust against changes in inversion time, change in T1 due to Gadolinium contrast washout, high signal-to-noise ratio, and low scan time penalty compared to magnitude LGE.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to acquiring multiple sets of positron emission tomography (PET) data for different areas of a subject concurrently with acquiring portions of a single magnetic resonance field of view. Positron emission tomography (PET) images and magnetic resonance (MR) images can be acquired using a combined PET-MRI scanner, wherein, for example, a first portion of MR data from a MR field of view can be acquired concurrently with a first acquisition of PET data, a position of the MR field of view can be adjusted in response to a change in a location of a bed in the combined PET-MRI scanner, and a second portion of MR data from the MR field of view can be acquired concurrently with a second acquisition of PET data.

Abstract: Methods and systems using magnetic resonance and ultrasound for tracking anatomical targets for radiation therapy guidance are provided. One system includes a patient transport configured to move a patient between and into a magnetic resonance (MR) system and a radiation therapy (RT) system. An ultrasound transducer is also provided that is hands-free and electronically steerable, securely attached to the patient, such that the ultrasound transducer is configured to acquire four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound images concurrently with one of an MR acquisition or an RT radiation therapy session. The system also includes a controller having a processor configured to use the 4D ultrasound images and MR images from the MR system to control at least one of a photon beam spatial distribution or intensity modulation generated by the RT system.

Abstract: An imaging system is presented. The imaging system includes a storage structure that stores a first sheet of coils inside a cradle, wherein the storage structure includes a plurality of first set of rotatable bodies and a plurality of second set of rotatable bodies, and a plurality of springs that are coupled to one or more of the plurality of second set of rotatable bodies, wherein the first sheet of coils is disposed around the plurality of first set of rotatable bodies, the plurality of second set of rotatable bodies and the plurality of springs, and wherein a first end of the first sheet of coils protrudes out of the cradle.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes non-invasive approaches for delineating and characterizing tissue using MR imaging over a range of treatment levels. By way of example, tumor tissue may be distinguished and delineated from other tissue, such as muscle tissue. Further, tumor tissue may be characterized as malignant or benign using such approaches.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to scheduling positron emission tomography (PET) scans for a combined PET-MRI scanner based on an acquisition of MR scout images of a subject. An anatomy and orientation of the subject can be determined based on the MR scout images and the schedule for acquiring PET scans of the subject can be determined from the anatomy of the subject. The schedule generated using exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can specify a sequence of bed positions, scan durations at each bed position, and whether respiratory gating will be used at one or more of the bed positions.

Abstract: An imaging system is presented. The imaging system includes a cradle, and a first sheet of coils disposed inside of the cradle such that a first end of the first sheet of coils protrudes out of the cradle and a second end of the first sheet of coils is coupled to a structure, wherein a requisite expanse of the first sheet of coils is flexibly pulled out from the cradle by pulling the first end.

Abstract: Magnetic material imaging (MMI) system including a first array of elongated wire segments that extend substantially parallel to an imaging plane. The imaging plane is configured to extend through a region-of-interest (ROI) of an object. The MMI system also includes a second array of elongated wire segments that extend substantially parallel to the imaging plane. The first and second arrays of wire segments are spaced apart with the imaging plane therebetween. The first and second arrays of wire segments form segment pairs. Each segment pair includes a wire segment of the first array and a wire segment of the second array, wherein the wire segments substantially coincide along a segment plane. The MMI system also includes a phase-control module configured to control a flow of current through the wire segments of the segment pairs to generate and move a one-dimensional field free region (1D FFR) within the imaging plane.

Abstract: The present application discloses a technique for targeting therapeutic thermal energy to human tissue that is subject to displacement during a respiratory cycle using ARMA modeling. It discloses using an ARMA treatment of MRI tracking data of salient features of the tissue of interest to predict the spacial position of the portion of the tissue to be treated and using this prediction to guide the application of the thermal energy. It also discloses that this technique is particularly useful when the tissue of interest undergoes elastic deformation in a respiratory cycle and high energy focused ultrasound (HIFU) is used to ablate diseased tissue such as a cancerous tumor.

Abstract: A system including a plurality of coil elements is provided. Each coil element is arranged with a first switch and a second switch. In a first mode, the first switch and the second switch are turned off to split each coil element into a first upper coil portion and a second lower coil portion, to transmit first radio frequency signals. In a second mode, the first switch and second switch are turned on to transform each coil element into a loop coil to simultaneously transmit or receive multiple second radio frequency signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRI) are provided. One method includes obtaining Magnetic Resonance (MR) velocity data and determining a distance map for one or more vessels to define a distance path. The method also includes calculating, using the MR velocity data, at a plurality of time intervals and for a plurality of pixels (i) a distance traveled during a current time interval as a current distance traveled, wherein a total distance traveled is incremented by the current distance traveled and (ii) a bolus signal using a bolus signal profile, the distance path and total distance traveled, wherein a current time interval is incremented by a defined time step.

Abstract: Magnetic material imaging (MMI) system including a first array of elongated wire segments that extend substantially parallel to an imaging plane. The imaging plane is configured to extend through a region-of-interest (ROI) of an object. The MMI system also includes a second array of elongated wire segments that extend substantially parallel to the imaging plane. The first and second arrays of wire segments are spaced apart with the imaging plane therebetween. The first and second arrays of wire segments form segment pairs. Each segment pair includes a wire segment of the first array and a wire segment of the second array, wherein the wire segments substantially coincide along a segment plane. The MMI system also includes a phase-control module configured to control a flow of current through the wire segments of the segment pairs to generate and move a one-dimensional field free region (1D FFR) within the imaging plane.

Abstract: A system and method for determining electrical properties using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One method includes determining a magnitude of an MRI B1+ field applied to an object, determining a phase of the MRI B1+ field applied to the object and combining the determined magnitude and phase to determine a complex B1+ field estimate. The method further includes estimating one or more electrical properties of the object using the complex B1+ field estimate by directly solving at least one difference equation.