Abstract: A combined magnetic resonance imager (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) imager and a method of performing combined MRI-PET imaging of an object is disclosed herein. The combined MRI-PET imager includes an MRI bore configured to perform MR imaging of the object. The MRI bore is sized so as to provide clearance between the MRI bore and the object within the MRI bore. The dedicated MRI-PET imager further includes a PET detector system is disposed outside the MRI bore to detect PET emissions from the object. The PET detector system includes at least one detector element retractably arranged exterior to the MRI bore. During the PET acquisition, the PET detector elements contract to a size so as to provide optimal clearance between the PET detectors and the object.

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 coil portion and a second 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: The invention provides a method for a multi-echo acquisition technique capable of obtaining separate water only and fat only images in anatomies having large time-varying phase disturbances. This multi-echo technique is also useful in anatomies where magnetic field inhomogeneity is significant. Also provided is a system, which is capable of producing a reconstructed complex water image whose phase component maintains the temperature dependent phase information. Similarly, the reconstructed fat image maintains the phase information pertaining to the time-varying phase disturbances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a localized heating are provided, the method comprising: transmitting a spatially localized or shaped electromagnetic field via a plurality of coils to a subject and generating magnetic resonance signals; performing magnetic resonance imaging based on the magnetic resonance signals to generate an image of a region of interest of the subject; and controlling the plurality of the same imaging coils to radiate radio frequency (rf) energy to generate the localized heating on a region of interest. The invention provide a more efficient manner for generating localized heating and means for verifying the heating pattern without the need to measure temperature rises in the patient. This is useful to check the localization prior to the application of hyperthermia.

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.

Abstract: A system for communicating data in a magnetic resonance imaging system in one embodiment includes a first array of receiver coils disposed on a first flexible substrate having at least one edge, wherein the flexible substrate is configured to be disposed upon or under a section of a patient under exam, wherein the first array of receiver coils is configured to acquire imaging data from the patient positioned on a patient support in the imaging system. Additionally, the system includes at least one blanket connector disposed along the at least one edge of the first flexible substrate, wherein the at least one blanket connector is electrically coupled to the first array of receiver coils in the first flexible substrate.

Abstract: A system for inductively communicating signals in a magnetic resonance imaging system is presented. The system in one embodiment includes a first array of primary coils disposed on a patient cradle of the imaging system, and configured to acquire data from a patient positioned on the patient cradle. Additionally, the system includes a second array of secondary coils disposed under the patient cradle, wherein a number of secondary coils is less than or equal to the number of primary coils, wherein the first array of primary coils is configured to inductively communicate the acquired data to the second array of secondary coils.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a first end ring, a second end ring, and a plurality of rungs electrically coupled between the first and second end rings, each rung including a first rung portion formed from a plurality of conductors and a second rung portion formed from a single solid conductor. A resonance assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and an MRI imaging system are also described herein.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for a multi-echo acquisition technique capable of obtaining separate water only and fat only images in anatomies having large time-varying phase disturbances. This multi-echo technique is also useful in anatomies where magnetic field inhomogeneity is significant. Also provided is a system, which is capable of producing a reconstructed complex water image whose phase component maintains the temperature dependent phase information. Similarly, the reconstructed fat image maintains the phase information pertaining to the time-varying phase disturbances.

Abstract: A system and method for automatic computation of MR imaging scan parameters include a computer programmed to acquire a first set of MR data from an imaging subject, the first set of MR data comprising a plurality of slices acquired at a first field-of-view. The computer is also programmed to reconstruct the plurality of slices into a plurality of localizer images and identify a 3D object based on the plurality of localizer images. The computer is further programmed to prescribe a scan, execute the prescribed scan to acquire a second set of MR data, and reconstruct the second set of MR data into an image. The prescribed scan includes one of a reduced field-of-view based on a boundary of the 3D object and a shim region based on the boundary of the 3D object.

Abstract: A system and method for an MRI apparatus includes an MRI system having a computer programmed to initiate a first scan procedure to acquire MR data and locate a feature of interest of the object, initiate a second scan procedure when a feature of interest of the object is located, and determine if an anomaly of the feature of interest exists. The computer is programmed to initiate a third scan procedure to scan the anomaly and reconstruct an image of the located anomaly if the anomaly exists. The first scan procedure includes a scan table motion and scan data acquisition commands. The second scan procedure includes scan table motion and scan data acquisition commands to acquire MR data from the feature of interest. The third scan procedure includes scan table motion and scan data acquisition commands to acquire MR data from the located anomaly.

Abstract: A system and method for MR image scan and analysis include an MRI apparatus that includes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and a computer programmed to automatically prescribe a first scanning protocol based on the selected examination, acquire a first set of MR data of an imaging object via application of the first scanning protocol, and reconstruct a first image from the first set of MR data. The computer is also programmed to automatically prescribe a second scanning protocol based on the first image, acquire a second set of MR data of the imaging object via application of the second scanning protocol, reconstruct a second image from the second set of MR data, and quantify a first parameter of the imaging object based on the second image.

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 method and apparatus for generating a localized heating are provided, the method comprising: transmitting a spatially localized or shaped electromagnetic field via a plurality of coils to a subject and generating magnetic resonance signals; performing magnetic resonance imaging based on the magnetic resonance signals to generate an image of a region of interest of the subject; and controlling the plurality of the same imaging coils to radiate radio frequency (rf) energy to generate the localized heating on a region of interest. The invention provide a more efficient manner for generating localized heating and means for verifying the heating pattern without the need to measure temperature rises in the patient. This is useful to check the localization prior to the application of hyperthermia.

Abstract: A method for motion compensation includes acquiring an initial volumetric localizer to establish an initial object position and initial object orientation at an initial state, acquiring a fast localizer of the object at a present state, aligning the fast localizer to the initial volumetric localizers to determine object motion between the initial state and the present state, and modifying an imaging protocol using the object position and orientation at the present state.

Abstract: Provided is a method, including accessing or acquiring a phase image including a contrast agent enhanced region and determining a quantity of a contrast agent based on the phase image. Further provided is a computer program for determining the quantity of a substance in a region. The program is constructed and arranged to access or acquire a contrast enhanced image, to execute a fitting algorithm based on data contained in the contrast enhanced image, and to determine the quantity of the substance based on the output/result/outcome of the fitting algorithm.

Abstract: A system and a method for obtaining a digital image of a heart of a person are provided. The system scans an internal anatomy of a chest region of the person to obtain scanning data. The system further generates a digital image of four chambers of the heart based on the scanning data.

Abstract: A 3DFT MRA dynamic study is performed using a contrast agent to enhance image contrast. A monitor pulse sequence is performed at a high temporal rate to monitor the magnitude of the NMR signal produced in a monitor region after the contrast agent is injected into the patient. When the monitor signal reaches a threshold value, the patient is signaled and the 3DFT image data set is acquired.

Abstract: A method is provided for acquiring MR image data pertaining to a coronary artery which is in motion between end-diastolic and end-systolic maximum excursion positions, respectively, during a cardiac cycle. The method comprises the step of tracking the location of the artery during the cardiac cycle as the artery moves between the positions of maximum excursion. The method further comprises acquiring MR data at a number of locations during the cardiac cycle in a region lying between the maximum excursion positions, each having the excitation or acquisition scan locations adjusted during the MR scan so as to substantially coincide with the location of said artery at the time of data acquisition.