Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and methods using adiabatic tip-down and matched adiabatic flip-back pulses are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes a signal generator configured to generate a pulse sequence for on-resonance magnetization transfer preparation. The pulse sequence includes an adiabatic tip-down pulse and a matched adiabatic flip-back pulse for separating spins in a mobile spin pool from spins in a bound spin pool of an anatomical region of interest for imaging. The system includes radio frequency (RF) coils configured to transmit RF pulses in response to the pulse sequence and to acquire RF data in response to transmission of the RF pulses. Further, the system includes a processing system configured to process the RF data to provide a display image indicating different tissue types with discrimination.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and methods for determining and adjusting TI using single-line acquisition and automatic compartment detection. A method includes positioning a readout line of the MRI scanner through a compartment of interest of a region of interest in a subject. The method includes inverting magnetization within the readout line by playing an inversion pulse; and reading out data along the readout line after play of the inversion pulse. The method also includes determining a T1 value for each pixel along the readout line; determining the pixels that belong to first and second portions within the compartment of interest; determining a T1 value of each of the first and second portions by averaging the pixels within each portion; and determining an inversion time based on the determined T1 values such that the compartment of interest has a desired magnetization in an image to be acquired.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and methods using adiabatic tip-down and matched adiabatic flip-back pulses are disclosed. According to an aspect, a system includes a signal generator configured to generate a pulse sequence for on-resonance magnetization transfer preparation. The pulse sequence includes an adiabatic tip-down pulse and a matched adiabatic flip-back pulse for separating spins in a mobile spin pool from spins in a bound spin pool of an anatomical region of interest for imaging. The system includes radio frequency (RF) coils configured to transmit RF pulses in response to the pulse sequence and to acquire RF data in response to transmission of the RF pulses. Further, the system includes a processing system configured to process the RF data to provide a display image indicating different tissue types with discrimination.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems and methods for determining and adjusting TI using single-line acquisition and automatic compartment detection. A method includes positioning a readout line of the MRI scanner through a compartment of interest of a region of interest in a subject. The method includes inverting magnetization within the readout line by playing an inversion pulse; and reading out data along the readout line after play of the inversion pulse. The method also includes determining a T1 value for each pixel along the readout line; determining the pixels that belong to first and second portions within the compartment of interest; determining a T1 value of each of the first and second portions by averaging the pixels within each portion; and determining an inversion time based on the determined T1 values such that the compartment of interest has a desired magnetization in an image to be acquired.

Abstract: A system automatically calculates optimal protocol parameters for dark-blood (DB) preparation and inversion recovery. The system automatically determines pulse sequence timing parameters for MR imaging with blood related signal suppression. The system comprises an acquisition processor for acquiring data indicating a patient heart rate. A pulse timing processor automatically determines an acquisition time of an image data set readout, relative to a blood signal suppression related magnetization preparation pulse sequence, by calculating the acquisition time in response to inputs including, (a) the acquired patient heart rate, (b) data indicating a type of image contrast of the pulse sequence employed and (c) data indicating whether an anatomical signal suppression related magnetization preparation pulse sequence used has a slice selective, or non-slice selective, data acquisition readout.

Abstract: The technology herein provides a dark blood delayed enhancement technique that improves the visualization of subendocardial infarcts that may otherwise be disguised by the bright blood pool. The timed combination of a slice-selective and a non-selective preparation improves the infarct/blood contrast by decoupling their relaxation curves thereby nulling both the blood and the non-infarcted myocardium. This causes the infarct to be imaged bright and the blood and non-infarct to both be imaged dark. The slice-selective preparation occurs early enough in the cardiac cycle so that fresh blood can enter the imaged slice.

Abstract: The technology herein provides a dark blood delayed enhancement technique that improves the visualization of subendocardial infarcts that may otherwise be disguised by the bright blood pool. The timed combination of a slice-selective and a non-selective preparation improves the infarct/blood contrast by decoupling their relaxation curves thereby nulling both the blood and the non-infarcted myocardium. This causes the infarct to be imaged bright and the blood and non-infarct to both be imaged dark. The slice-selective preparation occurs early enough in the cardiac cycle so that fresh blood can enter the imaged slice.

Abstract: The technology herein provides a dark blood delayed enhancement technique that improves the visualization of subendocardial infarcts that may otherwise be disguised by the bright blood pool. The timed combination of a slice-selective and a non-selective preparation improves the infarct/blood contrast by decoupling their relaxation curves thereby nulling both the blood and the non-infarcted myocardium. This causes the infarct to be imaged bright and the blood and non-infarct to both be imaged dark. The slice-selective preparation occurs early enough in the cardiac cycle so that fresh blood can enter the imaged slice.

Abstract: A system automatically calculates optimal protocol parameters for dark-blood (DB) preparation and inversion recovery. The system automatically determines pulse sequence timing parameters for MR imaging with blood related signal suppression. The system comprises an acquisition processor for acquiring data indicating a patient heart rate. A pulse timing processor automatically determines an acquisition time of an image data set readout, relative to a blood signal suppression related magnetization preparation pulse sequence, by calculating the acquisition time in response to inputs including, (a) the acquired patient heart rate, (b) data indicating a type of image contrast of the pulse sequence employed and (c) data indicating whether an anatomical signal suppression related magnetization preparation pulse sequence used has a slice selective, or non-slice selective, data acquisition readout.

Abstract: The technology herein provides a dark blood delayed enhancement technique that improves the visualization of subendocardial infarcts that may otherwise be disguised by the bright blood pool. The timed combination of a slice-selective and a non-selective preparation improves the infarct/blood contrast by decoupling their relaxation curves thereby nulling both the blood and the non-infarcted myocardium. This causes the infarct to be imaged bright and the blood and non-infarct to both be imaged dark. The slice-selective preparation occurs early enough in the cardiac cycle so that fresh blood can enter the imaged slice.

Abstract: Methods and systems for obtaining intravascular magnetic resonance images of blood flow are disclosed. In preferred forms, a train of radio frequency (RF) pulses is produced by an intravascularly introduced RF transmitter positioned in proximate location to the blood flow so as to create a continuous stream of coherently excited protons of the blood flow. The coherently excited protons of the blood flow are sampled as the protons freely precess while flowing through a region of three dimensional space unaffected by the ongoing intravascular RF excitation. An image of the sampled coherently excited protons may then be constructed.