Abstract: Systems and methods for a resonator with an adjustable capacitance for a medical device. In one embodiment, a resonator system includes a resonator device with an LC resonator circuit that has an adjustable capacitance, an inductor coil in series with the adjustable capacitance, and an adjustable capacitance control that can control the adjustable capacitance to obtain different particular capacitance values. This embodiment also includes a medical device, positioned with the resonator device, so that at least a portion of the inductor coil surrounds a space that is surrounded by at least a portion of the medical device.

Abstract: A RF array coil system and method for magnetic resonance imaging are provided. The array coil system includes an anterior coil section having a main anterior coil section and at least one secondary anterior coil section removably attachable to the main anterior coil section. The array coil system further includes a posterior coil section having a main posterior coil section and at least one secondary posterior coil section removably attachable to the main posterior coil section.

Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) coil for obtaining magnetic resonance data for imaging the cervical region of a patient has a loop coil contained in a housing of an applicator assembly that is adapted for placement against the cervix of the patient, and a loopless antenna contained in a tandem applicator of the assembly, that is adapted for intracorporeal placement in the cervix of the patient.

Abstract: In a method for detecting rotational orientation and position tracking of an inductively coupled RF (ICRF) coil using a transmit array system, a conventional body birdcage coil is used, but the quadrature hybrid is eliminated to use the two excitation-channels separately. The transmit array system provides RF excitations such that the body birdcage coil creates linearly polarized and circulating RF pulses instead of a conventional rotational forward polarized excitation. Inductively coupled RF (ICRF) coils can be constructed on catheters for detecting rotational orientation and tracking purposes. The modifications on anatomy and ICRF coil images are different due to the RF excitation scheme such that the ICRF coil can be separated from the anatomy in real-time. After separating the ICRF coil from the anatomy, a color-coded image can be reconstructed, for example.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dual-modality imaging system and a method for dual-modality imaging of an imaged object, wherein a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus for acquiring MRI data and at least one optical imaging detector for acquiring optical imaging data are arranged to acquire the MRI data and the optical imaging data of the imaged object (10) simultaneously, the at least one optical imaging detector being a non-contact optical imaging detector.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus has a cylindrical gradient coil with an x-gradient coil and a y-gradient coil that are asymmetrical relative to the z-direction of a coordinate system, the z-direction extending along a longitudinal direction of a patient receptacle. Shim coils are provided that generate magnetic fields to homogenize the basic magnetic field, produced by a cylindrical basic field magnet, in an examination volume in the patient receptacle. At least some of the shim coils are asymmetrical relative to the z-direction to minimize coupling induction between the asymmetrical x-gradient coil and y-gradient coil and the asymmetrical shim coils.

Abstract: A system and method for magnetic resonance imaging assisted surgery. The system includes an antenna support assembly and an antenna that are used to acquire real time images of the surgical site that may be used by a surgeon to more accurately perform the surgical procedure. The method comprises acquiring real time images of the surgical site and feeding back the images to a surgeon performing the surgical procedure.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging of the lower extremities using a coil array having sections of decoupled coil elements that enclose, bilaterally and separately, both legs at the same longitudinal region along the cranial-caudal direction.

Abstract: A comparatively light and compact permanent magnet arrangement for an MRI apparatus has a pair of opposed permanent magnet arrays with a shimming system to adjust the uniformity and strength of a magnetic field in a central chamber of the apparatus. The MRI apparatus is used to examine the extremities of a patient to determine cardiovascular characteristics from an analysis of the blood flow through selected arteries in the extremity. The information collected can be used to calculate such characteristics as total cardiac output, blood flow, arterial wall thickness and elasticity and the presence of plaque.

Abstract: A catheter for magnetic navigation in the human body, has a magnet arranged in the catheter tip in order to move a catheter to the desired position in the body by interaction with an external magnetic field, and has a number of separated electromagnets, that can be controlled independently of one another, distributed along the length of the catheter body.

Abstract: A reception coil maintaining element for an MR-imaging system includes two phase-controlled multi-element arrays of an RF multi-channel surface reception coil. Both of these phase-controlled, multi-element arrays have a reception surface including a center having a longitudinal axis that crosses that center. Each of these multi-element arrays is arranged on an arm which can pivot about a common pivotable axis. A vertical first plane is parallel to this pivotable axis. A vertical left plane extends along the longitudinal axis of the center of the left reception surface of the left multi-element array. A vertical right plane extends along a longitudinal axis of the center of the right reception surface of the right multi-element array. Both of these vertical left and right planes have approximately the same spacing with respect to the vertical first plane of the pivotable axis where the reception coil maintaining element in accordance with the present invention is in its operational state.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for using radio frequency coil systems for magnetic resonance imaging within an open architecture apparatus is provided. The MRI coil system includes a support structure with an open architecture in which secondary support structures, compression systems and plates containing RF coil systems may be introduced. These structures and RF coils can be moved relative to the patient, or removed entirely from the system. In one embodiment the system consists of a tabletop coil system, while another embodiment consists of a dedicated stretcher design.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device and a method for detecting electromagnetic fields, in particular fields occurring in imaging magnetic resonance tomography.

Abstract: In a method for coil selection of a magnetic resonance apparatus, a determination of coil positions of the multiple coil devices of the magnetic resonance apparatus is made and a determination is also made of a number of coil groups, wherein a coil group is composed of at least one coil device. One or more coil groups is associated with positions of the support device, and the coil group that is associated with a position of the support device includes the coil devices that are suitable for use in that associated position of the support device. A control of one of the multiple coil groups dependent on the position of the support device.

Abstract: An apparatus including a device such as a catheter or guidewire having dimensions suitable for percutaneous delivery to a patient; and a magnetic resonance (MR) compatible antenna associated with the device in a manner that provides a prescribed radial and/or longitudinal orientation of the antenna at a point of interest within a blood vessel of a patient. An antenna suitable for radial and/or longitudinal orientation. A method including inserting a medical device having an antenna capable of transmitting radio frequency signals in a blood vessel of a patient and radially and/or longitudinally orienting the antenna at a point of interest within a blood vessel of a patient.

Abstract: A head coil for use with a parallel-imaging compatible MR system is disclosed, as is a method of making, and a neurovascular array (NVA) equipped with, same. The head coil includes conductive rings and rods configured to produce a plurality of electrically-adjacent primary resonant substructures about a birdcage-like structure, with each such primary resonant substructure including two rods neighboring each other and the short segment of each of the first and second rings interconnecting them. The primary resonant substructures are isolated from each other via a preamplifier decoupling scheme and an offset tuning scheme thereby enabling each primary resonant substructure (i) to receive an MR signal from tissue within its field of view and (ii) to be operatively couplable to one processing channel of the MR system for conveyance of the MR signal received thereby (iii) while being simultaneously decoupled from the other primary resonant substructures.

Abstract: The present invention realizes a medical device guidance system capable of improving propulsion control characteristic.

Abstract: Techniques for correcting temperature measurement in MR thermometry are disclosed. In particular, phase shifts that arise from factors other than temperature changes are detected, facilitating correction of temperature measurements.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting and unmounting a surface coil of a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus includes an upper part, a lower part, a locking element to fix the upper part and the lower part to one another, and contact elements at the upper part and at the lower part. The contact elements at the upper part can be brought into an electrically conductive connection with contact elements at the lower part and the upper part and the lower part can be fixed to one another by a movement of the locking element.

Abstract: An RF receiving means, which comprise respective at least three RF receiving coils (203, 201 (or 202), 204), (205, 202 (or 201), 206), (207, 201 (or 202), 208) disposed in at least two orthogonal directions (x, y, z), are set to a patient 209, any one direction (x) of the two directions is set as a phase encoding direction, magnetic resonance signals are measured by executing a pulse sequence while thinning phase encoding steps, and the aliasing of an image is eliminated by an arithmetic operation executed using the magnetic resonance signals measured by at least the three RF receiving coils (205, 202 (or 201), 206) disposed in the thus set phase encoding direction and using the sensitivity distributions of the respective RF receiving coils.

Abstract: A knee coil for magnetic resonance imaging has a first, a second and a third array of coil units, the first, second and third array of coil units forming a cylindrical shape, and being adjacent to each other in the direction perpendicular to the bottom of the cylindrical shape. Each of the first array of coil units and the third array of coil units is composed of two saddle coil units, and the second array of coil units is composed of six coil units, which are successively adjacent to each other in the direction of circumference of the cylinder side face. With a simple design and at a low cost, this knee coil ensures good capacity of parallel acquisition in all directions in the course of scanning while reducing the number of channels.

Abstract: New MRI coil and resonators are disclosed based solely on superconducting inductive element and built-in capacitive elements as well as hybrid superconducting-metal inductive and capacitive elements having superior SNR. Single and multiple small animal MRI imaging units are also disclosed including one or more resonators of this invention surrounding one or more small animal cavities. Methods for making and using the MRI coils and/or arrays are also disclosed.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a probe, including a first electrode disposed at least partially on the probe surface, a second electrode disposed at least partially on the probe surface, a first conductor electrically coupled to the first electrode, a second conductor electrically coupled to the second electrode, and a reactive element electrically coupling the first conductor and the second conductor.

Abstract: An invasive device having an inductive coupling element. One embodiment of the invasive device includes a plurality of receive coils inductively coupled to a communicating coil. The receive coils are selectively tuned and detuned to receive MR signals for providing coordinate information used for device tracking. A second embodiment of the invasive device includes a receive coil having a plurality of winding elements separated from each other by different distances. A method of rapidly acquiring both the invasive device orientation and position information to dynamically adapt MR scan planes to continuously follow the invasive device relative to a target is provided. The target-navigation technique automatically defines the MR scan plane and a time domain multiplexing technique is applied for MR imaging and device tracking. Using these techniques, the acquired MR images shows both the invasive device and the target tissue.

Abstract: An irradiating coil includes a first ring conductor located on a plane, a second ring conductor having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the first ring conductor and located substantially on the plane of the first ring conductor, a plurality of first line conductors connected the first ring conductor and to the second ring conductor, and an arrangement for making uniform a radio-frequency-pulse that is transmitted by the irradiating coil. The pulse uniforming arrangement includes a diverger which diverges a current flow of the first line conductors.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a primary magnet and a secondary magnet operable to produce magnetic fields within a sample being imaged. The MRI system further includes at least one RF coil that is operable to receive electromagnetic frequencies from the sample. The RF coil is formed from tubing that serves as a cooling conduit through which flows a cooling fluid provided by a cooling source. The cooling fluid cools the RF coils to improve imaging of the sample.

Abstract: Improved patient comfort is provided by a local coil arrangement designed to support the production of an MRT image of a shoulder, wherein the housing of the local coil arrangement is composed of two separable parts.

Abstract: An MR head coil has a helmet-shaped coil housing and an arrangement of a number of first antenna elements mounted on the coil housing. The helmet-shaped coil housing is shaped such that it completely frees the field of view of a patient, and second antenna elements or antenna element parts that can be temporarily arranged in the field of view are provided.

Abstract: A localization mechanism, or fixture, is used in conjunction with a breast coil for breast compression and for guiding a core biopsy instrument during prone stereotactic biopsy procedures in both open and closed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines. The localization fixture includes a fiducial marker and three-dimensional Cartesian positionable guide for supporting and orienting an MRI-compatible biopsy instrument with detachable probe/thumb wheel probe to the biopsy site of suspicious tissues or lesions.

Abstract: A system for and method of determining and compensating for the effect of a field influencing object on a field sensor, preferably a coil, that is within a navigational domain. The system includes a first and second transmitter to create signals. A signal processor is able to process the created signals. The method can include determining interference and/or a correct signal based on the two signals. Also, a shield can be provided to limit transmission of selected fields.

Abstract: Featured are a device for compression of target tissue while magnetic resonance imaging the target tissue and methods and systems related thereto. The method includes disposing target tissue between the fixed surface and the moveable member of a compression device and compressing the target tissue between the fixed surface and the moveable member. The method also includes acquiring one or more, more specifically a plurality, of sequences of image data of the compressed target tissue using an MRI imaging technique (MRI). In embodiments, the MRI technique is a SENC MRI technique, where tissue encoding is done prior to compressing the tissue and acquiring includes adding a gradient moment in the slice-selection direction to cause demodulation with a specific frequency, hi further embodiments, the sequences of image data are acquired during a single compression and prior to recovery of magnetization.

Abstract: The present technique provides a novel method and apparatus for magnetic resonance device tracking. In one aspect of the present technique, a plurality of magnetic resonance tracking signals are acquired in response to a corresponding plurality of pulse sequences, wherein the plurality of magnetic resonance tracking signals are acquired from a tracking coil mounted in a device. A location value is also determined for each pulse sequence to produce a plurality of location values. Further, a candidate location value of the plurality of location values for replacement, an off-resonance error value for the plurality of magnetic resonance tracking signals, and a replacement location value based on the off-resonance error value are determined. The location of the device is also determined based on the plurality of location values, wherein the candidate location value was replaced in the plurality of location values with the replacement location value.

Abstract: The arrangement (10) is suited for transmitting an informative signal (S1), generated by suitable signal generator (1) at a first electrical site (7a) to a second electrical site (7b). The first electrical site (7a) is electrically connected to the second electrical site (7b) by means of a capacitively coupled transmission line (5a, 5b). In order to enable such capacitively coupled transmission line distributed or lumped capacitors (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) can be used. The arrangement is connectable to an accessory device (6), which may comprise a spectrometer, a further signal generator, tuning means, etc. The further signal (S2) is generated by the accessory device (6) and transported via the capacitively coupled transmission line (5a, 5b) in a direction from the second electrical site (7b) to the first electrical site (7a). The further signal (S2) can be used for feeding an amplifier (2), or for carrying the signal (S1).

Abstract: A microcoil is manufactured by rolling a trace unit in such a way as to form at least one winding. The trace unit is comprised of a conductive trace attached to a flexible insulating film. A preferred embodiment of the microcoil contains both a first winding and a second winding electrically connected and spaced apart by a joining portion. The microcoil may be used for internal magnetic resonance imaging of patient by attaching the microcoil to a catheter.

Abstract: A head fixation assembly includes a head fixation frame, a plurality of upper head fixation members, a plurality of lower head fixation members, and at least one drive mechanism. The head fixation frame includes a pair of upwardly extending spaced-apart arms defining a free space therebetween. At least one upper head fixation member extends from each of the respective arms of the head fixation frame, with each upper head fixation member adjustable relative to the head fixation frame and adapted to engage a patient's head within the free space of the head fixation frame. The lower head fixation members extend from the head fixation frame between the pair of arms, with each member adjustable relative to the head fixation frame and adapted to engage an underside of the patient's head within the free space of the head fixation frame.

Abstract: An outer balloon is provided in the interior thereof with a coil conductor for a local endo coil for intracorporeal placement for recording magnetic resonance signals, which can be deployed for the purpose of receiving signals. In addition to the coil, a filling medium is fed into the balloon, so that the deployed coil conductor is surrounded at least in sections by at least one material having a dielectric constant ?r>1.

Abstract: Described herein are one or more implementations for an electromagnetic (EM) position and orientation tracking system operating at an ultra-low frequency, which reduces the strength of eddy currents produced by nearby field-distorting electrically-conductive materials (“distorters”). This effectively reduces the overall distorting effect of distorters.

Abstract: The invention comprises an integrated skin-mountable multifunction device for use with a computer assisted or image guided surgical system and methods of using the same, wherein the multifunction device includes a patient mountable portion that has at least one position indicating element and at least one imageable pattern whose geometry is known in a coordinate system of the at least one position indicating element, wherein the imageable pattern is visible on an imaging modality. The multifunction device may also include a monitoring device capable of measuring a physiological parameter of a patient for use in gating image or position signals or for other purposes.

Abstract: There is provided an RF (radio frequency) coil assembly of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, which comprises a birdcage transmit-only coil using inhomogeneous modes. Further, a multi-channel receive-only phased array coil is provided. In one embodiment, the multi-channel receive-only phased array coil may include a plurality of ring-shaped receive-only coils, wherein the receive-only coils are connected to each other in a pseudo-chain-link configuration to form a ring shape. The multi-channel receive-only phased array coil may be located inside said transmit-only coil and spaced a predetermined distance apart therefrom. In accordance with the embodiments, emphasis images of the peripheral part of a human brain with high resolution and high signal to noise ratio may be obtained.

Abstract: The disclosure describes medical mats that provide electrical paths with connectors that connect to various electronic medical or surgical tools. The medical mats can reduce the lengths of cables and define routes that preventing cross-over, looping and/or bunching of loose lengths of long cables.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an MRI enhancing device deployable in a body. In one embodiment, the MRI enhancing device is formed of a wire loop and a capacitor that is at least partially formed by the wire used in forming the wire loop.

Abstract: A deflectable tip catheter that is safe and effective for use in a magnetic resonance imaging environment. The deflectable tip catheter is configured such that it includes a built-in antenna, such as a loopless antenna or a loop antenna. The built-in antenna permits the deflectable tip catheter to be actively tracked and/or visualized. Depending upon the specific configuration of the deflectable tip catheter, the catheter may be tracked and/or visualized as a single unit, it may be tracked and/or visualized separate and independent of other components or instruments associated with the catheter, such as pull wires, injection needles, surgical instruments, and the like. The catheters described herein include injection type catheters and/or guidance type catheters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a design of a radiofrequency (RF) receive coil (also commonly referred to as an imaging coil) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a horizontal field MRI system of a patient's shoulder region.

Abstract: A method and device comprises a system alike a magnetic resonance imaging system (10) that is used intentionally to deposit energy into a selected volume of interest in a member that can be a body (40) via absorption of electromagnetic radiation such as RF (20) selectively within the volume of interest, and further includes control (11) of the system to operate in two other modes than energy deposition, namely imaging and heat mapping.

Abstract: A head coil for a magnetic resonance apparatus has a supporting body that carries a number of antenna elements. The supporting body has an end section that is shaped as a spherical cap. A butterfly antenna is mounted at the end section, and is annularly surrounded by at least one group antenna that overlaps the butterfly antenna.

Abstract: A localization mechanism, or fixture, is used in conjunction with a breast coil for breast compression and for guiding a core biopsy instrument during prone biopsy procedures in both open and closed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines. The localization fixture includes a three-dimensional Cartesian positionable guide for supporting and orienting an MRI-compatible biopsy instrument, and, in particular, a sleeve to a biopsy site of suspicious tissues or lesions. A z-stop enhances accurate insertion, prevents over-insertion or inadvertent retraction of the sleeve. The sleeve receives a probe of the MRI-compatible biopsy instrument and may contain various features to enhance its imagability, to enhance vacuum and pressure assist therethrough, etc.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a MRI technique, in which the influence of physiological factors such as respiration and cardiac pulsation on MRI results is reduced or removed. The object of the present invention is achieved by a magnetic resonance imaging system (1), comprising a first RF coil (2) adapted for acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data of a patient s body; a number of measuring elements (5, 5?, 5?, 29, 31), which are sensitive to a load changing of the first RF coil (2), said measuring elements (5, 5?, 5?, 29, 31) being adapted for acquiring data related to motion of said patient s body; and a processing unit (9) adapted for employing said motion data to correct for patient motion in magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: Apparatus, system and method for immobilizing a patient's head during imaging. The apparatus includes two substantially C-shaped members that are pivotably mounted to each other. One C-shaped member includes at least one adjustable positioning rod for securing the patient's head during imaging. The apparatus is attached to a magnet resonance imaging apparatus to form a system. The system is used for imaging a patient whose head and neck is immobilized by the apparatus.

Abstract: A breast coil arrangement for magnetic resonance applications has a placement web that is designed to allow an examination subject to lie with her sternum on the placement web. Pot-like breast receptacles for each breast of the examination subject are respectively arranged on opposite sides of the placement web. The breast receptacles have limiting elements whose spacing from one another can be adjusted. Multiple array coils are respectively arranged in the limiting elements and are stationary relative to the limiting elements. Each breast receptacle is surrounded by a volume coil that is stationary relative to the placement web. The volume coils are arranged centrally and orthogonally relative to the array coils and surround the array coils. The volume coils are decoupled from the array coils. A spectroscopy phantom can be arranged in proximity to the placement web.

Abstract: A fixture such as a local receiver coil is secured to the patient support of a magnetic resonance imaging system so that the fixture remains in position relative to the support even when the support is in a vertical orientation. The positioning apparatus is arranged to allow adjustment of the fixture position, but to limit such adjustment so that the fixture cannot interfere with the poles or other elements defining the patient-receiving gap of the magnet during movement of the patient support.