Abstract: NMR apparatus for achieving construction of improved patient access. Facilities and methods of mobile and fixed site scanning.

Abstract: A medical nuclear magnetic resonance system is provided with a primary field magnet assembly having a ferromagnetic frame. The system resists field variations caused by coil movement and confines the field within the frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to improve the efficiency of an MRI apparatus by allowing the controller of the MRI to be remotely reconfigured, allowing modification and upgrade of the hardware configuration of the controller. For complex or innovative pulse sequences, a customized hardware configuration of the controller may be necessary; for optimization of digital signal processing of the received data, reconfiguring the hardware configuration of the controller to perform the digital signal processing may be desirable.

Abstract: A patient is examined by magnetic resonance imaging in different positions relative to gravity by moving the patient relative to the magnet, and the acquired data is compared to show differences in anatomy due to differences in patient position. Individual data elements or groups of plural data elements representing particular locations in one set of image data can be compared with data elements associated with the same locations in another set of image data, to yield a set of comparison image data elements. The comparison data set can be used to detect difference caused by differences in position of the patient.

Abstract: A patient is examined by magnetic resonance imaging in different positions relative to gravity by moving the patient relative to the magnet, and the acquired data is compared to show differences in anatomy due to differences in patient position. Individual data elements or groups of plural data elements representing particular locations in one set of image data can be compared with data elements associated with the same locations in another set of image data, to yield a set of comparison image data elements. The comparison data set can be used to detect difference caused by differences in position of the patient.

Abstract: A method and system for assessing the effectiveness of a treatment regimen. In a preferred embodiment, baseline magnetic resonance imaging signals of a diseased portion of a subject's anatomy are acquired and image slices associated with diseased tissue or a selected region of interest are identified. The identified image slices are then stored and used in acquiring subsequent magnetic resonance imaging signals. The baseline and subsequently acquired magnetic resonance imaging signals are then processed to determine changes in location, size or other factors that provide an indication of whether treatment is effective. In another aspect, baseline and subsequent magnetic resonance parameters are also acquired and compared as part of determining the effective of treatment.

Abstract: A patient is subjected to magnetic resonance imaging at substantial intervals such as weeks, months or years, or after an interval sufficient for a therapeutic regimen to affect the anatomy, and the data acquired at different times is compared to show changes in the anatomy with time or due to the effects of the therapeutic regimen. Individual data elements or larger groups of plural data elements representing particular locations a set of image data acquired at one time can be automatically compared with data elements associated with the same locations in another set of image data acquired at another time to yield a set of comparison data.

Abstract: An apparatus and concomitant method for imaging a subject using MR imaging includes exciting nuclei of the subject within an imaging plane using one or more transmitter circuits tuned to a first transmission frequency, sampling MR signals generated from the nuclei at the same time using one or more receiver circuits each receiver circuit having a bandwidth less than 500 kHz, and generating a MR image based on the sampled MR signals. The speed of MR imaging may be increased by providing multiple pairs of transmitter and receiver circuits to operate simultaneously on an imaging plane and/or by streamlining downstream signal processing using multiple phase detectors tuned to detect frequencies associated with particular phase shifts.

Abstract: In one aspect the present invention is a method for imaging an infant or minor in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. The method preferably comprises positioning an adult in the patient-receiving space or gap of a magnet and affixing a minor, child or infant with an appropriate antenna. The minor, child or infant is then placed in the lap or arms of the adult and imaging proceeds. In another aspect the method may also comprise positioning an adult and a minor, child or infant in the patient-receiving space or gap of a magnet. The infant, child or minor is placed in closed proximity to the adult so that the infant, child or minor and adult can be fitted with a single antenna. Thereafter, an image of a portion of the minor's, infant's or child's anatomy is obtained.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging magnet includes a ferromagnetic frame. A pair of generally toroidal superconducting coil units overlie interfaces of side walls incorporated in the frame. Each coil unit may include a vessel having hollow support extensions extending into recesses in the side walls. The coil units may further include elongated, low-thermal conductance supports disposed within the support extensions. The frame may include pole stems projecting inwardly from the side walls, and the coils may be disposed in close proximity to the pole stems. Cryocoolers may be mounted to the frame so that the cryocoolers are substantially mechanically isolated from the coils of the coil units, but are in thermal communication therewith. The cryocooler mountings may be arranged for convenient servicing and installation of the cryocoolers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a first electrical signal having a frequency interval I containing information, and increasing the signal-to-noise ratio thereof utilizes a mixer for shifting the frequencies of the first signal in the interval I to an interval I.sub.s. A plurality of filters, coupled in parallel, to the mixer pass, respectively, only frequencies in subintervals of I.sub.s, which are mutually disjoint. A second embodiment utilizes a plurality of mixers which shift, respectively, mutually disjoint subintervals of I such that their left end points are substantially equal. A plurality of filters, coupled, respectively, to the mixers, pass, respectively, only those frequencies in the shifted subintervals. Preferably, the frequency intervals passed by the filters in both embodiments are equal in bandwidth, and have no gaps therebetween.

Abstract: A positioning system for an MRI system. One aspect includes a support member for moving a patient in a non-horizontal direction within a scanning area of the MRI system, a drive member for driving the support member, and a controller for controlling the drive member to position the patient at a desired location within the scanning area. One aspect includes a guide member attached to a floor beneath the scanning area for guiding a platform member along a first linear axis generally parallel to the floor and perpendicular to a magnetic field axis of a magnet of the MRI system. A controller controls a drive member to position the patient at a desired horizontal location within the scanning area. One aspect includes a frame, a platform member rotatably coupled to the frame. A controller controls a drive member to rotate the platform member and position the patient at a desired angle within the scanning area.