Abstract: A system and method are presented that facilitate imaging of the joints of the upper and lower extremities including, for example, the hip and shoulder as well as sections of the spine, among others. One embodiment of the invention includes a short bore cylindrical magnet with an imaging volume smaller than that of a comparable whole body system, an articulated table that allows placement of the joint to be imaged in the center of the magnet homogeneous volume while maintaining a high degree of patient comfort and openness. The gradient and RF coils may be positioned above and below the patient instead of 360 degrees surrounding the patient. A smaller RF and gradient coil is made feasible because of the reduced imaging volume.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detecting corrosion in one or more blades of a gas turbine system includes a detection head having a shape that conforms to a surface geometry of a filet section of a gas turbine blade, whereby the detection head is operable to move along the axial length of the filet section for detecting corrosion pitting. At least one coil device located within the detection head induces a first magnetic field within an area of the filet in contact with the detection head. A receiver device is adapted to detect a signal corresponding to a second magnetic field received from the area of the filet exposed to the first magnetic field, where the second magnetic field is generated by induced currents in the area by the first magnetic field.

Abstract: A biological detector includes a conduit for receiving a fluid containing one or more magnetic nanoparticle-labeled, biological objects to be detected and one or more permanent magnets or electromagnet for establishing a low magnetic field in which the conduit is disposed. A microcoil is disposed proximate the conduit for energization at a frequency that permits detection by NMR spectroscopy of whether the one or more magnetically-labeled biological objects is/are present in the fluid.

Abstract: The disclosure provides phase-sensitive methods of radio frequency field mapping (e.g., B1 mapping), in which flip angle is encoded in the phase of a transverse magnetization produced by a series of RF pulses. The phase-sensitive methods can measure flip angle over a wider range than other methods such as double-angle methods. In one aspect, a phase-sensitive method of radio frequency mapping includes acquiring a first transverse magnetization phase measurement using an RF excitation pulse with flip angle 2? and acquiring a second transverse magnetization phase measurement using an RF excitation pulse with flip angle ?2?. The method also includes computing a phase difference between the two phase measurements and generating a radio frequency map based on the phase difference. The radio frequency map may be used, for example, to correct an image for variation in image intensity caused by B1 field inhomogeneity and correct T1 measurements for variations caused by B1 field inhomogeneity.

Abstract: Systems methods, and other embodiments associated with acquiring intersecting TrueFISP images using grouped reverse centric phase encoding are described. One example method includes controlling an MRI apparatus to produce a TrueFISP sequence that delays acquisition of the center of k-space to reduce saturation banding artifacts. The example method also includes controlling the MRI apparatus to produce a TrueFISP sequence that reduces eddy current artifacts by grouping (e.g., pairing) lines in k-space. The method concludes by acquiring NMR signal in response to the TrueFISP sequence.

Abstract: Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an RF coil for use in multi-nuclear excitation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The RF coil includes a set of two or more L-C coils. Members of the set of two or more L-C coils have individual resonance frequencies. An RF amplifier is placed near the RF coil. The RF amplifier is controllable to selectively produce the individual resonance frequency of a member of the set of two or more L-C coils based, at least in part, on a digital input provided to the RF amplifier.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an image generating unit. The data acquisition unit acquires MR data according to an imaging condition for obtaining a SSFP in flowing matter by applying excitation pulses having a same flip angle with a constant TR and gradient magnetic fields to an object. The image generating unit generates an image of the flowing matter based on the MR data.

Abstract: A spin locked balanced steady-state free precession (slSSFP) pulse sequence combines a balanced gradient echo acquisition with an off-resonance spin lock pulse for fast MRI. The transient and steady-state magnetization trajectory is solved numerically using the Bloch equations and is shown to be similar to balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) for a range of T2/T1 and flip angles, although the slSSFP steady-state could be maintained with considerably lower RF power. In both simulations and brain scans performed at 7T, slSSFP is shown to exhibit similar contrast and SNR efficiency to bSSFP, but with significantly lower power.

Abstract: A receiver for a wireless magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a pair of substantially identical notch filters (22, 23) each having an input and output and first and second 90 degree hybrid couplers (21, 24). The notch filters are coupled together at each input and output by the first and second 90 degree hybrid couplers respectively.

Abstract: A test object for use with diffusion MRI and a system and methods of synthesizing complex diffusive geometries. The test object, which includes anisotropic structures, can be used to monitor DTI measures by providing a baseline measurement. Using measurements of the phantom, data characteristic of more complicated diffusive behavior can be “synthesized”, or composed of actual measurements re-arranged into a desired spatial distribution function describing diffusion. Unlike a typical DTI scan, the ADC measurements of the present invention are treated in a “reconstruction” phase as if the gradients were applied in different directions. Given a set of reconstruction directions, a judicious choice of acquisition directions for each reconstruction direction allows for the synthesis of any distribution.

Abstract: A system and method for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system includes a coil form, at least one magnet positioned about the coil form and configured to generate a magnetic field, at least one gradient coil for manipulating the magnetic field generated by the at least one magnet by way of a gradient field, and a heat pipe thermally connected to the coil form and having a cryogen therein. The MR imaging system also includes a cryocooler connected to the heat pipe to cool the heat pipe and the cryogen, wherein the coil form is comprised of a thermally conductive material in which eddy currents are substantially reduced during operation of the at least one gradient coil. The present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment, and it is recognized that equivalents, alternatives, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the appending claims.

Abstract: According to the present invention, in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that receives magnetic resonance signals emitted from a patient by using a reception coil and reconstructs an image of the test subject from the received magnetic resonance signals, first and second cameras image positions of the patient and the reception coil and an audio recorder records the same to be stored in a PACS server when setting the reception coil. Further, when setting the reception coil for a subsequent time, information of the positions of the test subject and the reception coil is read from the PACS server and confirmed by using a monitor and a speaker.

Abstract: In a method and device for correction of a B0 field drift in a temperature map acquisition by magnetic resonance tomography, a fluctuation measurement is calculated per pixel from a number of magnetic resonance tomography phase images of an examination subject or from temperature maps derived therefrom. Using this fluctuation measurement, pixels of the phase images or temperature maps with low fluctuation are determined, and corresponding pixels of a phase image to be corrected or of a temperature map to be corrected are selected using the pixels determined as having low fluctuation. The phase image to be corrected or the temperature map to be corrected is adjusted to a reference phase image or a reference temperature map such that the selected pixels of the phase image to be corrected or of the temperature map to be corrected are calibrated to corresponding pixels of the reference phase image or of the reference temperature map.

Abstract: A microstrip-based RF coil for use in an MRI apparatus constructed to perform human head and extremity imaging according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a coil former defined by an inner core member and a shield support that surrounds the inner core member. An outer surface of the shield support supports a conductive segmented shield and a plurality of conductive strip lines are disposed on an inner surface of the inner core module and extend parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof. According to one aspect of the present invention, all of the strip lines are not homogenous so as to introduce asymmetry into the coil design.

Abstract: Gradient coils for generating gradient magnetic fields in a magnetic resonance imaging system are provided. In one embodiment, a gradient coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system may include a plurality of turns formed generally in a figure-eight. The figure-eight may form a first section configured to overly a section of a first adjacent coil, a second section configured to underly another section of the first adjacent coil, a third section configured to overly a section of a second adjacent coil, and a fourth section configured to underly another section of the second adjacent coil.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for analyzing polysaccharides. In particular, compositional and sequence information about the polysaccharides are derived. Some methods use NMR in conjunction with another experimental method, such as, capillary electrophoretic techniques for the analysis.

Abstract: A coil arrangement (32) comprises individual coil segments (381, 382, . . . , 38n) disposed adjacently one another adjacent an examination field (14). At least one radio frequency shield (40) is associated with the coil segments (381, 382, . . . , 38n). The radio frequency shield (40) has a first portion (70), which shields the associated coil segments from adjacent magnetic field and magnetic field gradient generating coils (20, 30), and side elements (72, 74), which shield the coil segments or groups of the segments from each other.

Abstract: A data acquisition unit of a magnetic resonance system has an examination region therein, relative to which an examination subject is conveyed by a patient bed. The data acquisition unit has a built-in radio-frequency transmission arrangement, that radiates radio-frequency energy into the examination subject, and a built-in reception arrangement that receives radio-frequency magnetic resonance signals emitted from the examination subject as a result of excitation by the radiated radio-frequency energy. The reception arrangement operates as a resistive arrangement when the radio-frequency energy is being radiated by the transmission arrangement, and operates as a superconducting arrangement when the magnetic resonance signals are being received thereby.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an effective method for measuring by NMR in real time, an NMR-detecting cell for measurement of NMR, and an NMR-measuring apparatus, and specifically, there has been found out a method for measuring NMR wherein a measurement sample is immobilized in a medium in an NMR-detecting cell that is an NMR detection part within an NMR-measuring magnet, and then measured by solution NMR in real time under the condition that the external environment around the immobilized measurement sample is consecutively changing.

Abstract: Methods, computer program products and apparatus automate clinical NMR in vitro diagnostic analyzers. The clinical analyzer can automatically electronically monitor selected parameters and automatically electronically adjust parameters to maintain the analyzer within desired operational ranges. The clinical NMR analyzers can be configured as a networked system with a plurality of clinical NMR analyzers located at different use sites; and at least one remote control system in communication with one or a plurality of clinical NMR analyzers, the at least one remote system configured to monitor selected local operating parameters associated with a respective clinical NMR analyzer.