Abstract: An electronics device for a magnetic resonance apparatus has a housing in which one or more electronic components to be cooled are accommodated, with a flat cold distributor provided in the housing that can be supplied with an externally fed coolant, and that is associated with a blower to circulate the air inside the housing.

Abstract: In a method as well as a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus for implementation of such a method for improved sensitivity-encoded magnetic resonance imaging using a two-dimensional or three-dimensional acquisition coil array, two-dimensional or three-dimensional undersampling of k-space is undertaken by measurement of a number N of basic partial trajectories ?n in k-space that in their entirety form a geometric arrangement of source points, a number M of different operators Cm(? km) are determined, with each operator representing an algebraic transformation with which unmeasured target points at an interval ? km from one of the measured source points are synthesized from a number of measured source points, the operators Cm(? km) are applied to at least one subset of the measured source points for at least partial completion of the magnetic resonance data set, and a largely artifact-free image is reconstructed in three-dimensional space on the basis of the measured source points and the synthesized data po

Abstract: A permeability measurement apparatus includes a magnetic field generation means applying an alternating magnetic field having a predetermined frequency to a magnetic substance to be measured; a probe needle placed in proximity or in contact to a microscopic area of the magnetic substance to be measured to which the alternating magnetic field is applied; a resonator including a coil wound on the probe needle, and generating a magnetic field having a resonant frequency higher than the frequency of the alternating magnetic field applied on the microscopic area having the probe needle in proximity or in contact thereto, and having an inductance of the coil varied as permeability in the microscopic area varies; and a measurement means measuring the permeability of the microscopic area of the magnetic substance to be measured based on the variation of the resonant frequency of the resonator according to the variation of the coil inductance.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance imaging method and apparatus, magnetic resonance data are acquired (an examination subject) using a zoomed method, and reconstruction of the image of the examination subject is undertaken using a parallel imaging reconstruction method.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus gantry includes a cylindrical static magnet housing which accommodates a static field magnet and in which an opening portion is formed, a cylindrical gradient magnet housing which accommodates a gradient coil, is placed in the opening portion, and is shorter in length in an axial direction than the static magnet housing, and a support unit which supports the gradient magnet housing on the static magnet housing, and includes a first support member mounted on the static magnet housing, a second support member mounted on the gradient magnet housing and supported by the first support member, and an adjustment unit which is placed inside the static magnet housing in the axial direction and adjusts a relative positional relationship between the static magnet housing and the gradient magnet housing by changing the relative positional relationship between the first support member and the second support member.

Abstract: In one aspect, a magnet comprising a pair of pole supports spaced apart from one another and extending in a generally horizontal direction. The magnet includes a pair of flux return members extending between the pole supports so as to define a frame, each of the flux return members including a first columnar section that extends parallel to the polar axis and a second columnar section that extends perpendicular to the polar axis and projects towards the pole. In another aspect, a magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a ferromagnetic frame that is operative to support an upper pole member and a lower pole member along a vertical polar axis such that a gap is defined between the upper and lower pole members and an access floor that is isolated from the ferromagnetic frame and pole members for providing access to the gap.

Abstract: A phantom for examination in nuclear spin tomographs comprises at least one test body for abstract imitation of a human or animal body part, and also means for supplying the test body with a liquid during the examination by nuclear spin tomography. Another phantom for examination in nuclear spin tomographs comprises at least one abstract imitation of a human or animal body part, of which at least one abstract imitation is adapted to be an at least partially flexible test body, and a flexible layer surrounding the partially flexible test body to imitate a lipid layer. Methods for producing test bodies include molding the test bodies from plastic material.

Abstract: A thermal management system for cooling a heat generating component of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) apparatus includes at least one heat pipe having a portion disposed proximate the heat generating component, such as a gradient coil and/or RF coil. When heat is removed from the component, a working fluid in a relatively hotter end of the heat pipe vaporizes and travels toward a relatively colder end of the heat pipe. The colder end may be operatively coupled to a heat sink for removing the heat from the colder end and increase the overall efficiency of the system. The heat pipe may be disposed along a horizontal, a vertical direction and/or along a diagonal of the heat generating component.

Abstract: A vertical magnetic field type MRI apparatus is capable of high-speed-imaging a large cross section such as a whole human body while suppressing an increase in the number of channels and maintaining sensitivity to a deep portion of a subject to be high. A receiving coil is composed of a plurality of sub coils. A first sub coil (3-1) of the receiving coil is arranged in a first plane (1001) including an axis substantially parallel to the direction of a static magnetic field and forms a first current loop around the surface of the subject. A second sub coil (5-1) of the receiving coil is constituted by a pair of conductor loops (5-2, 5-3) that sandwich the subject in the vicinities of the surface of the subject and are arranged substantially symmetrically each other. The conductor loops have respective cross points (5-4, 5-5). The conductor loops are arranged with the first sub coil to ensure that the cross points are located in the first plane in which the current loop of the first sub coil is provided.

Abstract: A circulator has a ferrite, and the circulator is arranged in the vicinity of a device that produces a static magnetic field in the environment surrounding the device, this static magnetic field giving the circulator a non-reciprocal behavior, with respect to circulation of energy among the gates of the circulator, as a result of interaction of the ferrite with the static magnetic field. A magnetic resonance apparatus embodies such a circulator, and the basic field magnet of this magnetic resonance apparatus generates the static magnetic field.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging condition setting unit and an image acquisition unit. The imaging condition setting unit includes an input part for inputting an imaging condition with applying plural pre-pulses. The image acquisition unit performs imaging according to the imaging condition and generates an image based on data acquired by the imaging. The imaging condition setting unit includes a display part configured to display an application region and attribute information of at least one pre-pulse of the plural pre-pulses together with a position of the imaging.

Abstract: In the IR (Inversion Recovery) method, to observe a phenomenon in which a nuclear spin returns to a steady state, a 90-degree pulse is irradiated after a lapse of time ? after finishing applying a 180-degree pulse. An FID signal starts being processed after a lapse of reception delay time Dd after finishing applying the 90-degree pulse. Among the FID signals from protons in a plurality of environments in a solid sample, an FID signal high in time-dependent attenuation rate almost disappears during the lapse of reception delay time Dd. Therefore, an FID signal of a proton in an environment intended to be measured can be easily selected and extracted from FID signals of other protons.

Abstract: Pulse sequences are applied to a fluid in an earth formation in a static magnetic field and NMR spin echo signals are obtained. The signals are inverted to give T2 distributions at a plurality of depths. Similarities between logs of the T2 bins with resistivity and/or gamma ray logs are used to identify and subtract contributions to the NMR signal from oil. having internal gradients. From the received signals, relaxation and diffusion characteristics of the fluid are determined. The determination takes into account the internal field gradients. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A radio frequency coils array includes a plurality of conductive RF loops (62a, 62b, 62c, 62d, 162a, 162b, 262a, 262b, 362a, 362b, 362c, 462a, 462b, 462c, 562a, 562b) configured to excite or receive magnetic resonance signals, and a plurality of electronics modules (64a, 64b, 64c, 64d, 164a, 164b, 264a, 264b, 364a, 364b, 364c, 464a, 464b, 64c, 564a, 564b) corresponding to the plurality of conductive RF loops. The electronics modules are grouped together in a compact electronics region (66, 166, 266, 366, 466, 66). Each RF coil is operatively connected with a corresponding electronics module. Each electronics module includes at least a pre-amplifier.

Abstract: A preparatory pulse sequence is applied prior to an imaging pulse sequence during a diffusion-weighted MRI scan. The preparatory pulse sequence diffusion weights the longitudinal magnetization using a gradient waveform that is first moment nulled to reduce image artifacts caused by patient motion.

Abstract: A receiver coil array for a magnetic resonance imaging system has an inductive coupling coil incorporated in the middle coil unit of the receiver coil array as its secondary coil, which serves to regulate the frequency and impedance of the middle coil unit. The secondary coil has an output regulation circuit which can output the magnetic resonance signals received by the middle coil unit to increase the number of the coil units in the receiver coil array that receive and output resonance signals while further regulating the frequency and impedance of the middle coil unit. Since this receiver coil array achieves regulation of the frequency and impedance of the middle coil unit and increases the number of the coil units in the receiver coil array that receive and output the resonance signals, it can improve the quality of the signals received by the receiver coil array. Moreover, the design is simple and is easy to achieve.

Abstract: Three-dimensional MR motion estimation on a single image plane based on tagged MRI and HARP processing. Tagged magnetic resonance imaging technique encodes and automatically tracks displacement of spatially modulated object in three dimensions, encoding both in plane and through-plane motion in a single image plane without affecting acquisition speed. Post-processing unravels encoding in order to directly track 3-D displacement of points within the image plane throughout image sequence. The invention is particularly suited to use on a heart for tracking and determining myocardial displacement. In one embodiment, an MR pulse sequence extends a slice following complementary spatial modulation of magnetization (CSPAMM) pulse sequence with two small z-encoding gradients immediately before the readouts in successive CSPAMM acquisitions, thereby adding a through-plane encoding from which through-plane motion can be computed from acquired images.

Abstract: Remote adjustment of a selected one of a plurality of adjustable NMR probe circuit components is achieved with a plurality of selectable linear actuators, the selected one of which urges a platen against a respective driven gear, azimuthally locked to its shaft, to displace it axially along that shaft. When the driven gear engages a driving gear a single driving motor is energized and controlled to effect the desired adjustment.

Abstract: A method for generating a susceptibility (or T2*) weighted magnetic resonance (MR) image includes defining a pulse sequence having a plurality of gradient echoes and acquiring MR data for each of the plurality of gradient echoes. A weighting function is applied to image data for each gradient echo such as MR data (e.g., k-space data) or magnitude images associated with each gradient echo. A susceptibility weighted image is generated by combining the image data for each gradient echo based on at least the application of the weighting function.

Abstract: A method of magnetic resonance analysis of a body having therein at least one molecular species and water is disclosed. The method comprises, subtracting magnetic resonance signals induced by a second radiofrequency pulse sequence from magnetic resonance signals induced by a first radiofrequency pulse sequence followed by a evolution period. The first radiofrequency pulse sequence is selected so as to suppress magnetization for the water while preserving a generally longitudinal magnetization to the at least one molecular species. The second radiofrequency pulse sequence being selected so as to suppress transverse and longitudinal magnetization for both the water and the at least one molecular species.