Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with self-justification fitting for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relaxation parameter quantification are described. One example nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus includes a self-justification fitting logic configured to selectively include and exclude data points from a set of data points associated with NMR signals based, at least in part, on their impact on a fit attribute (e.g., standard deviation). In one embodiment, the self-justification is configured to select a subset of data points from the set of data points as a function of values for a fit attribute computed from fitting at least two different subsets of data points from the set of data points to a known NMR signal evolution.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to detection devices having one or more small wells each surrounded by, or in close proximity to, an NMR micro coil, each well containing a liquid sample with magnetic nanoparticles that self-assemble or disperse in the presence of a target analyte, thereby altering the measured NMR properties of the liquid sample. The device may be used, for example, as a portable unit for point of care diagnosis and/or field use, or the device may be implanted for continuous or intermittent monitoring of one or more biological species of interest in a patient.

Abstract: The clinical analyzers 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.

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: Methods for low-power in vivo localized multi-dimensional correlated magnetic resonance spectroscopy (“MRS”) are provided. Low-power adiabaticity is achieved, generally, using gradient-modulated radio frequency pulses for localization and mixing. The provided pulse sequences also provide a mechanism for longitudinal mixing, which significantly increases the efficiency of magnetization transfer and thereby increases signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: Nano-particles that possess either selective fluid phase blocks or modify the relative permeability of an earth formation to different fluids are used to inhibit the invasion of borehole mud into the formation. This makes it possible to make formation evaluation measurements using sensors with a shallow depth of investigation.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) water-fat separation method includes acquiring in-phase image raw measurement data and out-of-phase image raw measurement data with an MRI device, reconstructing an in-phase image and an out-of-phase image according to a system matrix and the raw measurement data using the penalty function regularized iterative reconstruction method, and calculating water and fat images according to the in-phase image and the out-of-phase image. The use of the penalty function regularized iterative method eliminates the need for k-space raw measurement data with a 100% sampling rate, thereby reducing the MRI scan time, shortening the entire imaging time, and improving the efficiency of the MRI device.

Abstract: An MRIS gradient coil sub-assembly comprising a first coil layer comprising a first conducting coil portion, a second coil layer comprising a second conductive coil portion electrically connected with the first conductive coil portion so that the first and second conductive coil portions act together as one winding, and a B-stage material consolidation layer sandwiched between the first and second coil layers.

Abstract: A method of magnetic resonance imaging of an object comprises the steps of arranging the object in a stationary magnetic field, subjecting the object to an excitation and encoding sequence of magnetic field gradients resulting in k-space sampling in two segments along the phase encoding direction, wherein the encoding sequence of the magnetic field gradients is selected such that the two segments in k-space are sampled along trajectories beginning with a central k-space line through the k-space center and continuing to opposite k-space borders of the two segments, collecting magnetic resonance signals created in the object, and reconstructing an image of the object based on the magnetic resonance signals, wherein one central k-space line is sampled in both of the two k-space segments, and intersegment phase and/or intensity deviations are corrected in both k-space segments using the magnetic resonance signals collected along the central k-space line.

Abstract: A method of designing a parallel transmission radio frequency (RF) pulse for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes compressing a model for a subject to be scanned by the MRI system into a plurality of voxel clusters, each voxel cluster defining a virtual observation point with a peak sensitivity to local specific absorption rate (SAR) for the voxel cluster, and defining the parallel transmission RF pulse based on an approximation of a minimization criterion having a local SAR component based on the peak sensitivity of each virtual observation point, the approximation comprising a weighted sum of the local SAR values for each virtual observation point.

Abstract: The present disclosure is intended to describe embodiments for improving image data acquisition and processing in accelerated dynamic magnetic resonance imaging sequences. One embodiment is described where a method includes an acquisition sequence configured to acquire an undersampled set of magnetic resonance data. The undersampled set of magnetic resonance data has a pseudo-random sampling pattern within a data space acquired at a first time, the pseudo-random sampling pattern being influenced by other pseudo-random sampling patterns within the data space arising from the acquisition of additional undersampled sets of magnetic resonance data at respective times. In some embodiments, the pseudo-random sampling patterns of the undersampled sets of magnetic resonance data interleave to yield a desired sampling pattern.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit and data processing condition setting unit. The imaging unit is configured to acquire magnetic resonance data corresponding to a sampling region asymmetric in a wave number direction in k-space from an object to generate image data based on the magnetic resonance data by data processing including phase correction and filter processing for obtaining a complex conjugate. The data processing condition setting unit is configured to set a condition for the data processing according to an imaging condition influencing a phase distribution used for the phase correction or the phase distribution.

Abstract: Semiconductor device components and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device component includes a conductive segment having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. A first via is coupled to the second surface of the conductive segment at the first end. A second via is coupled to the first surface of the conductive segment at the second end, and a third via is coupled to the second surface of the conductive segment at the second end.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a MRI apparatus includes a data acquisition unit, a phase correction amount calculation unit and an image data generating unit. The data acquisition unit acquires MR signals in 3D k-space according to an imaging condition for HFI. The phase correction amount calculation unit calculates a first phase correction amount by applying processing including a phase correction based on k-space data for calculating the first phase correction amount and data compensation for a non-sampling region with the MR signals in the 3D k-space. The k-space data for calculating the first phase correction are MR signals less than the MR signals in the 3D k-space. The image data generating unit generates MR image data by applying processing including a phase correction using a second phase correction amount based on the first phase correction amount and the data compensation with the MR signals in the 3D k-space.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus, a series of magnetic resonance exposures of an examination subject is generated by implementing multiple first measurements (data acquisitions) with variation of a measurement parameter from acquisition-to-acquisition, which strongly influences a contrast of the first material type excited in the first measurements, implementing multiple second measurements in which a second material type is essentially selectively imaged that is less contrast-dependent with regard to this measurement parameter in a processor calculating spatial correction values for image data of the first measurements based on spatial differences between image data of different second measurements, and, also in the processor, spatially correcting image data of the first measurements (Di) and/or registration of image data of different first measurements to one another on the basis of the correction values.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device that in one embodiment includes at least two MEMS switches coupled to each other in a back-to-back configuration. The first and second suspended elements corresponding to first and second MEMS switches are electrically coupled. Further, first and second contacts corresponding to the first and second MEMS switches are configured such that a differential voltage between the second suspended element and the second contact is approximately equal to a differential voltage between the first suspended element and the first contact. The MEMS device includes at least one actuator coupled to one or more of the first and second suspended elements to actuate one or more of the first and the second suspended elements. In one example, the MEMS device includes one or more passive elements coupled to one or more of the first and second MEMS switches.

Abstract: Provided are homogeneous liquid systems substantially 1H-NMR inactive and/or devoid of protons and are capable of enhancing the diffusion separation of a mixture, the system is substantially devoid of at least one NMR active nucleus present in the mixture. Further provided are methods of using the homogeneous liquid systems for enhancing the diffusion separation of a mixture and/or generating a diffusion ordered spectrum of a mixture and/or minimizing the peak width in a liquid state diffusion ordered spectrum of a mixture.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to detection devices having one or more small wells each surrounded by, or in close proximity to, an NMR micro coil, each well containing a liquid sample with magnetic nanoparticles that self-assemble or disperse in the presence of a target analyte, thereby altering the measured NMR properties of the liquid sample. The device may be used, for example, as a portable unit for point of care diagnosis and/or field use, or the device may be implanted for continuous or intermittent monitoring of one or more biological species of interest in a patient.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus is provided. The magnetic resonance apparatus comprises a gradient coil unit, a housing cover and a noise protection unit which has at least one noise-insulating element which is arranged between the gradient coil unit and the housing cover for deadening an operating noise of the gradient coil unit. The magnetic resonance apparatus also comprises at least one fastening element for attaching the at least one noise-insulating element. The fastening element engages in a connection with the gradient coil unit for attaching the at least one noise-insulating element.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes an executing unit, a calculating unit, and a correcting unit. The executing unit executes a pre-scan while using a pulse sequence by which a plurality of echo signals are collected. The calculating unit calculates a phase difference between at least two echo signals of which a fluctuation of phase differences is stable and that are selected out of the plurality of echo signals collected during the pre-scan and are selected while excluding echo signals collected during an initial time period. The correcting unit that corrects a pulse sequence used for a main scan, based on the phase difference calculated by the calculating unit.