Abstract: A method of testing a sample comprising the steps of: applying an excitation to the sample; detecting a response signal from the sample; processing a first part and a second part of the response signal; and determining from the second part of the response signal information with which to enhance the first part of the response signal.

Abstract: In order to make it possible to set the optimal breath-holding imaging conditions according to the subject without extension of an imaging time or the sacrifice of image quality, one scan is divided into one or more breath-holding measurements and free-breathing measurements on the basis of the imaging conditions of a breath-holding measurement, which are input and set according to the subject, and a region of the k space measured in the breath-holding measurement is controlled. Preferably, in the breath-holding measurement, low-frequency data of the k space is measured. Moreover, preferably, imaging conditions of the breath-holding measurement include the number of times of breath holding or a breath-holding time, and the operator can set any of these values.

Abstract: A method for locally creating effectively homogeneous or “clean” magnetic field gradients (of high uniformity) for imaging (with NMR, MRI, or spectroscopic MRI) both in in-situ and ex-situ systems with high degrees of inhomogeneous field strength.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) produces an image representative of flowing nuclei within a subject. For each of plural MRI data acquisition sequences, a non-contrast pulsed ASL (arterial spin labeling) pre-sequence is applied to flowing nuclei in a tagging region during a tagging period (that occurs prior to MRI data acquisition from a selected downstream image region). The ASL pre-sequence includes plural different elapsed tagging times at which a radio frequency (RF) nuclear magnetic resonant (NMR) nutation tagging pulse occurs or does not occur in accordance with different predetermined patterns for corresponding different data acquisition sequences. Acquired MRI data is decoded in accordance with such predetermined patterns to detect MRI signals emanating from different cohorts of flowing nuclei that have been subjected to different combinations of nutation pulses. Acquired MRI data is used to reconstruct at least one image representing flowing nuclei within the selected image region.

Abstract: In an electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer, a closed cycle cryocooler is used to cool gaseous helium, which is then circulated around a sample to cool the sample by direct convection. Since the sample is not mechanically connected to the refrigerator, no vibrations are transmitted from the refrigerator to the sample and the sample can be quickly removed and replaced. The cooled helium can be passed through a Joule-Thomson expansion device before circulating the cooled helium around the sample to further cool the helium. In addition, a vacuum pump can be connected to the helium outlet after circulating the cooled helium around the sample to increase the pressure differential across the Joule-Thomson expansion device and further cool the helium. In order to raise the temperature of the cooled helium, a heater can be placed about the cooled helium line upstream from the sample.

Abstract: A three-dimensional turbo spin echo imaging method of applying, within a repetition time TR, N groups of pulses to respectively scan N slabs in succession, with each group including one excitation pulse and more than one refocusing pulse, wherein N is a positive integer greater than 1, is improved by applying a first slice selection gradient at the same time as applying each said excitation pulse, and applying a second slice selection gradient at the same time as applying each said refocusing pulse, and applying a phase encoding gradient after having applied each refocusing pulse, then applying a frequency encoding gradient and acquiring scan signals during the duration of the frequency encoding gradient. An image according to the scan signals is reconstructed.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus is configured in such a manner that: a high-frequency transmission coil transmits a high-frequency electromagnetic wave at a magnetic resonance frequency to an examined subject; a heating coil performs a heating process by radiating a high-frequency electromagnetic wave onto the examined subject at a frequency different from the magnetic resonance frequency; based on a magnetic resonance signal, a measuring unit measures the temperature of the examined subject changing due to the high-frequency electromagnetic wave radiated by the heating coil; and a control unit exercises control so that the measuring unit measures the temperature while the heating coil is performing the heating process, by ensuring that the transmission of the high-frequency electromagnetic wave by the high-frequency transmission coil and the radiation of the high-frequency electromagnetic wave by the heating coil are performed in parallel.

Abstract: An end flange for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method for manufacturing an end flange are provided. One end flange is for a vacuum vessel of the MRI system. The vacuum vessel includes a housing configured to receive therein a magnet assembly and an end flange forming an end of the housing. The flange includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and a core coupled between the outer and inner surfaces, wherein the core has a greater stiffness than the outer surface and the inner surface.

Abstract: A Radio Frequency (RF) coil apparatus for generating a Magnetic Resonance (MR) image includes a body adapted to be worn by a subject being scanned, the body comprising an anterior portion, a posterior portion, and a transition portion coupled between the anterior and posterior portions, a first RF receive-only saddle coil including a first coil positioned in the anterior portion and a second coil positioned in the anterior portion, the first RF saddle coil configured to be positioned on the anterior and posterior sides of the subject. An MRI imaging system and method are also described herein.

Abstract: A magnet array is disclosed which is suitable for inter alia producing a remote field for use in unilateral magnetic resonance. In the “Magnet Array”, two separated magnets, which are magnetized along a substantially same collinear magnetization direction, produce a field with a local maximum centered above and between them. The field produced by the two separated magnets is substantially parallel to the collinear magnetization direction of the two separated magnets. A third magnet is centered between the two separated magnets. The third magnet has a magnetization direction which is substantially parallel to the collinear magnetization direction of the two separated magnets. The third magnet produces a field which is substantially parallel to the collinear magnetization direction of the two separated magnets, and adds to the increasing field below the local maximum point produced by the two separated magnets.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance examination system includes a main magnet with superconducting coils to generate a main magnetic field and a gradient system to apply a gradient magnetic field superposed on the main magnetic field. A cooling system cools the superconducting coils to below their critical superconductivity temperature. A transfer monitor assesses the transfer of energy from the gradient system to the cooling system. The transfer monitor is configured to measure pressure changes in the cooling system. This leads to a simple manner of evaluating the transfer of energy from the gradient coils into the cooling system.

Abstract: At least one non-stationary coil in a magnetic resonance tomography system is attached with a fastener to a displaceable bed. The fastener has a position detector incorporated therein to determine the position or a component of the position of the non-stationary coil. The portion of the position is, for example, the position along the axis of symmetry of the measurement tube.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance measuring apparatus includes a signal source, a transmitter, a receiver, a bandpass filter, a receiving circuit and a magnetic field generator. The signal generator is configured to generate a microwave signal. The transmitter is configured to transmit the signal from the signal source to a test sample. The receiver is opposed to the transmitter and configured to receive the signal from the transmitter via the sample. The bandpass filter has a bandwidth and is configured to extract the signal. The receiving circuit is configured to amplify the extracted signal through the bandpass filter and process the amplified signal. The magnetic field generator is configured to apply a magnetic field to the sample. The bandwidth satisfies a condition, P+Gtx+Grx?(?tx+?d1+?d2+?d3+?rx)>10×log(k×T×BW×109).

Abstract: Downhole orientation sensing with a nuclear spin gyroscope. A method of sensing orientation of an instrument assembly in a subterranean well can include incorporating an atomic comagnetometer and an optical source into the instrument assembly, and installing the instrument assembly in the well. A downhole orientation sensing system for use in conjunction with a subterranean well can include a downhole instrument assembly positioned in the well, the instrument assembly including an atomic comagnetometer and an optical source which transmits light to the atomic comagnetometer.

Abstract: Technologies applicable to SNMR pulse sequence phase cycling are disclosed, including SNMR acquisition apparatus and methods, SNMR processing apparatus and methods, and combinations thereof. SNMR acquisition may include transmitting two or more SNMR pulse sequences and applying a phase shift to a pulse in at least one of the pulse sequences, according to any of a variety of phase cycling techniques. SNMR processing may include combining SNMR from a plurality of pulse sequences comprising pulses of different phases, so that desired signals are preserved and undesired signals are canceled.

Abstract: An intracavity probe for use with an MR system allows images and spectra of internal anatomical structures to be obtained. The intracavity probe houses within its balloon-type enclosure a single-element quadrature coil sensitive to both the vertical and horizontal components of the MR signal. The quadrature coil by means of its output line is designed to plug into a dedicated interface device with which to interface the quadrature coil with the MR system. Drive capacitors within the coil in conjunction with the electrical length of the output line and phase shifting networks within the interface device enable complete decoupling of the quadrature coil from the transmit fields generated by the MR system. Preamplifier, power splitting and combining networks within the interface device process voltage signals representative of the horizontal and vertical components of the MR signal and enable them to be conveyed to the input port(s) of the MR system.

Abstract: The invention relates to the atomistic functional understanding of the M2 protein from the influenza A virus. This acid-activated selective proton channel has been the subject of numerous conductance, structural, and computational studies. Previously, little was known at the atomic level about the heart of the functional mechanism of this tetrameric protein, a tetrad of HxxxW residues. The structure of the M2 conductance domain in a lipid bilayer is disclosed and displays the defining features of the native protein that have not been attainable from structures solubilized by detergents. A detailed mechanism for acid activation and proton conductance, involving a strong hydrogen bond between two adjacent histidines and specific interactions with the tryptophan gate, is provided and elucidates many observations on the M2 proton conductance.

Abstract: This aims to shorten the time period, which is required for optimizing a radio-frequency magnetic field pulse intensity, thereby to shorten the measurement time period of an MRI entirety. In the operation for optimizing the radio-frequency magnetic field pulse intensity, an initial state for applying radio-frequency magnetic field pulses is intentionally created for a short time period, thereby to shorten the radio-frequency magnetic field pulse interval for the repeated applications. The radio-frequency magnetic field pulses are repeatedly applied at a predetermined time interval sufficiently shorter than the relaxing time period of the radio-frequency magnetic field pulses, and the state in which the magnetic resonance signal intensity becomes a threshold value or less is set to an initial state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for changing spin relaxation, a method for detecting a spin current, and a spintronic device using spin relaxation, and spin relaxation is changed through injection of a spin current. A spin current 4 is injected into a material 1 in a certain spin state, so that the spin relaxation time can be controlled.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with multi-scale orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relaxometry are described. One example method includes controlling a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) apparatus to cause selected nuclei in an item to resonate by applying radio frequency (RF) energy to the item and then acquiring multiple series of magnetic resonance (MR) images of the item, the series of MR images having different scales. The example method includes controlling the NMR apparatus to produce a combined signal evolution from a first signal evolution associated with a first series of MR images and a second signal evolution associated with a second series of MR images and to characterize relaxation of the selected nuclei in the item as a function of an OMP that compares the combined signal evolution to a set of combined comparative signal evolutions.