Abstract: Systems and methods for performing ungated magnetic resonance imaging are disclosed herein. A method includes producing magnetic resonance image MRI data by scanning a target in a low magnetic field with a pulse sequence having a spiral trajectory; sampling k-space data from respective scans in the low magnetic field and receiving at least one field map data acquisition and a series of MRI data acquisitions from the respective scans; forming a field map and multiple sensitivity maps in image space from the field map data acquisition; forming target k-space data with the series of MRI data acquisitions; forming initial magnetic resonance images in the image domain by applying a Non-Uniform Fast Fourier Transform to the target k-space data; and forming reconstructed images with a low rank plus sparse (L+S) reconstruction algorithm applied to the initial magnetic resonance images.

Abstract: Apparatus for the measurement of ore in mine haul vehicles is disclosed, the apparatus comprising: a portal, defining a portal zone, wherein a haul vehicle carrying ore is positionable in or movable through the portal zone; and at least one magnetic resonance (MR) sensor comprised in the portal. The MR sensor includes a main loop and a drive loop located above the main loop. A magnetic resonance sensor control system is provided and configured to control at least one of: the positioning of the at least one MR sensor relative to the portal zone and/or ore burden; the positioning of elements comprised in the MR sensor relative to each other; electromagnetic suppression characteristics of the at least one MR sensor; and/or sensitivity of the at least one MR sensor as a function of distance of the sensor from the ore burden.

Abstract: Techniques are described for controlling components of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system with a single controller, such as a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), by dynamically instructing the controller to issue commands to the components using a processor coupled to the controller. According to some aspects, the controller may issue commands to the components of the MRI system whilst actively receiving commands from the processor to be later issued to the components.

Abstract: The present application provides a method of designing a high shielding gradient coil for a planar superconducting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and a gradient coil thereof, the method determines a shielding area according to an outer profile of a metal conductor around the position of the gradient coil in the planar superconducting MRI system, and performs partitioned shielding of a stray field. The constraint values of stray fields at different partitioned zones of the shielding area are adjusted according to the shielding requirements. The primary coils of both the transverse gradient coil and the longitudinal gradient coil optimized by the design method of the high shielding gradient coil contain a reverse coil, which generates a magnetic field that offsets leakage magnetic field of other coils, thus achieving the purpose of reducing the stray field of the gradient coil.

Abstract: A reconfigurable metamaterial is used to enhance the reception field of a radio frequency (“RF”) coil for use in magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”). In general, the metamaterial can be a metasurface, which may be flexible, having a periodic array of resonators. Each resonator in the periodic array can be defined as a unit cell of the metamaterial and/or metasurface. The unit cells include a first conductor and a second conductor separated by an insulator layer. The first conductor can be a solid conductor and the second conductor can be a conductive fluid (e.g., a liquid metal, a liquid metal alloy) contained within a microfluidic channel. Varying the volume of conductive fluid in each unit cell adjust the signal enhancement ratio of the metamaterial.

Abstract: An MR sequence for an object is simulated by a computing unit in order to determine a simulation signal relating to a course of a transverse magnetization of nuclear spins. Depending on the simulation signal, a resting period of the MR sequence is determined during which an expected MR signal amplitude is always less than or equal to a predetermined limit value. An MR recording is carried out in accordance with the MR sequence, wherein an analysis signal is received in each case by a main receiving antenna and at least one auxiliary receiving antenna during an analysis period corresponding to the resting period and at least one interference suppression parameter is determined in dependence on the analysis signals. An MR signal is received by the main receiving antenna and an interference signal is received in each case by the at least one auxiliary receiving antenna.

Abstract: A system for scanning an object is provided. The system may include: a supporting table configured to support the object; a first signal conversion unit configured to receive one or more first signals associated with the object and convert the first signals into one or more second signals; and a signal receiver board configured to receive the one or more second signals. The first signal conversion unit may include a plurality of first signal receiving channels. Each first signal receiving channel may be configured to receive a first signal associated with a portion of the object. The supporting table and the signal receiver board may be configured to move relative to each other to cause the signal receiver board to receive at least one second signal corresponding to at least one first signal received by at least one target channel of the first signal receiving channels.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a B0 magnetic field for a magnetic resonance imaging system. The apparatus includes at least one first B0 magnet configured to produce a first magnetic field to contribute to the B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system, the at least one first B0 magnet comprising a first plurality of permanent magnet rings including at least two rings with respective different heights.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires an image in which a coil is depicted. The processing circuitry acquires, from the image, information on disposition of the coil and information on a port to which the coil is connected.

Abstract: A flexible radiofrequency receiving coil array. The flexible radiofrequency receiving coil array is provided on a flexible panel and comprises several rows of coil units. Adjacent two rows of coil units in the several rows of coil units are alternately arranged. Preamplifiers are provided in the coil units. In the flexible radiofrequency receiving coil array, two preamplifiers in adjacent two coil units are provided on a same preamplifier mounting plate on the flexible panel, where multiple preamplifier mounting plates are provided on the flexible panel, and the preamplifier mounting plates of different columns and rows are linearly arranged. The flexible radiofrequency receiving coil array effectively reduces the distribution density of the preamplifiers, ensures the flexibility and maximum degree of distension of the coil array, and improves the fit of the coil array to the human body, thus increasing image signal-to-noise ration and image quality.

Abstract: Methods for forming conformal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) receive coil devices having at least one receive coil with at least one capacitor are provided and include providing a 3-dimensional (3D) mold structure matching a curvilinear shape of interest, and forming a receive coil pattern on an outer surface of the 3D mold structure. The forming of the receive coil pattern may include spraying and/or depositing a conductive material and a dielectric material on the outer surface of the mold structure to form the receive coil pattern. The forming a receive coil pattern may include forming the receive coil pattern on an outer surface of a flat substrate sheet, and vacuum forming an inner surface of the flat substrate sheet to the outer surface of the mold structure to form a shape-conforming substrate sheet. The shape-conforming substrate sheet may be removed from the mold and used in MRI studies.

Abstract: A gradient coil unit including a first conductor structure arranged within a first form and a second conductor structure arranged within a second form, wherein the first conductor structure and the second conductor structure are designed together to generate a magnetic field gradient in a first direction, the first form and the second form are arranged separately, opposite each other, and divided by a hollow space, and the first form has a segment of a circle as a cross section.

Abstract: A method for generating an MRI sequence (1) which is characterized in that a first time segment type and a second time segment type differing therefrom are predefined and the MRI sequence (1) is constructed by time segments (5, 6) of the first time segment type and time segments (5, 6) of the second time segment type being strung together alternately.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance tomography scanner with a noise suppressor for suppressing interferences of reception and a method for operation of the magnetic resonance tomography scanner are provided. The noise suppressor receives an interference signal with a sensor, determines a noise suppression signal with a noise suppression controller, and sends the noise suppression signal using a controllable radio frequency amplifier via a transmit antenna, so that the interference signal on a receive antenna of the magnetic resonance tomography scanner is reduced.

Abstract: While the size of a coil is maintained, the performance of the coil is improved. A method for designing a gradient coil includes the step of determining performance value evaluation points between a plurality of coils disposed so as to face each other, and determining a stream function on the basis of the performance value evaluation points and the target field method so as to decrease the value of a polynomial evaluation function containing a term of a simple sum of sizes of current density distribution in coil planes; and the step of disposing a continuous current pathway in the coil planes on the basis of contours of the determined stream function.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to MRI techniques. The techniques include occupying a central region of a first k-space with full sampling along a Cartesian trajectory, occupying a peripheral region of the first k-space with undersampling along a non-Cartesian trajectory; acquiring sensitivity distribution information of receiving coils; based on a sensitivity distribution chart, merging the Cartesian data of the central region according to multiple channels to obtain a third k-space; based on the sensitivity distribution chart, applying parallel imaging and compressed sensing to the undersampled non-Cartesian trajectory to reconstruct an image, obtaining a second k-space by transformation, and when the second k-space and third k-space are synthesized, using a central region of the second k-space to replace the third k-space of a corresponding region to obtain a k-space suitable for image reconstruction.

Abstract: An assembly for use in an electrophotographic image forming device includes a housing having a reservoir for holding toner. The housing includes a wall having an inner surface forming a boundary of the reservoir and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. A toner agitator is positioned in the reservoir and has a rotatable shaft. The shaft includes an end portion that passes through an opening in the wall. A gear is mounted on the end portion of the shaft outside of the reservoir and is rotatably coupled to the shaft. An annular seal encircles and is in contact with an outer circumferential surface of the shaft. The annular seal is positioned between an inner axial face of the gear and the outer surface of the wall. The inner axial face of the gear contacts the annular seal and presses the annular seal against the outer surface of the wall.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to calculate an allowable amount of heat input to a superconducting magnet, the allowable amount being allocated to each of a plurality of imagings scheduled during a target period. The processing circuitry is configured to determine an imaging condition based on the allowable amount in the each of the plurality of imagings.

Abstract: An MRI scanner and a method for operation of the MRI scanner are provided. The MRI scanner has a first receiving antenna for receiving a magnetic resonance signal from a patient in a patient tunnel, a second receiving antenna for receiving a signal having the Larmor frequency of the magnetic resonance signal, and a receiver. The second receiving antenna is located outside of the patient tunnel or near an opening thereof. The receiver has a signal connection to the first receiving antenna and the second receiving antenna and is configured to suppress an interference signal by the second receiving antenna in the magnetic resonance signal received by the first receiving antenna.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance tomography unit includes a transmitter, a transmission monitoring device for monitoring an excitation signal from the transmitter, and a plurality of transmit antennas. The magnetic resonance tomography unit also includes a switching device configured to bring the transmission monitoring device selectively into a signal connection to one transmit antenna of the plurality of transmit antennas. A method for operating the magnetic resonance tomography unit is also provided.