Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a gradient magnetic field power supply configured to supply power to a gradient coil. The gradient magnetic field power supply includes a plurality of switching circuits and a processing circuitry. Each of the switching circuits is configured to output a predetermined pulse voltage. The processing circuitry is configured to change the number of switching circuits to be caused to perform switching operation among the switching circuits, in accordance with an intensity of the voltage to be output to the gradient coil.

Abstract: A system and method for directing an MRI system to form echo signals from spins in a volume-of-interest (VOI) includes creating an integrated pulse sequence that integrates a volume navigator pulse sequence with an imaging pulse sequence by coordinating a navigator TR with an imaging TR to preserve a steady state of magnetization in the VOI associated with the imaging pulse sequence. The integrated pulse sequence includes performing the imaging pulse sequence to acquire imaging data from the VOI, performing the navigator pulse sequence to acquire navigator data VOI, processing the navigator data to generate motion estimates of motion in the VOI, creating an updated imaging pulse sequence that prospectively corrects for the motion in the VOI using the motion estimates, and repeating these steps using the updated imaging pulse sequence.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a MRI apparatus includes an RF coil apparatus receiving MR signals by coil elements corresponding to channels, modulating the MR signals to have different frequencies for each of the channels, and outputting an analog multiplexed signal in which the MR signals with different frequencies are composited over the channels, and a receiver including ADC circuitry converting the analog multiplexed signal to a digital multiplexed signal, and predetermined number of separation channels separating the digital multiplexed signal, based on the number of the channels relating to composition of the MR signals with the different frequencies. The receiver stops a separation process of the digital multiplexed signal for separation channels not used in the separation process among the predetermined number of separation channels.

Abstract: Radio frequency (“RF”) coil assemblies for use in local magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) of tissues in a subject or patient in an intraoperative setting are provided. One or more RF coils are coupled to an absorbent member. A connecting element is coupled to the RF coil(s) or the absorbent member. When connected to the RF coil(s), the connecting element includes a wired connector that communicates signals between the RF coil(s) and an RF controller. The RF coil assemblies can be made to be disposable.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing electromagnet coils for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The electromagnet coils are located in a non-homogeneous external magnetic field. The method comprises forming a coil representation of a coil surface for the electromagnet coils; setting limits for performance metrics for the electromagnet coils including a magnetic field-shape metric and at least one of an external torque metric and an external force metric, the external torque metric and the external force metric based, respectively, at least in part on a torque and a force exerted on the electromagnet coil by the non-homogeneous external magnetic field; forming a performance functional, based on the coil representation and the performance metrics, for generating a current density pattern over the coil surface; optimizing the performance functional and generating a current density pattern based on the optimized performance functional; and obtaining coil windings.

Abstract: The longitudinal relaxation times (T1) of water and hydrocarbon inside porous media, such as rock from subsurface formations, behave differently when external magnetic fields vary. A Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation Dispersion (NMRD) profile from Fast Field Cycling Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (FFC-NMR) technique differentiates the type of fluids filling the pores. Different types of pores in a rock sample are filled with different fluids, water and hydrocarbon, and the absolute porosity and the pore size of each type of pores is determined.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance facility is provided. The magnetic resonance facility includes at least one object table configured to mount an object to be examined and at least one coil facility embodied separately from the object table, which includes at least one local coil and at least one connecting portion, which may be introduced into at least one recess of the object table and may be held there to hold the coil facility. The connecting portion in the recess is guided displaceably along a longitudinal direction of the recess between different positions in which it may be held. At least one coil-facility-side connecting device is arranged on the connecting portion and may establish an electrical connection for the power supply and/or for signal transmission between the coil facility and the object table and/or at least one optical connection for signal transmission between the coil facility and the object table.

Abstract: A method for combining nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis and digital rock physics (DRP) analysis based on drilling cuttings or other rock samples for improved downhole nuclear magnetic resonance validation and characterization. A system for performing the method also is provided.

Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for determining a shim setting in order to increase a homogeneity of the basic magnetic field of the scanner of the apparatus by operating a shim element, information is obtained concerning the dependence of an induced field of the shim element on a set shim setting. A first field map is recorded and a first shim setting for the shim element is determined based on the first field map. A second field map is recorded while the shim element is driven with the first shim setting. A field induced by the shim element by the first shim setting is determined based on the first field map and the second field map. A second shim setting for the shim element is determined based on the determined induced field and the acquired information.

Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of this disclosure, there is provided a device for performing magnetic resonance relaxometry. The device comprises a radio-frequency spectrometer comprising at least one field-programmable gate array chip; a power amplifier electrically connected with the radio-frequency spectrometer and amplifying an electrical output of the radio-frequency spectrometer, thereby producing an amplified electrical signal comprising between about 0.

Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for generating quantitative perfusion parameter maps based on different longitudinal relaxation parameter maps that are produced from images acquired using non-selective and selective magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) data acquisition techniques.

Abstract: According to one of embodiments, an MRI apparatus includes at least one receiving coil configured to receive magnetic resonance signals from an object; and processing circuitry configured to generate an image based on the magnetic resonance signals, calculate a weighting map of the image based on at least one of a sensitivity characteristic of the receiving coil and a distance from a magnetic field center, and generate a quantitative susceptibility image, which quantitatively indicates magnetic susceptibility inside a body, from the image by using the weighting map.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for testing wettability of tight oil reservoir. The method comprises: by using a nuclear magnetic resonance testing method, testing nuclear magnetic resonance maps of the tight oil reservoir in the saturated water state and in the saturated oil state; by using the nuclear magnetic resonance maps, analyzing a water-wetting degree and an oil-wetting degree of the tight oil reservoir; calculating a mixed wettability index of the tight oil reservoir, and estimating the wettability of the tight oil reservoir according to the mixed wettability index. This disclosure can effectively improve testing efficiency, quantitatively analyze the water-wetting degree and the oil-wetting degree of the tight oil reservoir, and improve accuracy of testing results.

Abstract: A system and method for magnetic resonance imaging is provided. The method may include: determining a scanning parameter, wherein the scanning parameter includes one or more predetermined values; obtaining one or more MR signal sets based on the one or more predetermined values; generating one or more original images based on the one or more MR signal sets, wherein an original image corresponds to an MR signal set; determining one or more virtual values associated with the scanning parameter; and generating one or more virtual images based on the one or more virtual values and the one or more original images, wherein a virtual image corresponds to a virtual value.

Abstract: A method for characterizing wettability of a porous medium is described. A core sample of the porous medium is secured in a core holder, which includes a first end and a second end. A model of the core sample and a pore volume of the core sample are obtained. A wetting phase is displaced from the core sample by supplying a non-wetting phase at one end of the core holder. The non-wetting phase is displaced from the core sample by supplying the wetting phase at one end of the core holder. A saturation profile of the core sample is determined based on cross-sectional images of the core sample. A wettability index value is calculated at least based on a comparison of the saturation profile and the model of the core sample.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus provided with a plurality of transmission channels includes a signal processing unit and a control unit. The signal processing unit acquires a radio frequency magnetic field emitted from each of the plurality of transmission channels through a receiver coil mounted on an object and measure a phase of the radio frequency magnetic field. The control unit determines a phase difference between the plurality of transmission channels based on the phase of the radio frequency magnetic field of each of the plurality of transmission channels measured by the signal processing unit. The control unit controls a phase of a radio frequency pulse inputted to each of the plurality of transmission channels, based on the phase difference.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating the actual k-space trajectory implemented when acquiring data with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system while jointly reconstructing an image from that acquired data are described. An objective function that accounts for deviations between the actual k-space trajectory and a designed k-space trajectory while also accounting for the target image is optimized. To reduce the computational burden of the optimization, a reduced model for the parameters associated with the k-space trajectory deviation and the target image can be implemented.

Abstract: A cooling device (1) has a cryostat (2) and a cold head (3) of a cooling system (52), and additionally includes a pivot bearing (35), with which the cold head (3) is mounted on the cryostat (2) so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis (A). A connecting line (15) for a working gas of the cooling system (52) is connected to the cold head so that forces caused by the cooling system (52) act on the cold head (3) via the connecting line (15) at a force application point (EP) in a force application direction (ER). The force application direction (ER) is inclined by no more than 40° with respect to the normal (N) of a lever plane (HE) which contains the rotation axis (A) and the force application point (EP).

Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for acquiring MR scan data of an object by execution of a scan sequence in which pulses, at least three RF pulses are radiated for generating an echo signal in a first sub-volume, at a point in time between two of the at least three RF pulses associated with the first sub-volume, at least one other RF pulse is radiated so as to generate an echo signal in another sub-volume, the other sub-volume being different from the first sub-volume. The resulting the echo signals are received and entered into k-space so as to form a datafile that is accessible for reconstructing image data of the object.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus, a control computer for a data acquisition scanner automatically determines sequence control data, for a control protocol that has been loaded into the control computer, that define different functional sub-sequences of data acquisition sequence, the sub-sequences causing nuclear spins in at least two sub-volumes of a subject to be simultaneously manipulated or used in order to acquire magnetic resonance data. For each sub-sequence, the computer determines a respective effective volume dependent on the respectively associated sub-volumes, and determines applicable underlying conditions from which control signals are generated that locally optimize the sub-sequences for each effective volume.