Abstract: A method to determine one or more properties of a substance in a downhole region of investigation is disclosed. The method includes obtaining NMR measurements from the region of investigation, obtaining at least one additional well log measurement from the region of investigation, expressing the NMR measurements in terms of NMR subcomponents, expressing the additional well log measurement in terms of well log subcomponents, and simultaneously inverting the expressed NMR measurements and the expressed additional well log measurement for the NMR subcomponents to yield one or more properties of a substance.

Abstract: In preferred embodiments, a fast spin echo imaging technique is provided that is insensitive to violations of the Carr Purcell Meiboom Gill (CPMG) condition. Diffusion gradients disrupt the CPMG condition, and, hence, the present fast spin echo method is compatible with diffusion measurements and diffusion weighted imaging. The preferred embodiments of the present technique involve splitting of spin echoes into echo pairs. Spin echoes are split by adjustment (in magnitude or duration) of an initial readout gradient pulse. A train of echo pairs is captured. A first image is constructed using the first echoes of each pair. Also, a second image is constructed using the second echoes of each pair. Hybrid radial Cartesian methods are used for constructing the first and second images. The first and second images are constructed independently of one another. Independent image construction renders the method insensitive to violation of the CPMG condition. Finally, the two images are combined to form a final image.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides improved devices, systems, and methods for measuring materials with NMR and/or MRI. Exemplary embodiments provide a sensor array for NMR mapping of the material. For example tissue can be measured with the sensor array mounted on a probe body having a distal portion which can be inserted through a minimally invasive aperture. While many tissues can be measured and/or diagnosed, one exemplary embodiment includes a probe adapted for insertion into a lumen of a blood vessel. The sensor array can provide improved spatial resolution of tissue and/or tissue structures positioned near the sensor array to diagnose potentially life threatening diseases, for example a fibrous cap covering a vulnerable plaque. In specific embodiments, the sensors are attached to an expandable member, for example a balloon, which can be inflated to urge the probe sensors radially outward to position the sensors near the tissue structures.

Abstract: A magnetic shielding apparatus having a high shielding effect. With the magnetic shielding apparatus having an opening (for example, a cylindrical magnetic shielding apparatus provided with a door), the door covering the opening is electrically and/or magnetically connected to a main body by means of electrically and/or magnetically connecting members. The magnetic shielding apparatus is higher in magnetic shielding factor than the conventional magnetic shielding apparatus, and a magnetic field measuring apparatus using the magnetic shielding apparatus, capable of measuring biomagnetism generated from an inspection target (a living body), with higher sensibility than before.

Abstract: A gradient coil system for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus has a layer structure including a gradient coil layer and a cooling layer. The cooling layer is fashioned as a plate heat exchanger, composed of plates, for cooling the gradient coil layer. In this way, a highly efficient cooling of the gradient coil layer is achieved with a lower structural height compared to conventional tubular configurations.

Abstract: An MRI system is housed within a housing that is provided with a set of deployable barriers that are attachable to the housing. The magnet in the MRI system may be operated at a first magnetic field intensity, such that the magnetic field outside of the housing remains below a safety limit when the barriers are not deployed. The magnet in the MRI system may be operated at a second magnetic field intensity, higher than the first, when the barriers are deployed, such that the magnetic field outside of the barriers remains below the safety limit.

Abstract: The invention proposes a method and an apparatus for testing a magnetic field of a coil. The method comprises applying an alternating current to the coil to generate an alternating magnetic field; measuring simultaneously the induced electromotive potential at a plurality of positions in the alternating magnetic field; and collecting and processing signals of the induced electromotive potential so as to obtain said coil's magnetic field distribution. The apparatus comprises probes positioned in said alternating magnetic field to generate the induced electromotive potential; a multi-channel data acquisition card for collecting the signals of the potential; and a processor for processing the collected signals to obtain said coil's magnetic field distribution. The method and the apparatus eliminate the interference by the magnetic field of the earth by testing the coil's alternating magnetic field to improve test accuracy and to improve the testing efficiency by multi-channel acquisition of the test signals.

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a system and method for a coil having a plurality of resonant elements and an adjustable frame. A position of at least one resonant element can be adjusted relative to at least one other resonant element. A variable impedance is coupled to adjacent resonant elements and the impedance varies as a function of a separation distance. Cables are coupled to each resonant element and are gathered at a junction in a particular manner.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus capable of receiving magnetic resonance signals with a plurality of coils while uniformly exciting such signals is to be provided. An RF coil of the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus is provided with an original loop unit, and a conductor which is so connected to the original loop unit as to split the original loop unit into split loop units. A control unit applies a high frequency magnetic field with the original loop unit and receives magnetic resonance signals with the split loop units.

Abstract: A diffusion-weighted MRI pulse sequence employs a two-dimensional diffusion weighting gradient that is sensitive to spin diffusion in a plane defined by two orthogonal gradients to acquire an image. The resulting magnitude image indicates the location of neuronal fibers perpendicular to this plane and by repeating the acquisition with the plane oriented at different angles, neuronal fibers extending through the field of view at any angle are detected. The magnitude images are used to produce a fiber tracking image.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for measuring temperature using luminescence thermometry, comprising: a photon emitter (42) for providing photons (3) of at least a first frequency; photoluminescent material (30) that produces photons (5) of at least a second frequency in response to the incidence of photons (3) of the first frequency; one or more photon receivers (44); and an optically dispersive element (50) for directing photons (5) of at least a second frequency produced by the photoluminescent material (30) into the photon receiver(s).

Abstract: A system and method for optical data transmission between MR scanning equipment and a data processing unit includes a silicon-based optical modulator which receives MR signals from RF coils and encodes them onto an optical carrier for transmission over an optical link for image reconstruction. The silicon-based optical modulator may be integrated into an electrical connection of the MR scanning equipment. A faster data transfer with lower susceptibility to noise is thus achieved.

Abstract: A transverse electromagnetic (TEM) coil is provided. The TEM coil includes an electrically conductive shell and an end plate disposed at a first end of the shell. The TEM coil also includes a plurality of TEM elements disposed within the shell, the plurality of TEM elements being shorter than the shell.

Abstract: Disclosed are a temperature measurement apparatus and method for measuring temperature by using RF signals having different frequencies. The temperature measurement apparatus includes a parameter generation unit for generating a first parameter based on a radio frequency (RF) signal having a first frequency and a second parameter based on an RF signal having a second frequency; a parameter detection unit for detecting the generated first and second parameters; and a control unit for calculating a temperature value based on the detected first and second parameters. Accordingly, the temperature measurement apparatus can measure temperature by use of existing components and received RF signals without any addition of a temperature sensor, as well as measure temperature precisely without having any influence on the intensities of RF signals that can vary due to the changes of transmission distances and signal-receiving environments.

Abstract: In a method for manufacturing a cooling device for a gradient coil, the cooling device having at least one flexible cooling tube arranged on a carrier plate configured in accordance with a predetermined pattern, the at least one cooling tube originally having a circular cross section, is laid in accordance with the predetermined pattern and is flattened to permanently deform its cross section.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging scanner includes a generally cylindrical main magnet assembly (10) that defines a cylinder axis (16). A first set of shims (60) are rigidly positioned inside the magnet assembly (10) at about a first distance (d1) relative to the cylinder axis (16). A second set of shims (62) are rigidly positioned inside the main magnet assembly (10) at about a second distance (d2) relative to the cylinder axis (16). The second distance (d2) is different from the first distance (d1). A generally cylindrical radio frequency coil (26) is arranged inside the main magnet assembly (10) at about a third distance (d3) relative to the cylinder axis (16). A plurality of gradient coils (20) are arranged inside the main magnet assembly (10) at about a fourth distance (d4) relative to the cylinder axis (16).

Abstract: In a method for determination of flip angle distributions for various antenna transmission configurations in a magnetic resonance system, magnetic resonance measurements are implemented with the various transmission configurations, with the reception configuration being identical for all implemented magnetic resonance measurements, and all magnetic resonance measurements for the various transmission configurations are implemented with a specific pulse sequence.

Abstract: In a data acquisition and reconstruction method for magnetic resonance (MR) tomography, and a corresponding MR tomography apparatus, a blade-like sampling of k-space according to the PROPELLER method using a number of reception coils ensures with partial under-sampling of at least one blade of k-space such that the under-sampling ensues by regular omission of k-space lines in both boundary regions (with regard to the phase-encoding direction ky) of a blade such that only data in each A-th line of said boundary regions are acquired; with no k-space lines being omitted in the central region (with regard to the ky-direction) and thus at least one coil calibration line is obtained, selection of a suitable PPA method for completion of the blades and determination of the necessary coil calibration data necessary for the PPA reconstruction of a partial under-sampled blade from the central completely sampled region of said blade.

Abstract: In thermal sensing devices, such as for calorimetry, a support layer or central layer can have a thermometer element or other thermal sensor on one side and a thermally conductive structure or component on the other. The thermally conductive structure can conduct temperature or other thermal input signals laterally across the support layer or central layer. The temperature or signals can then be provided to the thermometer element, such as by thermal contact through the support layer. An electrically conducting, thermally isolating anti-coupling layer, such as of gold or chromium, can reduce capacitive coupling between the thermally conductive structure and the thermometer element or other thermal sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for temperature sensing in an IC. The IC includes a plurality of remote temperature sensors each coupled to a control logic unit. The plurality of remote temperature sensors may be distributed throughout the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a reference unit coupled to provide a reference temperature to the control logic unit and a reference sensor coupled to provide a signal having a reference frequency to the control logic unit. The reference unit and the reference sensor are located near each other. The control logic unit is configured to correlate the reference frequency received from the reference sensor with the reference temperature received from the reference unit. The control logic unit is further configured to determine the temperature of each of the remote temperature sensors based on this correlation, and also configured to determine the maximum temperature of all of the temperature sensors.