Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method comprising a step for applying one or more gradient magnetic field pulses continuously, a step for calculating a residual magnetic field being generated from a magnet by an gradient magnetic field pulse based on a residual magnetic field response function representing the relation between the strength of the gradient magnetic field pulse being applied and the strength of a residual magnetic field being generated, and a step for correcting the residual magnetic field thus calculated. The magnetic resonance imaging method is further provided with a step for updating the residual magnetic field response function with time depending on the application history of the gradient magnetic field pulses being applied continuously.

Abstract: For in vivo magnetic resonance imaging at high field (?3 T) it is essential to consider the homogeneity of the active B1 field (B1+), particularly if surface coils are used for RF transmission. A new method is presented for highly rapid B1+ magnitude mapping. It combines the double angle method with a B1-insensitive magnetization-reset sequence such that the choice of repetition time (TR) is independent of T1 and with a multi-slice segmented (spiral) acquisition to achieve volumetric coverage with adequate spatial resolution in a few seconds.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for generation of magnetic resonance (MR) images based on the TrueFISP sequence with simultaneous acquisition of the MR images of a number of parallel slices of a measurement subject the number of the slices N to be acquired in the measurement subject is established whereby N is at least, the number of the phase coding lines MA per raw data matrix and slice N are established, with the requirement that the quotient of MA and N is a natural number, the repetition time TR, the radio-frequency pulse duration RF and the flip angle ? are established, of each raw data matrix is sub-divided into S separate segments to be measured, whereby S is equal to N or a whole-number multiple of N, with the requirement that the quotient Q of MA and S that corresponds to the number of the phase coding lines per segment is a natural number, data are acquired for all segments S of all slices N, whereby the time duration, in msec, TSeg for the acquisition of the data of each segment is T Seg = TR +

Abstract: Methods and systems for compensating for static magnetic field inhomogeneities during nuclear magnetic resonance detection are disclosed. Application of radio frequency pulses and/or magnetic field gradients may be used to correct for spin dephasing caused by the inhomogeneities. The methods and system may be used to improve signal-to-noise ratios in NMR and MRI systems where magnetic field inhomogeneity may have an effect.

Abstract: A gradient coil or other element of a magnetic resonance imaging system includes at least one layer comprised of copper having a first surface and a second surface. A first semiconductor layer is applied to the first surface of the copper and an insulation layer applied to the first semiconductor layer. In one embodiment, a second semiconductor layer is applied to the second surface of the copper. The first and second semiconductor layers encapsulate any voids formed between the copper and the semiconductor layers, equalize the potential around the voids and prevent partial discharge formation.

Abstract: A windowed noise reduction technique is presented that allows a noise-reduced spectrum of satisfactory accuracy to be recovered from original noisy spectroscopic data, while acquiring a significantly reduced number of transient acquisitions. The signal-averaged, decimated signal is written as a sum of a noisefree component and a noise component, and a vector space that contains a noisefree subspace and a noise subspace is created using these decimated signals. A correlation matrix is constructed in this vector space, and diagonalized to yield the singular values. The appearance of a clear gap between the noisefree singular values and the noise singular values, in a singular value graph, and the stability of the gap, supplies the criteria for determining that a sufficient number of iterations has been performed.

Abstract: A system for performing cantilever based calorimetric analysis system. A laser device is configured to emit a beam of laser energy along a beam pathway reaching from the laser device to a microcantilever. The microcantilever presents a reflective target area for the laser beam. The microcantilever deflects in response to heat. A material is provided adjacent to the target area. The material receives heat energy from the laser beam. A detector is positioned on a beam return pathway. The detector is configured to sense laser energy from the beam return pathway and provide a data single that represents calorimetric data from the material. Control circuitry is also provided to receive the data signal from the detector and process the data signal according to program logic for providing a differential scanning calorimetric analysis of the calorimetric data. An associated method of use is also provided.

Abstract: A downhole nuclear magnetic resonance method for measuring a property of a formation, the method includes applying a polarizing magnetic field to the formation, the field including a spatial distribution of magnitude; selecting an investigation region of the formation; decaying the polarizing magnetic field according to a decay shape to provide for substantially exciting only nuclei in the investigation region; and measuring signals induced by precession of the nuclei in the investigation region.

Abstract: A method of deriving a directional structure from an object dataset is proposed. The object dataset assigns local directions to positions in a multidimensional geometrical space. For example the local directions concern local flow directions in a diffusion tensor magnetic resonance image at least one ‘region of interest’ is selected on the basis of spatial functional information, such as an fMRI image, time correlation of an fMRI image series with a functional paradigm or an anatomical image. These ‘region of interest’ are employed to initialize a fibre tracking to derive the directional structure that represents the nervous fibre system.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a main magnet (20) that surrounds an examination region (18) and generates a main magnetic field in the examination region. A magnetic field gradient system (30) is disposed outside of the main magnet. The magnetic field gradient system includes a ferromagnetic yoke (32), and a plurality of magnetic field gradient coils (34) magnetically coupled with the ferromagnetic yoke and selectively producing magnetic flux in the ferromagnetic yoke. The magnetic flux in the ferromagnetic yoke produces selected magnetic field gradients in the examination region.

Abstract: A method of local temperature measurement in a sample is provided. The method comprises the stimulation, at a location in the sample, of anti-Stokes and Stokes emission from fluorophores which are present at the location in the sample, measuring the intensities of the stimulated radiation and calculating the temperature at the location from the measured intensities. The method can be used to obtain a thermal image of the sample.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a quench tube of a superconducting magnet in an MRT apparatus has an illumination unit and at least one image acquisition unit arranged inside the quench tube. Images acquired by the image acquisition unit are supplied to a monitoring location for viewing.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of simultaneously conducting more than one step of a radiofrequency phase cycle in a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiment. The method first involves providing a sample. Next, one or more radiofrequency pulses are applied to a plurality of spatially discrete slices of the sample under conditions effective to simultaneously conduct more than one step of a radiofrequency phase cycle in a single transient. Then, NMR signals generated from the step of applying the radiofrequency pulses are acquired. Finally, the NMR signals are processed to obtain an NMR spectrum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tuning and matching extremely small sample coils with very low inductance for use in magnetic resonance experiments conducted at low frequencies. A circuit is disclosed that is appropriate for performing measurements in fields where magnetic resonance is beneficially utilized. The circuit has a microcoil, an adjustable tuning capacitance, and added inductance in the form of a tuning inductor. The microcoil is an electrical coil having an inductance of about 25 nanohenries (nH) or less. Because additional inductance is purposefully added, the capacitance required for resonance and apparatus function is proportionally and helpfully reduced. The apparatus and method permit the resonant circuit and the magnet to be made extremely small, which is crucial for new applications in portable magnetic resonance imaging, for example.

Abstract: A thin film calorimeter test station can be coupled to a controller in a thin film calorimeter. The thin film calorimeter can comprise a base substrate, a heat flux sensing device mounted on the base substrate, a mask having a hole with a predetermined area positionable above the heat flux sensing device, and a thickness control device for establishing a repeatable precise thickness layer of UV curable sample test material between the mask and the heat flux sensing device. The thin film calorimeter is used to determine several factors of UV curability. A double test platform test station can be provided so that tests at an active test platform and a dummy platform can be performed simultaneously using the same UV light source. Also, the base substrate can be thermally conductive and be mounted on a thermoelectric heater and cooler for controlling the temperature of the test.

Abstract: Improved compatibility of MRI with radiation imaging is provided by MRI RF coils having transmissive coil sections. The transmissive coil sections are substantially transparent to the penetrating radiation employed by the radiation imaging system. Thus the transmissive coil sections can be disposed in a field of view of the radiation imaging system without introducing artifacts into the radiation images. Transparency to penetrating radiation can be achieved by substantially including only low atomic number (i.e., Z<29) elements in the transmissive coil sections. Preferably, the transmissive coil sections are fabricated substantially from aluminum.

Abstract: Very small projections (10-2) are arranged on a mirror surface (10-1) of a mirror (10). The shape of a projection (10-2) is not limited to a circular cone, but it can be a hollow-cylindrical shape, semispherical shape, or square prism shape, and also, it can be a polyhedron with many faces. With a reduction in temperature of the mirror (10), water vapor contained in a gas to be measured condenses on the mirror surface (10-1) of the mirror (10). In this case, because of the very small projections (10-2) on the mirror surface (10-1), the condensation is promoted by the projections (10-2) serving as the cores. This facilitates condensation even at low dew points and improves response. Further, the size of condensation products does not easily vary relative to variation in flow speed of the gas to be measured, and this makes equilibrium of condensation less likely to break, increasing measurement accuracy.

Abstract: A probe includes, a substantially L-shaped cylindrical probe body coupled through a cable to a measuring device and a temperature measuring section connected to the probe body. The temperature measuring section includes a flange portion connected to the probe body and an end portion extending from the flange portion and mounting a sensor mirror in the interior. The sensor mirror includes a cylindrical holder having a concave reflection surface in the interior, a coupling shaft extending from the cylindrical holder, a first sensor for measurement and a second sensor for correction supported in a front space of the cylindrical holder by lead wires, respectively, and a cover sheathing a front surface of the cylindrical holder. The respective lead wires supporting the first and second sensors pass the temperature measuring section and probe body and are electrically connected to the cable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for measuring the spatial temperature distribution of a flame emitted from a burner nozzle for use in the fabrication of tapered optical fibers and fused couplers so that the position of the burner can be calibrated to locate the optical fiber within the most thermally stable part of the flame during production.

Abstract: An NMR probe which has a multi-element switching mechanism. The NMR probe has a rotary tuner block, a contact unit, a rotationally driving unit for rotating the rotary tuner block. The rotary tuner block has an NMR probe body, a rotary body, and plural pairs of tuning elements disposed on the surface of the rotary body. This rotary body is rotatably held in the NMR probe body and made of a nonmagnetic material. A sample coil is mounted in the NMR probe body. The contact unit selectively brings the pairs of tuning elements into contact with both ends of the sample coil or with lead wires brought out from both ends of the sample coil. The pairs of tuning elements are selectively connected with the sample coil by rotation of the rotary tuner block.