Abstract: A developing device includes a magnet roller, a developing sleeve that revolves in a predetermined direction of revolution around the magnet roller, a developer tank having an opening that forms a development region by opening a part of a surface of the developing sleeve in a circumferential direction, a regulating member that regulates a layer thickness of a developer on the surface of the developing sleeve, and a toner residue reduction member that reduces a residue of a toner adhering directly to the surface of the developing sleeve.

Abstract: A MRI quality assurance device, according to the present invention, has a housing made of a rigid MRI invisible material containing one or more sealed reservoirs containing a fluid MRI signal producing material. Each sealed reservoir has a first volume portion and a second variable volume portion in fluid communication therewith.

Abstract: An arrangement for carrying out dynamic magnetic field measurements in a MR imaging or MR spectroscopy apparatus comprises at least one magnetic field probe (2) comprising a MR active substance (4), means (8, 10) for pulsed MR excitation of said substance and means (8, 10) for receiving an MR signal generated by said substance. The magnetic field probe further comprises a radio frequency shield (12) against external high-frequency electromagnetic field irradiation substantially surrounding the magnetic field probe. The shield is composed of conductive elements embedded in a dielectric material. The conductive elements are electrically conductive filaments and/or electrically conductive platelets.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging member; a light source that includes light source elements and that radiates charge-eliminating light toward the charging member; a processing member that performs a process on the charging member; a function member provided to enable the process of the processing member and disposed between the light source and the charging member, the function member facing a radiation path of the charge-eliminating light and extending in an arrangement direction of the light source elements; and an adjusting portion formed on a surface of the function member that faces the radiation path, the adjusting portion adjusting an amount of irradiation of the charging member by the charge-eliminating light so as to reduce a difference in the amount of irradiation between regions corresponding to arrangement positions of the light source elements and regions between the light source elements.

Abstract: An MR device has at least one distribution network for distributing an electrical input signal (to a number of feeding points of an MR antenna. The distribution network has at least one first signal output and one second signal output connected to a node, a first phase-shifting element disposed between the node and the first signal output, and a second phase-shifting element disposed between the node and the second signal output. The first phase-shifting element and the second phase-shifting element create a different phase shift, and the first phase-shifting element and the second phase-shifting element are embodied as electrical lines of different length. The distribution network is applicable, for example, to feeding signals to a body coil of the MR device, especially a so-called birdcage antenna.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for quantitative magnetic resonance (MR), MR signals of a subject volume are acquired using various values of at least one acquisition parameter. First and second functions are respectively specified, by which an MR signal can be determined, depending on a first parameter and the at least one acquisition parameter, and depending on a second parameter and the at least one acquisition parameter. First and second subsets of the MR signals are determined respectively for the first parameter and the second parameter. The first subset differs from the second subset. The first and second parameters are determined respectively such that MR signals calculated using the first function correspond as closely as possible to the MR signals of the first subset, and MR signals calculated using the second function correspond as closely as possible to the MR signals of the second subset.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus includes a radio frequency (RF) controller configured to, for a repetition time period, control the MRI apparatus to apply, to an object, an RF preparation pulse having a coverage area covering two or more slices among a plurality of slices of the object, control the MRI apparatus to apply, to the object, RF pulses respectively corresponding to the plurality of slices, and move the coverage area. The MRI apparatus further includes a data acquirer configured to acquire magnetic resonance signals from the plurality of slices during the repetition time period.

Abstract: A method for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is provided. A first sampling mask is provided for sampling along a first set of parallel lines extending in a first direction in k-space. A second sampling mask is provided for sampling along a second set of parallel lines extending in a second direction in k-space. The second direction is orthogonal to the first direction. A first set of MR k-space data is sampled using an MR scanner, by scanning a subject in the first direction using the first sampling mask. A second set of MR k-space data is sampled using the MR scanner, by scanning the subject in the second direction using the second sampling mask. An MR image is reconstructed from a combined set of MR k-space data including the first set of MR k-space data and the second set of MR k-space data.

Abstract: Example embodiments associated with characterizing a sample using NMR fingerprinting are described. One example NMR apparatus includes an NMR logic that repetitively and variably samples a (k, t, E) space associated with an object to acquire a set of NMR signals that are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic that produces an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals and a characterization logic that characterizes a tissue in the object as a result of comparing acquired signals to reference signals. Example embodiments facilitate analyzing voxels having multiple compartments that may experience magnetic exchange. The compartments may be, for example, an intracellular volume and an extracellular volume in a tissue that experiences magnetic exchange due to the movement of water between the volumes.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus and a magnetic resonance spectroscopic method are provided. The MRI apparatus includes a data collector configured to obtain reference data of reference substances, and obtain measurement data of a target region of a subject. The MRI apparatus further includes a processor configured to determine a reference substance of the target region, among the reference substances, and a concentration of the reference substance, using the reference data, the measurement data, and an external factor compensation value compensating an external factor affecting the measurement data.

Abstract: In a method and a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for examining a predetermined volume of an examination object, a number of MR images of the volume are acquired. An MR waveform for voxels of the volume is created from the acquired MR images. An MR waveform of the respective voxel is compared with stored MR waveforms to determine which of the stored MR waveforms best corresponds to the MR waveform. A physical value and/or a substance for a voxel is determined as a result of the comparison. Each k-space that corresponds to one of the MR images is scanned using a number of repetitions, wherein each repetition includes an RF excitation and a read-out of MR data.

Abstract: An MR device includes at least one body coil for generating a B1 magnetic field and at least one radiofrequency line routed through the B1 magnetic field. The at least one radiofrequency line has at least one frequency filter for blocking a voltage induced by the B1 magnetic field. At least one section of the radiofrequency line routed through the B1 magnetic field is embodied in printed circuit board technology on at least one printed circuit board, and information-carrying signals may be transmitted over the at least one radiofrequency line on a different frequency than the frequency of the voltage induced by the B1 magnetic field.

Abstract: A lock structure locks a document reader in a closed state relative to a main unit of an apparatus. The document reader is openable and closable relative to the main unit. The lock structure includes two engagement members, two hook members, and two restricting members. The two engagement members are disposed on the main unit. The two hook members are disposed on the document reader and engage with the two respective engagement members to secure the document reader in the closed state to the main unit. The two restricting members are disposed on the document reader and restrict move or pivot of the two respective hook members in a direction for the hook members to engage with the two respective engagement members when at least a portion of the document reader is open relative to the main unit. The two hook members are fixed to one another.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a drum unit supporting a photosensitive drum, a development unit forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum and a process frame. In the process frame, after the drum unit is installed along a predetermined installation direction, the development unit is installed along the installation direction. The process frame includes a pair of two supporting parts supporting a pair of two supported parts provided in the development unit. One supporting part is configured so as to support one supported part along a direction intersecting the installation direction and to restrict movement of the one supported part along the installation direction. Other supporting part is configured to restrict movement of other supported part along the installation direction when, after the other supported part is supported along the installation direction, the drum unit is installed to the process frame.

Abstract: A method of MR imaging includes acquiring reference MR signal data from the object (10); deriving a B0 map from the reference MR signal data; adapting sensitivity maps according to the B0 map, which sensitivity maps indicate spatial sensitivity profiles of one or more RF receiving coils (11, 12, 13), to correct for geometric distortions of the sensitivity maps; acquiring imaging MR signal data from the object (10) via the one or more receiving coils (11, 12, 13) with sub-sampling of k-space; and reconstructing a MR image from the imaging MR signal data. Sub-sampling artifacts are eliminated using the adapted sensitivity maps. The reference MR signal data are acquired using a multi-point Dixon technique. A water image and a fat image are reconstructed from the imaging MR signal data using separate water and fat sensitivity maps. The water and fat images are preferably reconstructed using regularized SENSE.

Abstract: A local coil assembly for an MRI apparatus includes an RF channel setting unit, a basic coil having a first slot, and a first additional coil connected to the first slot. Each of the basic coil and the first additional coil includes one or more receiving channels. The RF channel setting unit is configured for setting a receiving channel of the basic coil and a receiving channel of the first additional coil. The basic coil is configured for receiving an RF signal according to a receiving channel set by the RF channel setting unit. The first additional coil is configured for receiving an RF signal according to a receiving channel set by the RF receiving channel setting unit. The present teachings are compatible with multiple coils, and support the combined use of multiple coils.

Abstract: An image-forming apparatus includes a developing cartridge, a drum cartridge, an electrical contact, a frame to which the developing cartridge attached to the drum cartridge is attachable, and first and second guide portions. The developing cartridge includes a storage medium having an electrical contact surface, and a holder including: a first outer surface holding the electrical contact surface, a second outer surface, and a resilient member connected to the both outer surfaces. The drum cartridge includes a holder support portion. The frame allows the developing cartridge to move from a first position to a second position, and then to a third position during insertion of the developing cartridge into the frame. The first guide portion guides the first outer surface, and the second guide portion guides the holder support portion to allow the electrical contact surface to contact the electrical contact during insertion of the developing cartridge into the frame.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process cartridge and a power supply method therefor. The process cartridge is detachably mounted in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising a developing member rotatably mounted in the process cartridge and a voltage generating unit, the voltage generating unit is electrically connected to the conductive contact and the developing member. The process cartridge supplies power by using a data line, and the power supply method comprises: providing a conductor, and transmitting electric energy on the data line to the voltage generating unit by using the conductor. When the process cartridge is mounted in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that outputs a DC bias voltage, because the voltage generating unit can generate an AC bias voltage, the process cartridge can work in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that outputs a DC bias voltage and also in an apparatus that outputs an AC bias voltage.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises a cartridge that includes a developing roller and a coupling member for receiving a rotational force for rotating the developing roller. A cylindrical member movably supports one end portion of the coupling member inside of the cylindrical member. A cylindrical member side force receiving portion is provided inside the cylindrical member. A first regulating portion, provided inside of the cylindrical member, prevents one end portion of the coupling member from disengaging in an axial direction of the cylindrical member. A second regulating portion regulates deformations of the first regulating portion outward of the cylindrical member in the radial direction in a state in which one end portion of the coupling member is mounted to the inside of the cylindrical member. The apparatus also includes a driving motor and a driving shaft engageable with the coupling member of the cartridge.

Abstract: A piezoelectric motor assembly for producing rotary motion, according to the present invention, has a motor frame and a circular body rotatably mounted on the motor frame having a diameter, a thickness, and a circumferential outer surface. At least two piezoelectric motors are mounted on the motor frame in tangential engagement with the outer surface of the circular body. The at least two piezoelectric motors are biased against the outer surface, resulting in an unbalanced net force on the circular body.