Abstract: Systems and methods for determining whether a structure of interest is within a predefined region of interest. An example embodiment of a method includes applying a multiband magnetic resonance imaging sequence in order to simultaneously acquire a first slice of magnetic resonance data from a first slice location and a second slice of magnetic resonance data from a second and different slice location. The first slice is positioned near a first side of the region of interest and the second slice is positioned near a second side of the region of interest. The method further includes determining based on the first and second slice of magnetic resonance data and prior knowledge about at least one of the structure of interest and its surroundings whether the structure of interest is within the region of interest.

Abstract: A recording material determination device includes a transmission unit, a drive unit, a reception unit, and a control unit. The drive unit outputs a drive signal for transmitting an ultrasonic wave from the transmission unit to the reception unit. The control unit determines a type of a recording material, based on a first value of the ultrasonic wave through the recording material received by the reception unit in a first mode for outputting a first number of drive signals from the drive unit in a first period, and a second value of the ultrasonic wave through the recording material received by the reception unit in a second mode for outputting a second number of drive signals from the drive unit in a second period. The second number of drive signals is greater than the first number of drive signals.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording material includes a photosensitive member, an exposure device to form a latent image on the photosensitive member, a tubular body defining a space in which at least a part of the exposure device is contained, and a support portion that supports the exposure device and is provided along a rotation axis direction of the photosensitive member in the space of the tubular body. The image forming apparatus further includes, in the rotation axis direction, a first side plate fixed to one end portion of the tubular body, and a second side plate fixed to another end portion of the tubular body. One support portion end portion in the rotation axis direction is fixed to the first side plate, and another support portion end portion in the rotation axis direction is fixed to the second side plate.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of correcting phase and reducing noise in magnetic resonance (MR) phase images is provided. The method includes executing a neural network model for analyzing MR images, wherein the neural network model is trained with a pair of pristine images and corrupted images, wherein the corrupted images include corrupted phase information, the pristine images are the corrupted images with the corrupted phase information reduced, and target output images of the neural network model are the pristine images. The method further includes receiving MR images including corrupted phase information, and analyzing the received MR images using the neural network model. The method also includes deriving pristine phase images of the received MR images based on the analysis, wherein the derived pristine phase images include reduced corrupted phase information, compared to the received MR images, and outputting MR images based on the derived pristine phase images.

Abstract: A method for evaluating drilling fluid includes making an NMR measurement of a sample of the drilling fluid and inverting the measurements to compute a corresponding T1T2 plot. The T1T2 plot is in turn evaluated to characterize the drilling fluid. In one embodiment, a stability index of the fluid may be computed from multiple NMR measurements made while aging the sample.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for operating a low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to perform diffusion weighted imaging, the low-field MRI system including a plurality of magnetics components including a B0 magnet configured to produce a low-field main magnetic field B0, at least one gradient coil configured to, when operated, provide spatial encoding of emitted magnetic resonance signals, and at least one radio frequency (RF) component configured to acquire, when operated, the emitted magnetic resonance signals. The method comprises controlling one or more of the plurality of magnetics components in accordance with at least one pulse sequence having a diffusion-weighted gradient encoding period followed by multiple echo periods during which magnetic resonance signals are produced and detected, wherein at least two of the multiple echo periods correspond to respective encoded echoes having an opposite gradient polarity.

Abstract: An image formation apparatus includes: an image former that forms an image on a recording medium delivered along a predetermined delivery path and outputs the recording medium; a first hardware processor that judges whether or not the recording medium is an envelope; a second hardware processor that acquires a basis weight of the recording medium; a third hardware processor that determines control for when an image is formed on the recording medium on the basis of a judgment result from the first hardware processor and a basis weight acquired by the second hardware processor; and a fourth hardware processor that controls operation of the image former on the basis of a determination result from the third hardware processor.

Abstract: Provided is a light source device including a plurality of light emitting points arranged in matrix within a first cross section parallel to a first direction and a second direction. When light emitting points are projected within a second cross section parallel to first direction and a third direction perpendicular to first cross section, light emitting points have equal intervals between projections adjacent to each other. When light emitting points are projected within a third cross section parallel to second and third directions, light emitting points have equal intervals between projections adjacent to each other. An interval between light emitting points adjacent to each other in a row of matrix, an interval between light emitting points adjacent to each other in a column of matrix, an angle between row and column, an angle between column and first direction, and an angle between row and second direction are appropriately set.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for creating measurement data of an examination object by means of magnetic resonance technology in a plurality of repetitions according to a pulse sequence pattern, existing information about gradients that have already been switched is considered to determine compensation gradients that are possibly to be switched in a following repetition for compensating eddy current effects. Such dynamic determination and switching of compensation gradients make it possible to dynamically compensate eddy currents. Consequently, the image quality of image data reconstructed from measurement data acquired using inventive compensation gradients is increased.

Abstract: The invention provides for a medical imaging system (100, 300). The medical imaging system comprises a processor (104).

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing device, a voltage applier, a current detector, a weight detector, and a control device. The control device acts as a first measurer, a second measurer, and an estimator. The first measurer acquires a toner use amount indicating weight per unit area, of the toner that has migrated from the developing agent carrier to the image carrier, according to a detection result provided by the weight detector. The second measurer acquires the developing current from the current detector. The estimator calculates a value of decision coefficient, obtained by dividing variance of an estimated value in a regression model between the toner use amount and the developing current, by variance of a sample value, and estimates deterioration status of the toner, according to the value of the decision coefficient.

Abstract: A system for measuring electromagnetic radiation, including at least one light source; a quantum converter arranged to be exposed to radiation emitted by the at least one light source and the electromagnetic radiation, and at least one detector for detecting optical radiation received from the quantum converter. The quantum converter includes at least a first interaction zone and a second interaction zone, and the system establishes at least a first light beam path for exposing the first interaction zone and a second light beam path for exposing the second interaction zone with radiation emitted by the at least one light source. Each laser beam path is controllable to be in an activated state enabling exposure and in a deactivated state preventing exposure of the respective interaction zone.

Abstract: A system for acquiring directional information about a geologic formation includes at least one directionally sensitive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) assembly disposed at a borehole string including the downhole component. The at least one NMR assembly includes at least one magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field and at least one coil configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field, the at least one NMR assembly configured to perform an NMR measurement of at least one sector of a formation region. The system also includes a processing device configured to receive NMR measurement data from the at least one NMR assembly. The processing device is configured to analyze the NMR measurement data to estimate a parameter of the sector, determine a direction of the downhole component based on the estimated parameter; and steer the downhole component according to the determined direction.

Abstract: A fixing device includes a belt, a roller, a heater, a reflector board, a stay, and a thermally-conductive member. The belt is rotatable in a rotational direction. The roller is positioned to be in contact with an outer surface of the belt so as to form a nip between the roller and the belt. The heater is configured to heat an inner surface of the belt. The reflector board is configured to reflect heat generated by the heater toward the inner surface of the belt. The stay is in contact with the reflector board. The thermally-conducive member is thermally connected between the belt and at least one of the reflector board and the stay. The thermally-conducive member includes a first portion that is in contact with the belt at a first region downstream with respect to the nip in the rotational direction.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system can include a magnetic field generator, an image acquisition region and a radiofrequency system including at least one radiofrequency antenna. The radiofrequency system can emit a radiofrequency excitation pulse into the image acquisition region and receive magnetic resonance signals from the image acquisition region. The magnetic field generator can include at least one magnet to generate a magnetic field in the image acquisition region, a magnet holder to carry the at least one magnet and a rotation system to position the magnet holder along a rotation trajectory.

Abstract: A line for an electrical connection in a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus and a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus with a corresponding line are provided. The line includes an electrical interference conductor that may pick up an electromagnetic interference signal from an environment and/or irradiate the electromagnetic interference signal into the environment. The line also includes a sensor that is electrically and/or magnetically coupled to the interference line.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a measuring sequence by a magnetic resonance device for examining a patient is provided. The performance of the measuring sequence includes a processing of segments. If at least one determined patient load value exceeds a predetermined limit value, the processing of the measuring sequence for the time frame of exceeding the patient load value is interrupted. The determination of the at least one patient load value includes a detection of a movement of a patient into a changed pose, an adjustment of at least one following segment to the changed pose of the patient, and a determination of at least one patient load value for the adjusted at least one following segment.

Abstract: Suppressing artifacts in MRI image acquisition data includes alternatives to phase cycling by using a Convolutional Neural Network to suppress the artifact-generating echos. A U-NET CNN is trained using phase-cycled artifact-free images for ground truth comparison with received displacement encoded stimulated echo (DENSE) images. The DENSE images include data from a single acquisition with both stimulated (STE) and T1-relaxation echoes. The systems and methods of this disclosure are explained as generating artifact-free images in the ultimate output and avoiding the additional data acquisition needed for phase cycling and shortens the scan time in DENSE MRI.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for determining pore volume and pore volume compressibility of secondary porosity in rock samples is disclosed. In some implementations, determining a pore volume of a secondary porosity in a rock core sample may include saturating the rock sample with deuterium oxide (D2O) by applying a vacuum to the core sample covered by D2O; centrifuging the saturated rock sample at a selected rotational speed in the presence of a second fluid to displace a portion of the D2O from the rock sample with the second fluid; measuring the rock sample with low-field 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to determine a volume of the second fluid within the rock sample; and determining a pore volume associated with a secondary porosity based on the volume of the second fluid within the rock sample.

Abstract: A birdcage coil includes: (a) a pair of conductive end rings, each having a generally domed shape in axial cross section; (b) a plurality of conductive, elongated rungs extending between the pair of conductive end rings in an axial direction; and (c) an LC delay circuit incorporated into the pair of rings and the plurality of elongated rungs, where the LC delay circuit includes a plurality of capacitive elements and a plurality of inductive elements. In the present invention circumferential spacing between adjacent elongated rungs is varied to improve homogeneity of the volume excitation. Alternatively, or in addition, LC circuit capacitance and/or inductance values are varied to improve homogeneity of the volume excitation.