Abstract: Systems and methods for fast and robust quantification of magnetization transfer (MT) using off-resonance spin-lock MRI. The techniques can be insensitive to variations of the inherent relaxation rates R1 (1/T1) and R2 (1/T2) of the free-water pool and to variations of the chemical exchange pool. The techniques can also be robust in the presence of inhomogeneity in the B1 RF and/or B0 magnetic fields.

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.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for acquiring at least two measurement datasets, each consisting of measurement data. The two measurement datasets are recorded at points in time at which spins of a first spin species present in the examination object have different phase positions from spins of a second spin species present in the examination object. Moreover, the two measurement datasets are recorded in each case while switching readout gradients of different polarity, and thus the desired measurement datasets may be recorded faster than conventional approaches.

Abstract: A birdcage coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, the birdcage coil includes: a relatively planar birdcage coil section, including a pair of relatively planar ring portions and a plurality of conductive, elongated rungs extending between the pair of relatively planar ring portions; and a relatively domed birdcage coil section, including a pair of relatively domed ring portions and a plurality of conductive, elongated rungs extending between the pair of relatively domed ring portions. The relatively domed birdcage coil section is releasably coupled to the relatively planar birdcage coil section. In an embodiment, at least two sets of the relatively planar and domed birdcage coil sections are provided, where each of the at least two sets is configured to a different MRI application.

Abstract: A method and system for imaging a body using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, including motion tracking of a target object of the body using MRI by generating an MRI image of a region of interest of the body by performing a weighted combination of a signal received by each coil of an MRI apparatus during an MRI scan.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus performs automatic positioning with high accuracy within a short time with respect to tissues having a complicated anatomic structure. First measurement of scout imaging is executed before main imaging for acquiring a diagnosis image, and one-dimensional or two-dimensional measurement data is acquired. The right and left of a subject is determined by using the measurement data acquired in the first measurement. A cross-section position in second measurement of the scout imaging is calculated by using a determination result in the right and left determination and the measurement data acquired in the first measurement, the second measurement at the cross-section position is executed, and two-dimensional measurement data is acquired. A cross-section position in the main imaging is calculated by using the two-dimensional measurement data acquired in the second measurement.

Abstract: A k-space data acquisition device and method, and a magnetic resonance imaging device and method. The k-space data acquisition device includes an acquisition trajectory determiner configured to determine an acquisition trajectory of echo signals in a k space in a manner of filling echo data in a pseudo radial order; and a data acquirer configured to acquire k-space data conforming to the acquisition trajectory and fill the k space.

Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a frame rotatably supporting a developing roller. The developing cartridge also includes a first supporting member attached to a first end of the frame, with the first supporting member being movable relative to the frame. The developing cartridge further includes a second supporting member attached to a second end of the frame, with the second supporting member being movable relative to the frame and the first supporting member.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes processing circuitry configured to: calculate phase correction data, which includes information on phase rotation amount due to non-uniformity of a static magnetic field, from MR signals; generate an image by using the phase correction data and the MR signals such that a signal from at least one of substances having different magnetic resonance frequencies in an imaging region of an object is suppressed in the image; generate first phase correction data composed of phase data that correspond to phase rotation amount selected from choices of phase rotation amount; calculate discontinuity of the first phase correction data; and generate second phase correction data by substituting at least part of the first phase correction data with non-selected phase data, which corresponds to phase rotation amount being not selected among the choices of phase rotation amount, depending on the discontinuity.

Abstract: Various methods and systems are provided for a current trap. In one example, the current trap has a spiral core made of a nonconductive material, a coiled wire having a plurality of turns wound around the spiral core, and one or more tuning capacitors physically attached to the spiral core and electrically connected to the coiled wire to form a resonance circuitry with the coiled wire.

Abstract: A developing device including a developing sleeve installed in a developing chamber and partially exposed to an outside of the developing chamber through an opening portion, a magnetic member located inside a developing sleeve and including a separating pole and a receiving pole, the separating pole being located on a downstream side of the opening portion based on a rotating direction of the developing sleeve to separate a developing agent from the developing sleeve, and the receiving pole being located on a downstream side of the separating pole to attach the developing agent to the developing sleeve, and a magnet located between an inner wall of the developing chamber and the magnetic member to face a region between the separating pole and the receiving pole and having same magnetic polarity same as the separating pole and the receiving pole.

Abstract: Provided is an NMR arrangement, including an NMR device, a storage system for storing sample tubes, and a transport system for transporting the sample tubes from the storage system to the NMR device and from the NMR device to the storage system. The storage system is mechanically decoupled from the NMR device. Furthermore, the transport system includes a first guiding element that is mechanically coupled to the storage system; a second guiding element that is mechanically coupled to the NMR device; and a sample tube carrier that can be moved between the first guiding element and the second guiding element so as to transport the sample tubes from the storage system to the NMR device and from the NMR device to the storage.

Abstract: A toner cartridge include a convex portion and a conveyance drive gear. There is a protrusion which protrudes from the center of the conveyance drive gear. Further, there is a hole at a rear side of the convex portion. The protrusion is to be inserted into the hole which is at the rear side of the convex portion.

Abstract: Accelerated data acquisition using two-dimensional (“2D”) radio frequency (“RF”) pulse segments as virtual receivers for a parallel image reconstruction technique, such as GRAPPA, is provided. Data acquisition is accelerated using segmented RF pulses for excitation, refocusing, or both, and undersampling k-space along a dimension of the RF pulse segments. In this way, parallel image reconstruction techniques, such as GRAPPA, can be adapted to work with a single RF receive coil. By undersampling the data acquisition and finding correlations between the data from different segments, unsampled data can be recovered. This shortens scan times, yielding the advantages of segmented pulses without the formerly required long scans.

Abstract: Artifacts caused by metallic needles used in MRI-guided procedures such as tumor biopsies significantly decrease the visibility of therapy targets and diminish the ability of the physician to accurately monitor and perform the procedure. As described in the present application, a needle including active shimming can self-compensate for these artifacts and significantly improve the visualization and monitoring of targeted tissue. The accuracy and overall outcomes of MRI-guided treatments can be significantly improved with the use of the needle.

Abstract: A toner cartridge is mountable on a developing device including a developing roller. The developing device develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photo conductor. The toner cartridge includes a housing in which toner is stored, and an auger rotatable and configured to supply the toner in the housing to the developing device. In a case where the developing device is installed on an image forming apparatus in a state in which the toner cartridge is mounted on the developing device, rotation of the auger is started before formation of the electrostatic latent image corresponding to a sheet is started, based on a signal indicating that the image forming apparatus detects the sheet.

Abstract: Automatically determining a correction factor for producing MR images includes outputting a first readout gradient along a readout dimension, reading out a first MR signal from a subject during the output of the first readout gradient, and specifying a second readout gradient having a theoretically identical gradient moment to the first readout gradient. A temporal waveform that differs from a temporal waveform of the first readout gradient is specified for the second readout gradient. The second readout gradient is output along the readout dimension. A second MR signal is read out from the subject during the output of the second readout gradient. A first extent of a representation of the subject is determined based on the first MR signal. A second extent of a representation of the subject is determined based on the second MR signal. A correction factor is obtained from a ratio between the first and second extents.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device having a heater that includes a first heating element, a second heating element having a length smaller than the first heating element length, and a third heating element having a length smaller than the second heating element length. The image forming apparatus further includes a first temperature detection unit, a control unit, second temperature detection units, first and second sheet-width detection units, and a determination unit. The control unit controls a heater temperature based on the first temperature detection unit detection result. The determination unit determines a width of the recording material based on a detection result of the first sheet-width detection units, a detection result of the second sheet-width detection units, and a detection result of the second temperature detection units.

Abstract: A method for designing gradient coils includes the following steps: a) defining an imaging volume as an ellipsoid; b) defining an elliptic-cylindrical surface enclosing the said ellipsoid; c) defining the current density at each point of the surface by a series of basis functions and corresponding coefficients expressed in elliptic cylindrical coordinates; d) describing the magnetic field generated at a generic point by the above defined current density integrated all over the said entire elliptic-cylindrical surface; e) determining the values of the coefficients of the basis functions by solving the inverse function for describing the magnetic field; f) generating a discrete winding patter of a gradient coil by using a stream function method from the continuous current density and by using a series of scattered contours of the stream function as the design of the winding patters according to a set total number of windings.

Abstract: Methods, devices, systems and apparatus for determining emphysema thresholds for controlling magnetic resonance imaging are provided. In one aspect, a magnetic resonance imaging method includes: collecting magnetic resonance imaging data as first k-space data by undersampling a magnetic resonance signal, performing parallel imaging reconstruction on the first k-space data to obtain a first image, performing enhancement processing on the first image to obtain a second image that comprises distributional information of image supporting points, and performing constrained reconstruction on the first k-space data by using the second image as a prior image to obtain a third image as a magnetic resonance image to be displayed.