Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing human A1 astrocytes, which includes inducing human A1 astrocytes from human astrocytes other than human A1 astrocytes; human A1 astrocytes obtained by the method for producing human A1 astrocytes; and a method for evaluating a test substance, which uses the human A1 astrocytes described above. According to the present invention, there is provided the method for producing human A1 astrocytes, which includes a step a of culturing human astrocytes other than human A1 astrocytes in the presence of TNF? and IFN?.

Abstract: A RF coil according to the invention is made up of an 8-shaped coil having a crossed conductive path, and an impedance adjustment coil that performs connection between crossing points of the conductive path. The crossing points of the conductive path are connected in parallel by the impedance adjustment coil and a floating capacitance between the crossing points of the conductive path. An impedance between the crossing points of the conductive path is increased, and a current that flows between the crossing points of the conductive path reduces in a Larmor frequency that is in proportion to the intensity of the magnetostatic field of an MRI apparatus. The RF coil according to the invention is made up of an 8-shaped coil having a crossed conductive path, an impedance adjustment coil that performs connection between the crossing points of the conductive path in parallel, and an impedance adjustment coil.

Abstract: With the objective of providing a switching apparatus capable of reducing a geometrical size while a radiation loss is being suppressed, the switching apparatus that switches a state of an RF coil of an MRI between an effective state and an ineffective state, comprises a coaxial cable which has a length equal to ¼ of a wavelength corresponding to an operating frequency and in which an inner conductor and an outer conductor are connected to a coil body of the RF coil so as to interpose a capacitor therebetween, a diode connected to the inner conductor and outer conductor of the coaxial cable, and a capacitor corresponding to a lumped constant element connected to the inner conductor and outer conductor of the coaxial cable.

Abstract: A RF coil according to the invention is made up of an 8-shaped coil having a crossed conductive path, and an impedance adjustment coil that performs connection between crossing points of the conductive path. The crossing points of the conductive path are connected in parallel by the impedance adjustment coil and a floating capacitance between the crossing points of the conductive path. An impedance between the crossing points of the conductive path is increased, and a current that flows between the crossing points of the conductive path reduces in a Larmor frequency that is in proportion to the intensity of the magnetostatic field of an MRI apparatus. The RF coil according to the invention is made up of an 8-shaped coil having a crossed conductive path, an impedance adjustment coil that performs connection between the crossing points of the conductive path in parallel, and an impedance adjustment coil.

Abstract: A method of generating an MR image based on respective data obtained by n (?2) coils, respective low resolution images are generated using partial data in a low frequency region for the data obtained by the n coils. The intensities and phases of the low resolution images are corrected. The post-correction images are added together to generate one composite low resolution image. Sensitivity maps of the respective coils are created from the composite low resolution image and the respective low resolution images. One image is generated from the respective data and the respective sensitivity maps.

Abstract: To visually, readily and positively performing the selection of a coil element and a combination of coil elements most suitable for the MRI scan, a low resolution imaging step for imaging at a low resolution by using a plurality of coil elements A to H, an imaging coil element selection step for selecting the optimum coil element for imaging site from the low resolution images taken in the low resolution imaging step, and a coil element extraction step for extracting coil element selected in the imaging coil element selection step are comprised such that a low resolution image of the subject is preliminarily taken to use thereby to visually select the coil element.

Abstract: For the purpose of providing an RF coil that enables satisfactory imaging of the prostate, the RF coil is composed of a first saddle coil and a second saddle coil. The first saddle coil has two loop portions opposed to each other so that they can sandwich the inferior abdomen of a human body antero-posteriorly. The second saddle coil has two loop portions opposed to each other so that they will permit insertion of the inferior limbs of a human body thereinto and can sandwich the inferior abdomen thereof laterally.

Abstract: With the objective of providing a switching apparatus capable of reducing a geometrical size while a radiation loss is being suppressed, the switching apparatus that switches a state of an RF coil of an MRI between an effective state and an ineffective state, comprises a coaxial cable which has a length equal to ¼ of a wavelength corresponding to an operating frequency and in which an inner conductor and an outer conductor are connected to a coil body of the RF coil so as to interpose a capacitor therebetween, a diode connected to the inner conductor and outer conductor of the coaxial cable, and a capacitor corresponding to a lumped constant element connected to the inner conductor and outer conductor of the coaxial cable.

Abstract: To visually, readily and positively performing the selection of a coil element and a combination of coil elements most suitable for the MRI scan, a low resolution imaging step for imaging at a low resolution by using a plurality of coil elements A to H, an imaging coil element selection step for selecting the optimum coil element for imaging site from the low resolution images taken in the low resolution imaging step, and a coil element extraction step for extracting coil element selected in the imaging coil element selection step are comprised such that a low resolution image of the subject is preliminarily taken to use thereby to visually select the coil element.

Abstract: A method of generating an MR image based on respective data obtained by n (?2) coils, respective low resolution images are generated using partial data in a low frequency region for the data obtained by the n coils. The intensities and phases of the low resolution images are corrected. The post-correction images are added together to generate one composite low resolution image. Sensitivity maps of the respective coils are created from the composite low resolution image and the respective low resolution images. One image is generated from the respective data and the respective sensitivity maps.

Abstract: For the purpose of enabling proper imaging of the prostate, a first saddle coil 210 having two loop portions of a geometry suited for sandwiching the lower abdomen of a human body from the anterior and posterior sides with the two loop portions facing each other, and a second saddle coil 310 having two loop portions of a geometry suited for allowing the lower limbs of the human body to be inserted into the two loop portions, and sandwiching the lower abdomen from the right and left sides with the two loop portions facing each other, are quadrature-arranged so that the phases of magnetic resonance received signals are different by 90°, thus achieving imaging of the lower abdomen of the human body with a high S/N.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) coil assembly for imaging a subject volume using a very high field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system operable at substantially high frequencies includes a plurality of conductors arranged cylindrically and disposed about a patient bore of the MRI system, a plurality of capacitive elements disposed between and connecting respective ends of the conductors, the plurality of conductors and plurality of capacitive elements forming a high band pass birdcage configuration, and a plurality of dynamic disabling switches, each dynamic disabling switch electrically coupled in parallel with a respective capacitive element to form a parallel resonant circuit.

Abstract: For the purpose of enabling proper imaging of the prostate, a first saddle coil 210 having two loop portions of a geometry suited for sandwiching the lower abdomen of a human body from the anterior and posterior sides with the two loop portions facing each other, and a second saddle coil 310 having two loop portions of a geometry suited for allowing the lower limbs of the human body to be inserted into the two loop portions, and sandwiching the lower abdomen from the right and left sides with the two loop portions facing each other, are quadrature-arranged so that the phases of magnetic resonance received signals are different by 90°, thus achieving imaging of the lower abdomen of the human body with a high S/N.

Abstract: A TEM resonator RF coil with excellent operating characteristics comprising a plurality of ring segments on the orifice capable of being segmented by slits on the orifice are installed with a first conducting pattern connecting to the line element, a second conducting pattern disposed symmetrically on the left and right of the first conducting pattern, a capacitor connecting these conducting patterns, and a connection means spanning the adjacent ring segments and connecting the second conducting patterns.

Abstract: For the purpose of providing an RF coil that enables satisfactory imaging of the prostate, the RF coil is composed of a first saddle coil and a second saddle coil. The first saddle coil has two loop portions opposed to each other so that they can sandwich the inferior abdomen of a human body antero-posteriorly. The second saddle coil has two loop portions opposed to each other so that they will permit insertion of the inferior limbs of a human body thereinto and can sandwich the inferior abdomen thereof laterally.

Abstract: An RF coil which is a coil array using three pieces or more of coils, including three pieces of coils 1, 2 and 3 or more arrayed proximately to each other, coil intermediary connecting capacitors 4, 5 and 6 respectively interposed in the coils, parallel connection lines 10 through 13 for connecting the coil intermediary connecting capacitors 4, 5 and 6 in parallel and neutralizing capacitors 14 through 17 interposed in the parallel connection lines 10 through 13 with an object of dispensing with mutual interference among the coils without overlapping the adjacent coils, in which by transmitted voltage transmitted from both ends of the coil intermediary connecting capacitor (4) of the one coil (1)to both ends of the coil intermediary connecting capacitors (5, 6)of the other coils (2, 3)via the parallel connection lines (10 through 13)and the neutralizing capacitors (14 through 17), induced voltage generated by the one coil (1) across the both ends of the coil intermediary connecting capacitors (5, 6)of the oth

Abstract: A TEM resonator RF coil with excellent operating characteristics comprising a plurality of ring segments on the orifice capable of being segmented by slits on the orifice are installed with a first conducting pattern connecting to the line element, a second conducting pattern disposed symmetrically on the left and right of the first conducting pattern, a capacitor connecting these conducting patterns, and a connection means spanning the adjacent ring segments and connecting the second conducting patterns.

Abstract: In order to provide a phased-array coil having a highly homogeneous sensitivity region, an opposing coil set 10 composed of a pair of gutter-shaped coils 10a and 10b whose concave surfaces face each other, an opposing coil set 20 composed of a pair of gutter-shaped coils 20a and 20b whose concave surfaces face each other, an opposing coil set 30 composed of a pair of gutter-shaped coils 30a and 30b whose concave surfaces face each other, and an opposing coil set 40 composed of a pair of gutter-shaped coils 40a and 40b whose concave surfaces face each other are disposed around the center axis J of an imaginary cylinder at an angular spacing of 45.degree., with each coil overlapping the adjacent ones by about 10% of the coil surface area, to be assembled into a cylindrical shape as a whole.