Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for automating the acquisition and analysis of contrast enhancement images. Model-free discrimination methods are provided in which discrimination between well-perfused pixels (e.g. normal tissue) and perfusion-deficient pixels (e.g. ablation lesions) is automated based on histogram shape. For example, in selected embodiments, discrimination is made based on pixels corresponding to abnormal perfusion (e.g. ablation lesions) and normal perfusion (e.g. normal tissue) form distinctive lobes separated by a minimum formed due to the presence of border pixels. Segmentation of cumulative dynamic contrast enhancement maps by thresholds identified on such histograms is employed to separate abnormally-perfused tissue from the normally-perfused tissue without any user interactions, freeing the user from the necessity to analyze and interpret original dynamic contrast enhancement images or maps derived from them.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for automating the acquisition and analysis of contrast enhancement images. Model-free discrimination methods are provided in which discrimination between well-perfused pixels (e.g. normal tissue) and perfusion-deficient pixels (e.g. ablation lesions) is automated based on histogram shape. For example, in selected embodiments, discrimination is made based on pixels corresponding to abnormal perfusion (e.g. ablation lesions) and normal perfusion (e.g. normal tissue) form distinctive lobes separated by a minimum formed due to the presence of border pixels. Segmentation of cumulative dynamic contrast enhancement maps by thresholds identified on such histograms is employed to separate abnormally-perfused tissue from the normally-perfused tissue without any user interactions, freeing the user from the necessity to analyze and interpret original dynamic contrast enhancement images or maps derived from them.

Abstract: A computing unit is arranged to access phase images computed from the image data and representative of the target medium and the reference medium and carry out computing steps to yield temperature difference map. The operation of the computing is controlled by a computer program carrying computing steps programmed as instructions to a processor. The apparatus (1) includes a storage unit (8) arranged to store suitable image data which are accessed by the computer program during the computations. The storage unit (8) stores system parameters of the magnetic resonance apparatus, like the strength of the main field (B0), gyromagnetic ratio (?), and suitable parameters of a target medium, like screen constant (?), in a file (3). The apparatus (1) further includes a working memory (6), typically based on RAM.

Abstract: The apparatus 1 according to the invention comprises a computing unit 4, which is arranged to access phase images computed from the image data and representative of the target medium and the reference medium and carry out computing steps to yield temperature difference map according to the method of the invention. The operation of the computing means is preferably controlled by the computer program according to the invention, whereby the suitable computing steps are programmed as instructions to a suitable processor. The apparatus 1 further comprises a storage unit 8 arranged to store suitable image data which are accessed by the computer program during the computations. The storage unit 8 preferably stores system parameters of the magnetic resonance apparatus, like the strength of the main field B0, gyromagnetic ratio ?, and suitable parameters of the target medium, like screen constant ? in a file 3. The apparatus 1 further comprises a working memory 6, typically based on RAM.