Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method comprises performing imaging where more than one polarizing magnetic field strength is used during scanning and processing at least one image resulting from the scanning to yield an enhanced contrast image.

Abstract: A DeepSAR method is provided in which local SAR is predicted using a three-dimensional convolutional neural network (CNN). More specifically, a patient-specific local specific absorption rate (SAR) prediction method is provided. A three-dimensional convolutional neural network (CNN) is trained using pairs of SAR maps and B1+ maps for different channel weights. The CNN has an input and an output, and is then provided as a computational device to compute SAR maps. As input to the trained CNN, measured B1+ maps, simulated B1+ maps or a combination thereof are used. The trained CNN then computes and output SAR maps in a form of a generative adversarial network (GAN) to predict a three-dimensional real-valued SAR map with both real and imaginary components to be used for various applications in high field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Abstract: Obtaining minimum duration parallel transmit pulses for simultaneous multislice imaging that includes minimizing specific absorption rate hotspots, using an IMPULSE pTx optimization method to determine multiple spoke locations and multiple channel weights for multiple slices while enforcing a specified flip angle inhomogeneity tolerance over the multiple slices when excited, applying a control algorithm to conform a simultaneous multislice (SMS) pulse to the excited multiple slices to minimize a cost function having terms corresponding to an excitation accuracy and a pulse power, where a regularization term in the cost function is configured by the control algorithm for excitation accuracy while limiting a peak pulse power, and applying a time-optimal variable rate selective excitation (VERSE) to enforce a peak power constraint with a minimum pulse duration by reshaping a RF waveform and a gradient waveform without altering an excitation profile if the peak power limit on a channel is exceeded.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method comprises performing imaging where more than one polarizing magnetic field strength is used during scanning and processing at least one image resulting from the scanning to yield an enhanced contrast image.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method comprises performing imaging where more than one polarizing magnetic field strength is used during scanning and processing at least one image resulting from the scanning to yield an enhanced contrast image.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating a specific absorption rate of a tissue region prior to performing a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging scan on the tissue region. The method comprises radiating the tissue region with a plurality of short pulses, wherein the tissue region emits thermoacoustic signals responsive to the short pulses, receiving the thermoacoustic signals by at least one ultrasonic transducer, calculating a temperature rise of the tissue region based on the received thermoacoustic signals, scaling the temperature rise to estimate a temperature rise of the tissue region resulting from an MR imaging scan, and estimating the specific absorption rate of the tissue region based on the estimated temperature rise.

Abstract: Obtaining minimum duration parallel transmit pulses for simultaneous multislice imaging that includes minimizing specific absorption rate hotspots, using an IMPULSE pTx optimization method to determine multiple spoke locations and multiple channel weights for multiple slices while enforcing a specified flip angle inhomogeneity tolerance over the multiple slices when excited, applying a control algorithm to conform a simultaneous multislice (SMS) pulse to the excited multiple slices to minimize a cost function having terms corresponding to an excitation accuracy and a pulse power, where a regularization term in the cost function is configured by the control algorithm for excitation accuracy while limiting a peak pulse power, and applying a time-optimal variable rate selective excitation (VERSE) to enforce a peak power constraint with a minimum pulse duration by reshaping a RF waveform and a gradient waveform without altering an excitation profile if the peak power limit on a channel is exceeded.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus includes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images, and a computer programmed to generate an original image of an object, generate a proton density weighted image of the object, generate a B1+ field map of the object, generate a transmit-corrected image based on the B1+ field map and based on the proton density weighted image, electronically filter the transmit-corrected image to generate a receive sensitivity map, and revise the original image using the receive sensitivity map.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating a specific; absorption rate of a tissue region prior to performing a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging scan on the tissue region. The method comprises radiating the tissue region with a plurality of short pulses, wherein the tissue region emits thermoacoustic signals responsive to the short pulses, receiving the thermoacoustic signals by at least one ultrasonic transducer, calculating a temperature rise of the tissue region based on the received thermoacoustic signals, scaling the temperature rise to estimate a temperature rise of the tissue region resulting from an MR imaging scan, and estimating the specific absorption rate of the tissue region based on the estimated temperature rise.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method comprises performing imaging where more than one polarizing magnetic field strength is used during scanning and processing at least one image resulting from the scanning to yield an enhanced contrast image.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method comprises performing imaging where more than one polarizing magnetic field strength is used during scanning and processing at least one image resulting from the scanning to yield an enhanced contrast image.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus includes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images, and a computer programmed to generate an original image of an object, generate a proton density weighted image of the object, generate a B1+ field map of the object, generate a transmit-corrected image based on the B1+ field map and based on the proton density weighted image, electronically filter the transmit-corrected image to generate a receive sensitivity map, and revise the original image using the receive sensitivity map.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method comprises performing imaging where more than one polarizing magnetic field strength is used during scanning and processing at least one image resulting from the scanning to yield an enhanced contrast image.

Abstract: A method of generating three-dimensional T1 and T2 maps for steady state imaging involves acquiring a first set of spoiled gradient echo images with contrast dependent on T1. A second set of fully refocused gradient echo images with contrast dependent upon T1 and T2 is then acquired. A T1 map is generated from the first set of images and a T2 map is generated from the second set of fully refocused gradient echo images and the T1 map.