Abstract: NMR image data is acquired with velocity encoding gradients applied and both a phase difference image array and a complex difference image array are produced. A flow image is produced from the complex difference image array after it is corrected for spin saturation effects and calibrated using information derived from the phase difference image array. Total blood flow through vessels can be measured from the flow image.

Abstract: Some patients have an catheter extending from an upper arm in order to administer intravenous pharmaceuticals. A clamping apparatus rigidly holds an end of the catheter during pharmaceutical administration thus allowing the procedure to be performed using only the patient's free hand. The apparatus has a base from which a support member extends. A mechanism enables the support member to be positioned at a number of angles with respect to the base. A catheter clamp can be attached along the support member in a number of positions. This mechanism allows the position of the clamp to be varied in order to accommodate patients having arms of different size.

Abstract: An angiogram is produced using NMR fast pulse sequences in which the views are acquired in shots preceded by a preparatory pulse sequence. Each shot is acquired twice with differing preparatory pulse sequences and the resulting NMR data is subtracted to null the stationary tissues in the reconstructed image.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance angiogram is produced by projecting a 3D array of motion sensitized NMR data. A mask which locates the vessels in the 3D array is produced by thresholding the NMR data, and this mask is combined with the 3D NMR data set to exclude signals produced by surrounding stationary tissues. An integration projection technique is used to produce the angiogram from the masked data set.

Abstract: An NMR angiogram is produced using a line scan data acquisition. Each line of NMR data is acquired twice, once with a velocity sensitizing gradient having a positive first moment and once with a velocity sensitizing gradient having a negative first moment. The two signals from the acquisition are subtracted to cancel signals from stationary spins while enhancing signals from flowing spins. The magnitude of the velocity sensitizing gradient moment is changed during the cardiac cycle so that aliasing does not occur at high blood velocities and the signal strength does not drop too low at low blood velocities. An angiogram is produced by reconstructing an image from line scan data acquired from a series of slices.

Abstract: X-ray compensation masks (51) are prepared by exposing an X-ray target object (43), such as a patient, to a first beam of X-rays. The X-ray fluence from the patient is received by an electronic image receptor (44) which provides an output signal indicating the intensity of the X-rays at all positions in the image field. The image information is converted by an image processor (47) to transformed X-ray intensity values for a plurality of pixels which cover the image field. A mask generating controller (48) determines the minimum transformed intensity value for any pixel, assigns to each pixel an attenuation number which is proportional to the difference between the transformed intensity value for the pixel and the minimum transformed intensity value, and issues control signals to a mask former (49) which deposits on a non-attenuating substrate (50) attenuating masses in a two dimensional array of pixels with the mass thickness in each pixel proportional to the attenuation number.

Abstract: Difference images, derived from an X-ray image of an anatomical subject, are produced in real time by directing X-rays through the anatomical subject to produce an X-ray image, converting the X-ray image into television fields comprising trains of analog video signals, converting the analog video signals into digital video signals, producing integrated mask digital video signals by integrating the digital video signals over a mask time interval, subtracting the integrated mask digital video signals from corresponding digital video signals of television fields subsequent to the mask time interval and thereby producing digital difference video signals, converting the digital difference video signals into analog difference video signals, and converting the analog difference video signals into a series of visible television difference images representing changes in the X-ray image subsequent to the mask time interval.

Abstract: Difference images, derived from an X-ray image of an anatomical subject, are produced in real time by directing X-rays through an anatomical subject to produce an X-ray image, converting the X-ray image into a series of television fields comprising trains of analog video signals, converting the analog video signals into corresponding digital video signals, integrating the digital video signals over a series of successive time intervals corresponding with a plurality of television fields and thereby producing a series of sets of integrated digital video signals, performing a series of subtractions between each set of integrated video signals and the preceding set of integrated video signals and thereby producing a series of successive digital difference video signals, converting the digital difference video signals into analog difference video signals, and converting the analog difference video signals into a series of visible television difference images representing changes in the X-ray image between the suc

Abstract: Differential X-ray images are produced in order to improve the visibility of a contrast medium, such as iodine or xenon, having a K absorption edge at a predetermined X-ray energy. Such differential images are produced by combining first, second and third X-ray images which are individually produced by using first, second and third X-ray spectra at first, second and third X-ray energy levels. The first energy level is below the K edge energy, while the second energy level is above the K edge energy. The third energy level is above the second energy level. The second X-ray image is combined subtractively with the average of the first and third X-ray images to produce a differential X-ray image in which any image elements due to soft tissue and bone are largely cancelled out, while image elements due to the contrast medium are enhanced. In one preferred method, two versions of the second image are combined additively, and the first and third images are combined subtractively therewith.