Abstract: A method and an apparatus for MR imaging of at least two chemical species having different MR spectra enables Dixon water/fat separation in cases in which a large field-of-view is required. The method includes the steps of: a) generating at least one echo signal by subjecting a body placed in the examination volume of a MR device to an imaging sequence of RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients; b) acquiring the at least one echo signal; c) separating signal contributions of the at least two chemical species to the at least one acquired echo signal on the basis of a spectral model and prior knowledge about the spatial variation of the main magnetic field Bo in the examination volume; and d) reconstructing a MR image from the signal contributions of at least one of the chemical species.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a personalized radio frequency (RF) coil array for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging guided interventions includes: acquiring diagnostic image data reflecting the anatomy of a portion of a patient's body; planning an intervention on the basis of the diagnostic image data, wherein a field of the intervention within the patient's body portion is determined; and arranging one or more RF coils on a substrate which is adapted to the patient's anatomy, in such a manner that the signal-to-noise ratio of MR signal acquisition via the one or more RF coils from the field of the intervention is optimized.

Abstract: When magnetic resonance imaging in the vicinity of a metallic object (like, for instance, a metal implant), severe spatial perturbations of the static magnetic field occur. In order to suppress the back-folding of distant off-resonant signals into the region of interest, the imaging volume is spatially restricted by selection gradients applied concurrently with the excitation and the refocusing RF pulses in a spin echo sequence. The selection gradient applied during the excitation pulse has an amplitude and/or a polarity different from that of the selection gradient applied during the refocusing pulse so that the respectively selected slices in an off-resonance frequency versus spatial coordinate diagram become tilted with respect to one another. The applied imaging technique may of the SEMAC or MAVRIC type and may incorporate compressed sensing, parallel imaging, fat suppression and/or SVD-based noise reduction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a personalized RF coil array for MR imaging guided interventions. The method comprises the steps of: —acquiring diagnostic image data reflecting the anatomy of a portion of a patient's body (10); —planning an intervention on the basis of the diagnostic image data, wherein a field of the intervention within the patient's body (10) portion is determined; —arranging one or more RF antennae (11, 12, 13) on a substrate (19), which is adapted to the patient's anatomy, in such a manner that the signal-to-noise ratio of MR signal acquisition via the one or more RF antennae (11, 12, 13) from the field of the intervention is optimized. Moreover, the invention relates to a computer program and to a computer workstation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of at least two chemical species having different MR spectra. It is an object of the invention to provide a method that enables Dixon water/fat separation in cases in which a large field-of-view is required. The method of the invention comprises the steps of: a) generating at least one echo signal by subjecting a body placed in the examination volume of a MR device to an imaging sequence of RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients; b) acquiring the at least one echo signal; c) separating signal contributions of the at least two chemical species to the at least one acquired echo signal on the basis of a spectral model and prior knowledge about the spatial variation of the main magnetic field B0 in the examination volume; and d) reconstructing a MR image from the signal contributions of at least one of the chemical species. Moreover the invention relates to a MR device and to a computer program to be run on a MR device.

Abstract: An image guided radiation therapy system comprises a radiation source to generate radiation. Radiation optics forms a therapeutic radiation beam from the therapeutic radiation from the radiation source. An imaging system forms an image of a target zone to control the radiation optics to direct the therapeutic radiation beam onto the target zone. The radiation optics is provided with an optics module configured to generate an imaging photonic beam endowed with optical angular momentum. The imaging system comprises a magnetic resonance assembly to receive magnetic resonance signals the from the target zone generated by imaging photonic beam endowed with optical angular momentum.

Abstract: The invention relates to magnetic resonance imaging in the vicinity of a metallic object (like, for instance, a metal implant) where severe spatial perturbations of the static magnetic field occur. In order to suppress the back-folding of distant off-resonant signals into the region of interest, the imaging volume is spatially restricted by means of selection gradients applied concurrently with the excitation and the refocusing RF pulses in a spin echo sequence. The selection gradient applied during the excitation pulse has an amplitude and/or a polarity different from that of the selection gradient applied during the refocusing pulse so that the respectively selected slices in an off-resonance frequency versus spatial coordinate diagram become tilted with respect to one another. The applied imaging technique may of the SEMAC or MAVRIC type and may incorporate compressed sensing, parallel imaging, fat suppression and/or SVD-based noise reduction.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (1) includes a data acquisition system (11) with a main magnet (12) with an imaging volume. A gradient system (G) generates field gradients (Gx), (Gy) and (Gz). An RF excitation system (10) generates radio-frequency (RF) excitation pulses. In a receiving mode, an RF coil senses a response, for example in the form of free induction decay signals, including echo signals. An image processor (26) is arranged to extract thermometry data and longitudinal relaxation time data from the acquired MR signals and to forward corresponding reconstructed images to a display unit (28).

Abstract: The magnetic resonance imaging system 1 according to the invention comprises a data acquisition system 11 with a main magnet 12 with an imaging volume (not shown) therein. Gradient system (G) arranged for generating field gradients Gx indicated as 14, Gy indicated as 16 and Gz indicated as 17 is provided. An RF excitation system (10) is provided for generating radio-frequency (RF) pulses for flipping aligned spins into a transverse plane such as the XY plane or to have a component in the XY plane. The system (10) for flipping the spins comprises RF coils (not shown) in the magnet 12 and a pulse transmitter 18. The pulse transmitter frequency may be supplied by a synthesizer 19 and can be controlled by a control system 21. The control system 21 is arranged to control the time and amplitude of the outputs of the various component parts making up the magnetic resonance apparatus.