Abstract: A digital receiver circuit includes an encoder (104) for encoding a digitized magnetic resonance signal is disclosed herein. The digitized magnetic resonance signal includes one or more data packets. Each data packet is representative of a portion of a magnetic resonance signal. The encoder (104) is configured to dynamically allocate a number of bits for each data packet based on a characteristic of at least the portion of the magnetic resonance signal represented by the particular data packet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data rate controlling feedback loop (355, 360) that can evaluate an actual instantaneous available quality of service of a communication link (345) for transmitting data and control the data rate based on an evaluation result. Feedback control may both be local to a device for acquiring examination data such as e.g. a magnetic resonance imaging coil or over the communication link by reducing the data rate at least momentarily to fit the communication link's performance over time, enabling a graceful degradation of an image quality at lower data rates.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging radio frequency—receiver (112; 216; 308; 404), the receiver (112; 216; 308; 404) being adapted to receive analogue signals from at least one radio frequency receiver coil unit (106; 200; 202; 300; 400; 402), the radio frequency receiver (112; 216; 308; 404) comprising: an analogue-digital converter (118; 226) to convert the analogue pre-amplified magnetic resonance signal into a digital signal, means (120; 230) for digital down converting the digital signal and a first communication interface (130; 252) adapted for transmitting the down converted digital signal via a communication link (e.g. wireless, optical or wire-bound).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for magnetic resonance imaging of a body (7) placed in a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field comprising a main magnet (2) for generation of a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field within the examination zone. In order to provide an MR device (1) which is arranged to allow for massive parallel imaging without extensive cabling between the individual receiving coils and the back end electronics, the invention proposes to make provision for a plurality of receiving units (10a, 10b, 10c) placed in or near the examination zone, which receiving units (10a, 10b, 10c) each comprise a receiving antenna (12a, 12b, 12c) for receiving MR signals from the body, a digitizing means (21a, 21b, 21c) for sampling the received MR signals and for transforming the signal samples into digital signals, and a transmitter (22a, 22b, 22c) for transmitting the digital signals to a central processing unit (13).

Abstract: A digital receiver circuit comprising an encoder (104) for encoding a digitized magnetic resonance signal is disclosed herein. The digitized magnetic resonance signal comprises one or more data packets, wherein each data packet is representative of a portion of a magnetic resonance signal. The encoder (104) is configured to dynamically allocate a number of bits (variable bit rate) for each data packet based on a characteristic of at least the portion of the magnetic resonance signal represented by the particular data packet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to magnetic resonance imaging system and to a direct digital receiver (18) for an RF coil (D1, D2), in particular of a magnetic resonance imaging system. To obtain that the sampling frequency of an analog-to-digital converter (33) of the digital receiver can be chosen independently of the digital operating frequency at which the subsequent digital down converter (38), which particularly includes a demodulator (34), operates, a resampling unit (37) is introduced which is coupled between said analog-to-digital converter and said digital down converter for resampling a first digital sample signal at said sampling frequency to a second digital sample signal at said digital operating frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for magnetic resonance imaging of a body (7) placed in a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field comprising a main magnet (2) for generation of a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field within the examination zone. In order to provide an MR device (1) which is arranged to allow for massive parallel imaging without extensive cabling between the individual receiving coils and the back end electronics, the invention proposes to make provision for a plurality of receiving units (10a, 10b, 10c) placed in or near the examination zone, which receiving units (10a, 10b, 10c) each comprise a receiving antenna (12a, 12b, 12c) for receiving MR signals from the body, a digitizing means (21a, 21b, 21c) for sampling the received MR signals and for transforming the signal samples into digital signals, and a transmitter (22a, 22b, 22c) for transmitting the digital signals to a central processing unit (13).

Abstract: A spatially displayed medical image undergoes processing through cursored user interaction on such image. In particular, mouse positionings and/or actuations will control inherent processing functionalities. These will actuate immediately through associated specific sensitive areas at predetermined relative positions with respect to an associated medical object display field.

Abstract: A system for visualizing a 3D volume, represented by a 3D data set stored in a memory (890) as contiguous 2D slices with successive depths. A memory cache 895 provides faster access to part of the data set. A processor 860 creates a 2D representation of the volume by casting an imaginary bundle of n1×n2parallel rays through the 3D volume onto a corresponding rectangle of n1×n2 pixels. Each time sequentially n3 samples are determined for each ray, giving a sequence of bundle blocks of each n1×n2×n3 samples. An interpolation function is used to determine a 3D set of voxels contributing to the bundle block. The size of the bundle block is chosen such that the determined set of voxels fits into the cache. The set of voxels is then sampled from the cache.

Abstract: In a method of visualizing a three-dimensional volume image data set (1), a two-dimensional image (15) is formed by projecting volume image data on a projection plane in that for each pixel (16) there is determined an intensity value which corresponds to the maximum value or minimum value of the mean intensity along a projection path (17) through the imaged volume and associated with the relevant pixel. In order to determine the mean intensity, averaging is performed over a plurality of intensity values which neighbor one another along the projection path (17). In order to achieve effective noise suppression as well as adequate along image contrast , averaging is performed over at least partly overlapping interval (18 to 22) along the projection path (17). The method offer the advantage that the user can choose the width of the averaging interval as an additional free parameter, so that image contrast and background noise can be influenced independently.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of visualizing a three-dimensional volume image data set (1). A two-dimensional image (15) is then formed by projecting the volume image data on a projection plane in that for each pixel (16) there is determined an intensity value which corresponds to the maximum value or minimum value of the mean intensity along a projection path (17) which extends through the imaged volume and is associated with the relevant pixel. In order to determine the mean intensity, averaging is performed over a plurality of intensity values which neighbor one another along the projection path (17). In order to achieve effective noise suppression as well as adequate image contrast, averaging is performed over at least partly overlapping intervals (18 to 22) along the projection path (17).

Abstract: Cursor-based interaction on a computer-displayed medical image produces graphics related to information in the images in which successive locator positionings and/or actuations control both the geometry and the type of the graphics object. In particular, the state of the interaction is used to distinguish what type of graphics object is required. Various types of measurements are effected.

Abstract: A spatially displayed medical image undergoes processing through cursored user interaction on such image. In particular, mouse positionings and/or actuations will control inherent processing functionalities. These will actuate immediately through associated specific sensitive areas at predetermined relative positions with respect to an associated medical object display field.

Abstract: MRI utilizes so-called multiple-slice multiple-echo pulse sequences. Pulse sequences are generated in order to produce echo resonance signals in different sub-regions of a body, after which images of the various sub-regions are reconstructed from the resonance signals. The pulse sequences, for example spin echo sequences, are successively generated for the various sub-regions. More than one echo resonance signal can be generated by means of each pulse sequence. In order to reduce the overall measuring time the invention proposes the interleaving of a pulse sequence (ex1, ep11, er11, ep12, er12) for a sub-region with pulse sequences (ep02, er-12, ex2, ep21, er21, er02, ex3, ep31, er31, ep22) for other sub-regions. It is essential that the excitation pulse (ex1), the echo pulses (ep11, ep12) and the echo resonance signals (er11, er12) are phase coherent within a pulse sequence.

Abstract: A method is proposed for the elimination of the effect of coherent interference signals which give rise to image artefacts in off-center imaging which usually requires roll correction in order to obtain a correct image. To this end, the image is shifted independently with respect to the artefact signal over an arbitrary distance which depends on the isocentric shift. The method is advantageous for off-center imaging where usually surface coils are used. A band of interference signals in the phase encoding direction can thus be shifted to the edge of the image.