Abstract: A system for controlling a wireless-type radio frequency (RF) coil apparatus (102, 202, 302, 500) for a magnetic resonance (MR) system including a processor for acquiring emitted radio frequency (RF) signals from a plurality of coils of an RF transducer array including an indication of a local clock signal indicating a time of (RF) signal acquisition; acquiring magnetic field strength information from a plurality of field probes of a magnetic field probe array including an indication of the local clock signal indicating a time of magnetic field strength information acquisition, and forming k-space information based upon the acquired emitted RF signals from the plurality of coils of the RF transducer array and the acquired magnetic field strength information including the indications of the local clock signal.

Abstract: A local magnetic resonance (MR) radio frequency (RF) coil (12, 70, 90) includes a fixed size coil housing (19, 72) with an internal opening (26) which receives a portion of a subject anatomy for imaging. The internal opening (26) includes a narrowed portion (28) and a divergent portion (30) which accommodates variable sizes of subject anatomy. A first size of antenna (84) is disposed in the housing (19, 72) adjacent the narrowed portion (28) of the opening and at least a second size of antenna (86) larger than the at least first sized antenna (84) adjacent the divergent portion of the opening.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (MRI) system (100, 1500), includes at least one controller (110, 1510) configured to: perform a multi-shot image acquisition process to acquire MR information for at least one multi-shot image set; train a convolution kernel including data on at least a portion of the MR information obtained without the use of the gradient or by using a self-training process. The convolution kernel includes convolution data. The MR information obtained with the use of a gradient for at least two of the image shots of the at least one multi-shot image set is iteratively convolved with the trained convolution kernel. The synthetic k-space data for the at least two image shots of the at least one multi-shot image set is projected into image space. The projected synthetic k-space data that are projected into the image space to form image information.

Abstract: The invention provides for a magnetic resonance imaging system (100) for acquiring magnetic resonance data (142) from a subject (118) within an imaging zone (108). The magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a memory (134, 136) for storing machine executable instructions (160), and pulse sequence commands (140, 400, 502, 600, 700), wherein the pulse sequence commands are configured to cause the magnetic imaging resonance system to acquire the magnetic resonance data according to a magnetic resonance fingerprinting technique. The pulse sequence commands are further configured to control the magnetic resonance imaging system to perform spatial encoding using a zero echo time magnetic resonance imaging protocol.

Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) coil assembly (120, 660) for acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) signals. The RF coil assembly may include one or more of: at least one radio-frequency (RF) receive coil (246-x) for acquiring the MR signals; a detune circuit (248-x) including one or more circuit arms (A, B) serially coupled to the at least one RF receive coil, each of one or more circuit arms having at least two low-loss switches (350, 352, 450, 452, 462, 466) serially coupled to each other; a charge control circuit (372, 472) coupled to each of the one or more circuit arms at a location that is between the at least two serially-coupled low-loss switches of each of the one of more circuit arms and configured to draw power from the RF receive coil during a detune state; and an energy storage device (252, 370, 470) coupled to the charge control circuit and configured to store the drawn power.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a takeup spool disposed at a far end of a magnetic resonance imaging bore. The takeup spool is adapted to release optical fiber, and to retract the optical fiber. The apparatus also comprises a dongle configured to connect to a terminal end of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A dongle, and an apparatus to charge and replace components of the dongle are described. The dongle includes: a battery configured to provide direct current (DC) power to a device to which the dongle is electrically and mechanically connected, the battery being adapted to be removed, and replaced by another battery; and a heat sink configured to dissipate heat generated by the battery, the heat sink being adapted to be removed, and replaced by another heat sink.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a magnetic resonance (MR) receiver. The MR receiver includes at least one galvanic connector, at least one digitizer connected to the at least one galvanic connector, a power supply connected to the at least one digitizer, and a housing. The at least one galvanic connector connects in a connected configuration to a radio frequency (RF) coil element of at least one local RF coil to receive MR signals. The at least one digitizer converts the received MR signals to a digital format. The power supply provides power to operate the at least one digitizer. The housing is configured to removably attach to a housing of at least one local RF coil in the connected configuration to enclose the at least one galvanic connector and at least one digitizer with the housing and the attached the at least one local RF coil housing.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (100, 400, 500) includes a wireless RF station (20, 320, 420, 520, 620) which is associated with one or more RF coils which sense the magnetic resonance (MR) signal emitted from a subject under MRI examination. The wireless RF station communicates digital data representing the sensed MR signal to an MRI controller (124) for further processing, which may include display. An internal clock (2202, 3202) in the wireless RF station is precisely synchronized with the MRI controller clock (108, 2101, 3101), with carrier phase synchronization and code phase tracking of a predefined code sequence such as a pseudo random number (PRN) sequence.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) system, including at least one wireless radio-frequency (RF) coil comprising antennas for receiving induced MR signals and an antenna array comprising transmission and reception antennas; a base transmitter system (BTS) having an antenna array comprising a plurality of transmission and reception antennas configured to communicate with the RF coil using a selected spatial diversity (SD) method; and at least one controller to control the BTS and the RF coil to determine a number of transmission and/or reception antennas available, couple the transmission and reception antennas to form corresponding antenna pairings, and determine signal characteristic information (SCI) of the antenna pairings,select an SD transmission method based upon the determined number of antennas and the determined SCI for communication between the BTS and the RF coil, and establish a communication channel between the BTS and the RF coil in accordance with the selected SD transmission method.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) system including a main magnet having a bore and producing a substantially homogenous magnetic field (Bo) within a scanning volume; a mobile radio-frequency (RF) coil (MRF) including at least one transmit antenna for transmitting a wireless location signal within the bore of the magnet; at least one receive antenna situated substantially at a known location (e.g. at the isocentre plane of the bore of the magnet), the receive antenna configured to receive the transmitted location signal; and a controller configured to align the transmit antenna of the MRF with reference to the known location of the receive antenna based upon an analysis of the received location signal.

Abstract: A radio-frequency (RF) coil apparatus for magnetic resonance (MR) systems (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 900, 1000), the RF coil including a base (102, 502, 702, 902, 1002) having opposed sides (121), a surface (124) to support an object of interest (OOI) for scanning, and fasteners (127) situated at the opposed sides; a positioner (104, 304A, 304B, 504, 604, 704, 1004) configured to be releasably attached to the base and having a body (130) extending between opposed ends and fasteners (134,) situated at the opposed ends of the body, the body configured to form an arch between the opposed ends; and an upper section (106, 606, 706, 906, 1006) having at least one RF coil array (142) for acquiring induced MR signals, the upper section configured to be positioned over the positioner.

Abstract: A system for controlling a wireless-type radio frequency (RF) coil apparatus (102, 202, 302, 500) for a magnetic resonance (MR) system including a processor for acquiring emitted radio frequency (RF) signals from a plurality of coils of an RF transducer array including an indication of a local clock signal indicating a time of (RF) signal acquisition; acquiring magnetic field strength information from a plurality of field probes of a magnetic field probe array including an indication of the local clock signal indicating a time of magnetic field strength information acquisition, and forming k-space information based upon the acquired emitted RF signals from the plurality of coils of the RF transducer array and the acquired magnetic field strength information including the indications of the local clock signal.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus for legacy magnetic resonance (MR) systems including one or more of a radio transmission portion having coupling to an analog RF cable port of the MR system including at least one first controller, an analog-to-digital converter (A/D), and a transmitter. The first controller controls the A/D to digitize analog magnetic resonance (MR) information received from the RF coil and controls the transmitter to transmit the digitized MR information. A radio reception portion including an analog output port and a coupler for coupling the output port to a legacy cable port input of the legacy system including at least one second controller, a receiver, and a digital-to-analog converter (D/A). The second controller controls the receiver to receive the transmitted digitized MR information, and controls the D/A to perform a digital-to-analog conversion to form a corresponding analog MR signal which is output at the output port.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance scanner (12) is configured for thermographic imaging. One or more processors (28) receive (56) thermal image data from the magnetic resonance scanner and reconstruct at least one thermal image in which each voxel includes a measure of temperature change. The one or more processors identify (58) thermally abnormal voxels. A display (44) displays at least one reconstructed image with the identified abnormal thermal locations.

Abstract: Reduction of artifacts caused by inter-shot motion in multi-shot MRI (e.g. DWI). To this end, the invention teaches a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (MRI) system (100, 1500), including at least one controller (110, 1510) configured to: perform a multi-shot image acquisition process to acquire MR information for at least one multi-shot image set; train a convolution kernel comprising data on at least a portion of the MR information obtained without the use of the gradient or by using a self-training process, the convolution kernel including convolution data; iteratively convolve the MR information obtained with the use of a gradient for at least two of the image shots of the at least one multi-shot image set with the trained convolution kernel; project the synthetic k-space data for the at least two image shots of the at least one multi-shot image set into image space; and average the projected synthetic k-space data that are projected into the image space to form image information.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) system (10) minimizes noise for modes of an array of coils (281, 282, . . . , 28n). The system (10) includes an array of coils (281, 282, . . . , 28n) which share impedance. A plurality of preamplifiers (301, 302, . . . , 30n) receive a plurality of signals from the array of coils (281, 282, . . . , 28n), and a plurality of matching circuits (321, 322, . . . , 32n) impedance match the array of coils (281, 282, . . . , 28n) to the plurality of preamplifiers (301, 302, . . . , 30n). A plurality of receivers (361, 362, . . . , 36n) oversample the plurality of preamplified signals at a plurality of different match values. Thereafter, a plurality of separate images may be reconstructed from the oversampled data, each image corresponding to a particular match value. Finally, the image with the highest SNR may be selected.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) system (10) minimizes noise for modes of an array of coils (261, 262, . . . , 26n). The system (10) includes an array of coils (261, 262, . . . , 26n) in which the coils of the array (261, 262, . . . 26n) share impedances. A splitter/combiner (30) receives a plurality of signals (S1; S2, . . . , Sn) from each of the coils (261, 262, . . . , 26n) and converts the plurality of signals (S1; S2, . . . , Sn) to a plurality of signals (S1; S2, . . . , Sn) which are compensated for the shared impedance. The splitter/combiner (30) splits the received signals (S1; S2, . . . , Sn) into components and combines components of like frequency and/or phase to create the impedance compensated signals (S1; S2, . . . , Sn). Each impedance compensated signal is amplified by a corresponding preamplifier (381, 382, . . . , 38n).

Abstract: A local magnetic resonance (MR) radio frequency (RF) coil includes a plurality of housing sections that are separable and configured with mating surfaces that meet and engage each other to form an opening which receives a portion of subject anatomy for magnetic resonance imaging, a detachable connector, and a cable. Each housing section includes coil elements enclosed within each housing section which receive MR signals from the received portion of the subject anatomy, and external connectors connected to the coil elements co-located on an outside surface of each housing section and adjacent to the mating surfaces. The detachable connector connects to the external connectors of the housing sections. The cable conveys at least the received MR signals received by the coil elements.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a magnetic resonance (MR) receiver. The MR receiver includes at least one galvanic connector, at least one digitizer connected to the at least one galvanic connector, a power supply connected to the at least one digitizer, and a housing. The at least one galvanic connector connects in a connected configuration to a radio frequency (RF) coil element of at least one local RF coil to receive MR signals. The at least one digitizer converts the received MR signals to a digital format. The power supply provides power to operate the at least one digitizer. The housing is configured to removably attach to a housing of at least one local RF coil in the connected configuration to enclose the at least one galvanic connector and at least one digitizer with the housing and the attached the at least one local RF coil housing.