Abstract: A new MRI imaging sequence, the Septal Scout, has been presented. This new technique can accurately determine the timing of diastasis windows for the purpose of cardiac gating in applications such as high-resolution coronary MRA. The Septal Scout acquires 1D MR images along the long-axis of the basal ventricular septum either through projection imaging or 2D excitations. Each acquisition produces a line of data along the ventricular septum. The acquisition is repeated over time to generate a time-map of Septal Scouts. The data from the Septal Scout time-map is processed to generate a velocity graph of an ROI near the basal septum. From this graph, the beginning and end of diastasis is determined. This timing information is available for use to facilitate cardiac gating in subsequent high-resolution MR angiography.

Abstract: An ion source with a crucible is disclosed. In some embodiments, the crucible is disposed in one of the ends of the ions source, opposite the cathode. In other embodiments, the crucible is disposed in one of the side walls. A feed material, which may be in solid form is disposed in the crucible. In certain embodiments, the feed material is sputtered by ions and electrons in the plasma. In other embodiments, the feed material is heated so that it vaporizes. The ion source may be oriented so that the crucible is disposed in the lowest wall so that gravity retains the feed material in the crucible.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting collagen within tissue using magnetic resonance imaging. In some embodiments, pulse sequences are employed to measure signals at multiple TE values including ultra-short echo times, and the TE dependence of the measured signal is fitted to a mathematical function including at least two decay terms, where the first (initial) decay term is modulated and is associated with the presence of collagen. In another example embodiment, spectroscopy or spectroscopic imaging is employed to measure the free induction decay within at least one region of interest, and the time-dependence of the measured signal is fitted to a mathematical function including at least two decay terms, where the first decay term is modulated and is associated with the presence of collagen. In some embodiments, the methods described herein may be employed for the detection and/or assessment of myocardial fibrosis.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting collagen within tissue using magnetic resonance imaging. In some embodiments, pulse sequences are employed to measure signals at multiple TE values including ultra-short echo times, and the TE dependence of the measured signal is fitted to a mathematical function including at least two decay terms, where the first (initial) decay term is modulated and is associated with the presence of collagen. In another example embodiment, spectroscopy or spectroscopic imaging is employed to measure the free induction decay within at least one region of interest, and the time-dependence of the measured signal is fitted to a mathematical function including at least two decay terms, where the first decay term is modulated and is associated with the presence of collagen. In some embodiments, the methods described herein may be employed for the detection and/or assessment of myocardial fibrosis.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide devices, methods, and systems that support electrical connection, signal delivery, and/or communication between internal and external portions of a Faraday cage. In some embodiments, devices and methods are provided for transmitting electrical signals through a waveguide port of a Faraday cage. In some embodiments, aspects of the present disclosure are employed to adapt a magnetic resonance imaging system for communications between a scanner room and a control room.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide devices, methods, and systems that support electrical connection, signal delivery, and/or communication between internal and external portions of a Faraday cage. In some embodiments, devices and methods are provided for transmitting electrical signals through a waveguide port of a Faraday cage. In some embodiments, aspects of the present disclosure are employed to adapt a magnetic resonance imaging system for communications between a scanner room and a control room.

Abstract: A series of MR image frames are acquired that depict a subject's heart at successive cardiac phases. Delayed enhancement of infarcted myocardium is depicted in some of the image frames by administering a contrast agent prior to data acquisition. Data acquisition is performed in a single breath hold by producing an RF inversion pulse followed by segments of SSFP pulse sequences during a succession of cardiac gated heart beats. The acquired MR image frames depict contrast between blood, viable myocardium and nonviable myocardium, and they depict left ventricle wall thickness and wall thickening throughout the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A new MRI imaging sequence, the Septal Scout, has been presented. This new technique can accurately determine the timing of diastasis windows for the purpose of cardiac gating in applications such as high-resolution coronary MRA. The Septal Scout acquires 1D MR images along the long-axis of the basal ventricular septum either through projection imaging or 2D excitations. Each acquisition produces a line of data along the ventricular septum. The acquisition is repeated over time to generate a time-map of Septal Scouts. The data from the Septal Scout time-map is processed to generate a velocity graph of an ROI near the basal septum. From this graph, the beginning and end of diastasis is determined. This timing information is available for use to facilitate cardiac gating in subsequent high-resolution MR angiography.

Abstract: A method and system for determination of oxygen saturation in blood flowing in a vessel using magnetic resonance (MR). An MR image sequence is acquired with different echo time (TE) encoding, and different Fourier velocity encoding (FVE). A Fourier transformation is applied along the velocity dimension to determine a velocity distribution of tissue signals in each voxel of the image sequence. Tissue signals indicative of moving tissues are separated from tissue signals indicative of static tissue, based on the velocity distribution. Oxygen saturation in blood may then be determined using only the tissue signals indicative of flowing blood.

Abstract: Described here are systems and methods for visualizing thermal ablation lesions by imaging specific chemical compounds that are created during thermal ablation procedures, such as cardiac ablation procedures. When a cardiac ablation procedure is performed, a central area of coagulative necrosis is created at the treatment site. This necrotic region is surrounded by layers of tissues with ultra-structural and electrophysiological changes. Two particular changes include the denaturation of proteins and the formation of ferric iron containing chemical compounds, such as methemoglobin and metmyoglobin. The formation of and distribution of such chemical compounds can be imaged with the appropriate systems and methods. Accordingly, these chemical compounds can be utilized as biomarkers that indicate the presence and physical characteristics of thermal ablation lesions. Imaging can be performed using magnetic resonance imaging, optical imaging, or photoacoustic imaging, as examples.

Abstract: A method for automatically measuring currents induced on conducting structures positioned in the bore of a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) scanner using a single magnetic resonance image is provided. A conductive structure is positioned within the bore of the MRI scanner during imaging. When the MRI system is transmitting an RF field, a current is induced in the conductive structure. The current creates a magnetic field at the Larmor frequency, which couples to the RF magnetic field in the vicinity of the conductive structure. The modified magnetic field results in an artifact being generated in phase images. The artifact in the phase image is then analyzed to determine the current induced in the conductive structure.

Abstract: Methods for representing multiple scales in an image using a variational algorithm are provided. An iterative decomposition of an image into a total variation (“TV”) part, which may be a weighted TV (“TV?”) part, and a residual part motivates the design and use of a partial differential equation that may be referred to as a multiscale total variation flow, or multiscale weighted total variation flow. This produces a multiscale representation of the image. The speed of this decomposition can be controlled with a user-defined function, and is fast enough to allow for real-time applications of denoising and image registration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide devices, methods, and systems that support electrical connection, signal delivery, and/or communication between internal and external portions of a Faraday cage. In some embodiments, devices and methods are provided for transmitting electrical signals through a waveguide port of a Faraday cage. In some embodiments, aspects of the present disclosure are employed to adapt a magnetic resonance imaging system for communications between a scanner room and a control room.

Abstract: A catheter for magnetic resonance (MR) guided procedures comprising: a catheter body having a lumen for accommodating an intravascular device; a magnetic coupling component in the catheter body, the magnetic coupling component being designed to magnetically couple with a conductive length on the intravascular device, the magnetic coupling resulting in a signal; the catheter having a connection to deliver the signal to a processor.

Abstract: A method for automatically measuring currents induced on conducting structures positioned in the bore of a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) scanner using a single magnetic resonance image is provided. A conductive structure is positioned within the bore of the MRI scanner during imaging. When the MRI system is transmitting an RF field, a current is induced in the conductive structure. The current creates a magnetic field at the Larmor frequency, which couples to the RF magnetic field in the vicinity of the conductive structure. The modified magnetic field results in an artifact being generated in phase images. The artifact in the phase image is then analyzed to determine the current induced in the conductive structure.

Abstract: A method and system for determination of oxygen saturation in blood flowing in a vessel using magnetic resonance (MR). An MR image sequence is acquired with different echo time (TE) encoding, and different Fourier velocity encoding (FVE). A Fourier transformation is applied along the velocity dimension to determine a velocity distribution of tissue signals in each voxel of the image sequence. Tissue signals indicative of moving tissues are separated from tissue signals indicative of static tissue, based on the velocity distribution. Oxygen saturation in blood may then be determined using only the tissue signals indicative of flowing blood.

Abstract: A system, method and computer readable instructions for controlling streaming audio in real time in a thin client terminal server environment that can be used, for example, to provide support for a digital dictation system. A server runs client software, and at least one terminal runs a driver which communicates with the client software to create a virtual channel over which at least one digital dictation file is transmitted in packetized format between the terminal and the server, such that the client software controls operations performed at the terminal pertaining to the digital dictation file.

Abstract: A method for automatic left ventricle segmentation of cine short-axis magnetic resonance (MR) images that does not require manually drawn initial contours, trained statistical shape models, or gray-level appearance models is provided. More specifically, the method employs a roundness metric to automatically locate the left ventricle. Epicardial contour segmentation is simplified by mapping the pixels from Cartesian to approximately polar coordinates. Furthermore, region growing is utilized by distributing seed points around the endocardial contour to find the LV myocardium and, thus, the epicardial contour. This is a robust technique for images where the epicardial edge has poor contrast. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) is utilized to smooth both the determined endocardial and epicardial contours. In addition to determining endocardial and epicardial contours, the method also determines the contours of papillary muscles and trabeculations.

Abstract: A catheter for magnetic resonance (MR) guided procedures comprising: a catheter body having a lumen for accommodating an intravascular device; a magnetic coupling component in the catheter body, the magnetic coupling component being designed to magnetically couple with a conductive length on the intravascular device, the magnetic coupling resulting in a signal; the catheter having a connection to deliver the signal to a processor.

Abstract: A series of MR image frames are acquired that depict a subject's heart at successive cardiac phases. Delayed enhancement of infarcted myocardium is depicted in some of the image frames by administering a contrast agent prior to data acquisition. Data acquisition is performed in a single breath hold by producing an RF inversion pulse followed by segments of SSFP pulse sequences during a succession of cardiac gated heart beats. The acquired MR image frames depict contrast between blood, viable myocardium and nonviable myocardium, and they depict left ventricle wall thickness and wall thickening throughout the cardiac cycle.