Abstract: In a method and apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) data, an MR data acquisition scanner is operated, while a subject is situated therein to execute a simultaneous multislice (SMS) turbo spin echo (TSE) sequence by implementing a TSE-based reference scan to acquire reference data and an imaging scan, to acquire raw MR data from the subject. The reference data and the raw MR data are entered into a memory organized as k-space. A computer accesses the memory in order to make the k-space data, composed of said reference data and said image data, available in electronic form, as at least one data file.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance (MR) navigator-based method and apparatus, MR data are acquired from a large joint of a patient, which is not modelable as a whole based on a single rigid body model. The field of view which the MR data are acquired is divided in a processor into multiple sub-sections, with each sub-section being modelable based on a rigid body model. MR navigator signals are acquired from each of the sub-sections, and these navigator signals are used in a motion tracking algorithm that is based on a rigid body model in order to generate a modeling result that tracks the movement of the overall joint within the field of view. The modeling result can be used for prospective or retrospective motion correction of the MR data.

Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for combined multislice fingerprinting MR imaging, for each repetition of a repetition sequence, radio-frequency excitation pulses are radiated with flip angles of the radio-frequency excitation pulses being different from one another, at least for a few repetitions. The scattering of the local maxima of the sum of the radio-frequency energy of the radio-frequency excitation pulses as a function of the repetition over the repetition sequence is for example not greater than 80%.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance apparatus and method for acquiring magnetic resonance data, a magnetic resonance data acquisition scanner executes a turbo spin echo (TSE) data acquisition sequence with simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) imaging wherein nuclear spins in two different slices of an examination subject are simultaneously excited so as to produce respective echo trains. The magnetic resonance data acquisition scanner is operated with the SMS imaging configured so that magnetic resonance signals from the respective slices have a different contrast, with the SMS being configured to allow evolution of magnetization of the nuclear spins for the second contrast while magnetic resonance signals with the first contrast are being detected. The respective magnetic resonance signals from the two different slices are detected and entered into an electronic memory organized as k-space, as k-space data.

Abstract: A method for automatically and dynamically optimizing image acquisition parameters/commands of an imaging procedure performed by a medical imaging apparatus in order to mitigate or cancel dynamic effects perturbing the image acquisition process of an object to be imaged by the medical imaging apparatus. The method includes connecting a dynamic correction module (DCM) to the medical imaging apparatus, automatically acquiring by the DCM image acquisition parameters/commands and data about dynamic changes or effects, and automatically determining in real time, by the DCM, at least one new image acquisition parameter/command from the image acquisition parameters/commands defined in the imaging control system and the dynamic change data, while the image acquisition parameter/command defined in the imaging control system remains unchanged. The method further includes automatically providing, by the DCM, the new image acquisition parameter/command to the hardware control system.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) raw data with a simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) data acquisition sequence, nuclear spins respectively in multiple slices of the examination subject are simultaneously excited by radiating, from a radio-frequency (RF) radiator of the MR data acquisition scanner, a multi-band (MB) RF pulse. This MB RF pulse in the SMS data acquisition sequence is generated by radiating and superimposing a number of single band (SB) RF pulses emitted from said RF radiator, each having a respectively different flip angle. Raw MR data are acquired from the multiple slices of the examination subject after the simultaneous excitation of nuclear spins in the multiple slices with said MB RF pulse.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) method and apparatus use simultaneous multislice imaging, with different excitations being effective for different slices in respective iterations of a single scanning sequence, in order to acquire raw MR data from different multiple slices, with respectively different contrasts, in the single scanning sequence. Single band excitation of a first slice among the multiple slices takes place in a first iteration of the single scanning sequence, with multi-band excitation then occurring for all of the multiple slices. Raw data are then acquired from the first slice, and at least one other slice among the multiple slices, that respectively exhibit different contrasts due to only the first slice being affected by the single band excitation. In a second iteration of the single scanning sequence, another slice is excited with single band excitation, and the first slice is among the multiple slices excited with multi-band excitation.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for performing multi-slice magnetic resonance imaging with comparable contrast between simultaneously excited slices includes applying a first pulse sequence to a volume of interest to acquire a first k-space dataset. This first pulse sequence comprises a plurality of single-band slice-selective pulses applied in a first predefined order. One or more additional pulse sequences are also applied to the volume of interest to acquire one or more additional k-space datasets. Each additional pulse sequence comprises the plurality of single-band slice-selective pulses applied in one or more additional predefined orders that are distinct from the first predefined order. One or more final images are reconstructed using the first k-space dataset and the one or more additional k-space datasets.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) data, comprising an MR data acquisition scanner is operated, while a subject is situated therein, to acquire calibration data, and raw data for conversion into image data, by executing an accelerated echo planar imaging data acquisition sequence. The calibration data are acquired by executing a simultaneous echo refocusing sequence in which multiple slices of the examination subject are simultaneously excited. The calibration data and the acquired raw data are entered into an electronic memory during operation of said MR data acquisition scanner, and made available from a processor in electronic form, as at least one data file.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) raw data, an MR data acquisition scanner is operated to execute a turbo spin echo (TSE) or a turbo gradient spin echo (TGSE) sequence wherein nuclear spins are excited in multiple slices of the examination object simultaneously by radiating at least one radio-frequency (RF) pulse from an RF radiator of the MR data acquisition scanner, thereby causing the excited nuclear spins in said multiple slices to produce an echo train. A multi-band refocusing pulse is radiated that refocuses nuclear spins in at least one of said multiple slices that follows a first of the multiple slices, and readout gradients are activated to acquire MR signals, with respectively different contrasts, at respectively different readout times of the echo train. The read out MR signals are entered into an electronic memory organized as k-space.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance method and system are provided for providing improved simultaneous multislice echo planar imaging (EPI) with navigator-based correction of image data for B0 drift and N/2 ghosting. The correction is based on two types of multi-echo phase-encoded navigator sequences having opposite readout gradient polarities, and optionally also uses a non-phase-encoded navigator sequence. One or more navigator sequences can be generated between each RF excitation pulse and the subsequent EPI readout sequence. A dynamic off-resonance in k-space technique can be used to correct for B0 drift, and a modified slice GRAPPA technique that is based on odd and even kernels can provide slice-specific correction for N/2 ghosting effects for the EPI MR image data sets. Various patterns of navigator sequences and/or interpolation of navigator data can be used to improve accuracy of the image data corrections.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) data from a subject, wherein the MR data are acquired in respective data sets individually from multiple slices in a stack within the examination subject, and wherein the number of slices in the stack is not an integer multiple of a number of slices that are desired to be scanned simultaneously, a quotient of the number of slices in the stack and the number of slices to be acquired simultaneously is formed. A protocol for operating the scanner of the apparatus is then determined wherein the number of simultaneously scanned slices is set either by rounding by quotient up to the next highest integer, or rounding the quotient down to the next lowest integer.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance method and system are provided for generating real-time motion-corrected perfusion images based on pulsed arterial spin labeling (PASL) with a readout sequence such as a 3D gradient and spin echo (GRASE) image data acquisition block. The real-time motion correction is achieved by using a volumetric 3D EPI navigator that is provided during an intrinsic delay in the PASL sequence, which corrects for motion prospectively and does not extend the image data acquisition time as compared to a similar non-motion-corrected imaging procedure.

Abstract: In a method and imaging apparatus for acquiring multi-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) data, a data acquisition scanner is operated in a simultaneous multislice data acquisition sequence to radiate at least one single-band binomial radio-frequency (RF) pulse, that excites fat protons in at least some slices of an examination subject from which MR raw data are to be acquired simultaneously, and leaving water in a longitudinal plane for those at least some slices, and leaving all spin species in a longitudinal plane in others of the slices that are to be acquired simultaneously. A spoiler gradient is subsequently activated that dephases the fat protons that were excited. The scanner is then operated to execute an MR data acquisition sequence with excitation by radiation of multi-band RF pulses. MR raw data resulting from excitation of the fat protons, and MR raw data acquired with said multi-band RF excitation, are compiled in respective data files.

Abstract: A system acquires MR imaging data of a portion of patient anatomy associated with proton spin lattice relaxation time in a rotating frame using an RF (Radio Frequency) signal generator configured to generate RF excitation pulses and a magnetic field gradient generator configured to generate anatomical volume select magnetic field gradients for phase encoding and readout RF data acquisition. The RF signal generator and the gradient generator are configured to provide a rotating frame preparation pulse sequence comprising at least one of, (a) a T1 spin lattice relaxation in a rotating frame (T1?) preparation pulse sequence of adiabatic pulses comprising modulated RF pulses and modulated magnetic field gradients for slice selection and (b) a T2 spin-spin relaxation in a rotating frame (T2?) preparation pulse sequence of adiabatic pulses comprising modulated RF pulses and modulated magnetic field gradients for slice selection.

Abstract: A method for producing an image representative of the vasculature of a subject using a MRI system includes the acquisition of a signal indicative of a subject' cardiac phase. During each heartbeat of the subject, image slices of a volume covering a region of interest (ROI) within the subject are acquired by applying a volume-selective venous suppression pulse to suppress (a) venous signal for an upper slice in the ROI; (b) venous signal for slices that are upstream for venous flow in the ROI; and (c) background signal from the upstream slices. Next, a slice-selective background suppression pulse is applied to suppress background signal of the upper slice. Following a quiescent time interval, a spectrally selective fat suppression pulse is applied to the entire volume to attenuate signal from background fat signal. Then, a simultaneous multi-slice acquisition of the upper slice and the upstream slices is performed.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for performing multi-slice magnetic resonance imaging with comparable contrast between simultaneously excited slices includes applying a first pulse sequence to a volume of interest to acquire a first k-space dataset. This first pulse sequence comprises a plurality of single-band slice-selective pulses applied in a first predefined order. One or more additional pulse sequences are also applied to the volume of interest to acquire one or more additional k-space datasets. Each additional pulse sequence comprises the plurality of single-band slice-selective pulses applied in one or more additional predefined orders that are distinct from the first predefined order. One or more final images are reconstructed using the first k-space dataset and the one or more additional k-space datasets.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for motion-corrected magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, MR data are acquired in a diagnostic scan in respective portions, and between each portion of acquired diagnostic data, a navigator scan is implemented wherein navigator data are acquired simultaneously in multiple slices in a navigator sub-volume that is less than the volume of the acquisition volume. A reference scan is acquired before beginning the diagnostic scan, and the navigator data in the sub-volumes are acquired between the acquisition of the portions of the MR data in the diagnostic scan. Between each acquisition portion, a motion-correction algorithm is executed, wherein the navigator data of the sub-volume is compared only to corresponding image data in the reference scan, and, if necessary, a motion-correction instruction is generated that is used for the acquisition of the next diagnostic data portion.

Abstract: A method for MRI inter-scan motion correction includes performing (i) an anatomical localizer scan of a region of interest (ROI) to identify anatomical landmarks defining orientation of a surrounding field-of-view (FOV); (ii) an inter-scan motion reference scan of the ROI to acquire a reference inter-scan dataset indicating a reference navigator location in the ROI; and (iii) scans of the ROI to acquire k-space data. Prior to one or more of the scans, a motion correction process is performed that includes (a) performing an inter-scan motion tracking scan to acquire a tracking inter-scan dataset indicating an updated reference navigator location; (b) determining an estimation of inter-scan patient motion based on a comparison between the reference inter-scan and tracking inter-scan datasets; and (c) updating the FOV relative to the landmarks based on that estimation. Images of the ROI may be generated using the k-space data acquired with each of the scans.

Abstract: In a method and imaging apparatus for acquiring multi-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) data, a data acquisition scanner is operated in a simultaneous multislice data acquisition sequence to radiate at least one single-band binomial radio-frequency (RF) pulse, that excites fat protons in at least some slices of an examination subject from which MR raw data are to be acquired simultaneously, and leaving water in a longitudinal plane for those at least some slices, and leaving all spin species in a longitudinal plane in others of the slices that are to be acquired simultaneously. A spoiler gradient is subsequently activated that dephases the fat protons that were excited. The scanner is then operated to execute an MR data acquisition sequence with excitation by radiation of multi-band RF pulses. MR raw data resulting from excitation of the fat protons, and MR raw data acquired with said multi-band RF excitation, are compiled in respective data files.