Abstract: Provided is a means that uses a two-dimensional image to distinguish a small region from other regions within the image and to highlight the small region. On the basis of the two-dimensional image where an organ such as blood vessels or a lesion such as microbleeds (collectively referred to as a designated region) is visualized, the designated region is discriminated from other regions, using a shape feature of the designated region and spatial feature of the space where the designated region exists. The spatial feature includes at least one of the followings; a spatial tissue distribution (presence probability for each tissue) of the designated region, and a spatial brightness distribution of pixel values of the designated region.

Abstract: An imaging unit of an MRI apparatus performs imaging of a positioning image of a subject including a spine; a first imaging that images a cross section including the spine and extending along a longitudinal direction of the spine; and a second imaging that images a cross section in a direction of traversing the spine. An automatic cross-section position setting unit detects a specific tissue of the spine using a scout image or an image including the spine acquired in the first imaging step, performs a matching process between the detected specific tissue of the spine and a spine model, and calculates an imaging cross-section position of the second imaging based upon a specific tissue position of the spine specified by matching, thereby performing automatic setting.

Abstract: Fluid parameters such as WSS and EL are accurately calculated, using flow velocity information obtained by diffusion tensor imaging. Dispersion of a flow velocity distribution of fluid is calculated, using a diffusion tensor image obtained with respect to an examination target containing fluid, and an estimation model is set for a distribution shape of intra-voxel flow velocity. Using the estimation model and the dispersion of the flow velocity distribution, a differential value of the flow velocity is calculated. Then, a fluid parameter representing a flow characteristic of the fluid is calculated.

Abstract: In brain analysis, anatomical standardization is performed when analyzing a region of interest (ROI). There are individual differences in the shape and size of the brain and by converting the brain into a standard brain, these differences can be compared with each other and subjected to statistical analysis. When generating a standard brain analysis, a large number of pieces of image data are classified into a plurality of groups based on their anatomical features. An intermediate template that is an intermediate conversion image and a conversion map is calculated for each group, and the calculation of the intermediate template and the generation of the intermediate conversion image are repeated while gradually reducing the number of classifications, so that a final standard image is generated. Using the standard image and the intermediate template calculated during the generation of the standard image, spatial standardization of the measured image is performed.

Abstract: In MRI, upon simultaneously generating computed images of multiple parameters, imaging time is efficiently reduced while preventing decrease in spatial resolution and SN ratio as much as possible. A plurality of original images is reconstructed from nuclear magnetic resonance signals acquired under various imaging conditions, and a computed image is obtained by calculation performed among the plurality of original images. The various imaging conditions include an imaging condition that a repetition time of an imaging sequence is different from one another, and upon imaging, the number of phase encoding steps is made smaller when the repetition time is long. An image is reconstructed in such a manner that a matrix size of the image obtained when the number of phase encoding steps is small is made equal to the matrix size of the image obtained when the number of phase encoding steps is large.

Abstract: Provided is a technique for supporting a diagnosis in determining disease by using various types of measured values acquired by a medical image acquisition apparatus. An image diagnosis support device includes a measured-value receiving unit configured to receive various types of measured values at a plurality of positions within a living body, a group generator configured to generate groups of the measured values depending on the position or the type of the measured value, an intermediate index calculator configured to calculate an intermediate index from the measured values included in the group on a per-group basis, and a comprehensive index calculator configured to calculate a comprehensive index from values of the intermediate index calculated on a per-group basis. The intermediate index and the comprehensive index are displayed on a display unit in a display mode such as numerical values and in the form of an image.

Abstract: Magnetic susceptibility is calculated with high accuracy without significant increase of calculation time.

Abstract: Two or more learning images generated for a first subject or a second subject and one or more correct answer images generated for the second subject or a third subject are received. In a case where pixel values of corresponding pixels of the two or more learning images are synthesized by using a synthesis parameter value, the parameter value at which the synthesized pixel values are close to a pixel value of a corresponding pixel of the correct answer image is obtained. An image generated for the first subject and having the same type as the two or more learning images is received as an examination target image. A synthesized image desired by a user is generated by synthesizing pixel values of corresponding pixels of the two or more examination target images by using the synthesis parameter value.

Abstract: An MRI device for executing an imaging operation at least three times or more with a different combination of at least a repetition time and a flip angle in the same imaging sequence, includes: a receiving unit which receives information specifying an imaging target and a constraint condition relating to an imaging time or quantitative value accuracy; and a scan parameter set generation unit which calculates at least three or more scan parameter sets having a different combination of at least the repetition time and the flip angle on the basis of the constraint condition. The MRI device uses three or more scan parameter sets generated by the optimal scan parameter set generation unit and calculates quantitative values (T1, T2,and the like) of the imaging target from a plurality of images obtained by the imaging operation.

Abstract: A high-frequency array coil for an MRI apparatus includes: a plurality of coil units each of which includes a plurality of RF reception coils including a conductor loop and adjusted to receive a magnetic resonance signal; an extension conductor which includes a part of each conductor loop of each RF reception coil of the plurality of coil units and a conductor connecting the parts; and an extension conductor control circuit which adjusts a reception frequency of the extension conductor. The extension conductor is disposed so as to be wound in a spiral shape when the extension conductor is disposed on a subject and a direction of a magnetic field to be detected intersects a direction of a magnetic field detected by the RF reception coil constituting the coil unit. Accordingly, the detection efficiency of an RF coil can be increased and an image with a high SNR can be obtained.

Abstract: In MRI, upon simultaneously generating computed images of multiple parameters, imaging time is efficiently reduced while preventing decrease in spatial resolution and SN ratio as much as possible. A plurality of original images is reconstructed from nuclear magnetic resonance signals acquired under various imaging conditions, and a computed image is obtained by calculation performed among the plurality of original images. The various imaging conditions include an imaging condition that a repetition time of an imaging sequence is different from one another, and upon imaging, the number of phase encoding steps is made smaller when the repetition time is long. An image is reconstructed in such a manner that a matrix size of the image obtained when the number of phase encoding steps is small is made equal to the matrix size of the image obtained when the number of phase encoding steps is large.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus in which, when a quantitative value, which does not depend on imaging parameter values, is computed from a plurality of image data having different pixel values that are acquired by performing imaging the plurality of times with different imaging parameter values in the same pulse sequence, pixel values which are acquired from the imaging parameter values are predicted for each of a plurality of predetermined quantitative-value candidate group, and an initial value of the quantitative value is selected from the quantitative-value candidate groups with reference to the predicted pixel values. The optimal quantitative value is computed through a localized optimization technique using the selected initial value.

Abstract: A system is disclosed to simultaneously acquire a magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) image and a plurality of images in which the structure of a tissue other than a blood vessel can be ascertained without performing imaging for the MRA image, and to shorten a time of MR examination. Two or more kinds of physical property dependent images obtained from a nuclear magnetic resonance signal measured in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence under a plurality of imaging conditions are combined using a predetermined combination function.

Abstract: Accuracy degradation due to a signal loss is reduced, and susceptibility is calculated with high accuracy where, by using an MRI, at least one echo is acquired where spatial magnetic field inhomogeneity is reflected, and a complex image is calculated from the acquired echo. Three masks are calculated from the calculated complex image; a low-signal region mask representing a low signal region, a first high-signal region mask representing a high signal and high fat content region, and a second high-signal region mask representing a high signal and low fat content region. In calculating a susceptibility image from a frequency image or a magnetic field image generated from the complex image, the susceptibility image is obtained under the constraint that a region defined by the low-signal region is set as a background and the susceptibility of the region defined by the second high-signal region mask is set to a specific value.

Abstract: A technology of improving image quality of a calculation image or parameter estimation accuracy even in a case where a method of simultaneously generating calculation images of a plurality of parameters is used is provided. Thus, by utilization of a reconstructed image in an optimal resolution of each parameter to be estimated, a value of the parameter is estimated and a calculation image that is a distribution of the value of the parameter is acquired. A reconstructed image in an optimal resolution is acquired by adjustment of a resolution of a reconstructed image acquired in an optimal resolution of an estimation parameter with the highest optimal resolution among parameters to be estimated in scanning. Alternatively, in scanning, only a reconstructed image used for calculation of a predetermined parameter to be estimated is acquired in an optimal resolution of the parameter to be estimated.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a static magnetic field generating magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field in a space where a subject is arranged; a transmission unit configured to transmit a high frequency magnetic field to the subject; a reception unit configured to receive a nuclear magnetic resonance signal generated in the subject due to transmission of the high-frequency magnetic field thereto; a gradient magnetic field application unit configured to apply a gradient magnetic field which adds positional information to the nuclear magnetic resonance signal; a computer configured to control the transmission unit, the reception unit, and the gradient magnetic field application unit, and configured to process the nuclear magnetic resonance signal; and a display unit configured to display an image processed by the computer; and the computer performs a predetermined calculation processing.

Abstract: In brain analysis, anatomical standardization is performed when analyzing a region of interest (ROI). There are individual differences in the shape and size of the brain and by converting the brain into a standard brain, these differences can be compared with each other and subjected to statistical analysis. When generating a standard brain analysis, a large number of pieces of image data are classified into a plurality of groups based on their anatomical features. An intermediate template that is an intermediate conversion image and a conversion map is calculated for each group, and the calculation of the intermediate template and the generation of the intermediate conversion image are repeated while gradually reducing the number of classifications, so that a final standard image is generated. Using the standard image and the intermediate template calculated during the generation of the standard image, spatial standardization of the measured image is performed.

Abstract: A high-frequency array coil for an MRI apparatus includes: a plurality of coil units each of which includes a plurality of RF reception coils including a conductor loop and adjusted to receive a magnetic resonance signal; an extension conductor which includes a part of each conductor loop of each RF reception coil of the plurality of coil units and a conductor connecting the parts; and an extension conductor control circuit which adjusts a reception frequency of the extension conductor. The extension conductor is disposed so as to be wound in a spiral shape when the extension conductor is disposed on a subject and a direction of a magnetic field to be detected intersects a direction of a magnetic field detected by the RF reception coil constituting the coil unit. Accordingly, the detection efficiency of an RF coil can be increased and an image with a high SNR can be obtained.

Abstract: To calculate a high-resolution coil sensitivity distribution that does not depend on a shape or a structure of a subject with high accuracy. An MRI apparatus of the invention includes: a measurement unit that includes a reception coil including a plurality of channels, a measurement unit that measures a nuclear magnetic resonance signal of a subject for every channel of the reception coil; and an image computation unit that creates an image of the subject by using a sensitivity distribution for every channel of the reception coil, and a channel image obtained from the nuclear magnetic resonance signal measured by the measurement unit for every channel. The image computation unit includes a sensitivity distribution calculation unit that calculates a sensitivity distribution on a k-space for every channel by using the channel images and a composite image obtained by combining the channel images.

Abstract: A medical image diagnosis supporting apparatus includes a quantitative value reception unit that receives data of kinds of quantitative values obtained in advance at points in a region of a subject; a variable conversion unit that calculates kinds of intermediate information values dependent on the kinds of quantitative values at each of the points using the kinds of quantitative values at each of the points and kinds of variable conversion functions; and a diagnosis image calculation unit that calculates a diagnosis image for the region. The diagnosis image calculation unit sets a pixel value at each of the points in accordance with a combination of kinds of intermediate information values obtained at each of the points by the variable conversion unit or a combination of intermediate information values and kinds of quantitative values at the point and generates the diagnosis image.