Abstract: A magnetic field within a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (300) is measured. The MR system includes a magnet (304) with an imaging zone (308), a radio-frequency transceiver (316), and a magnetic field probe (322) located within the imaging zone. The magnetic field probe includes a fluorine sample (404) including any one of the following: a fluoroelastomer (700), a fluorine containing ionic liquid (600), and a solution of a fluorine containing compound. The field probe further includes an antenna (406) for manipulating the magnetic spins of the fluorine sample and for receiving fluorine magnetic resonance data from the fluorine sample. The antenna is connected to the radio-frequency transceiver. The method includes acquiring (100, 200) the fluorine magnetic resonance data using the magnetic resonance imaging system and calculating (102, 206) a magnetic field strength (344) using the fluorine magnetic resonance data.

Abstract: A coffee machine (1) for providing coffee brew with reduced caffeine content is disclosed. The coffee machine (1) comprises a mixer (8) for mixing coffee grind (19) and a caffeine-reducing additive (20), the mixer having a coffee inlet (14) for receiving the coffee grind (19), an additive inlet (18) for receiving the caffeine-reducing additive (20), and a mixer outlet (21) for providing a mixture (22) of coffee grind and additive, and a brewing unit (5) for brewing the mixture (22) of coffee grind and additive, the brewing unit (5) having a brewing unit inlet (23) and a brewing unit outlet (24) for providing coffee brew, wherein the brewing unit inlet (23) of the brewing unit (5) is connected to the mixer outlet (21) of the mixer (8) for receiving the mixture (22) of coffee grind and additive. Furthermore, a corresponding method and a replaceable cartridge containing a caffeine-reducing additive are presented.

Abstract: A method of measuring a magnetic field within a magnetic resonance imaging system (300) comprising a magnet (304) with an imaging zone (308) and a radio-frequency transceiver (316). The magnetic resonance imaging system further comprises a magnetic field probe (322) located within the imaging zone. The magnetic field probe comprises a fluorine sample (404) comprising any one of the following: a fluoroelastomer (700), a fluorine containing ionic liquid (600), and a solution of a fluorine containing compound. The field probe further comprises an antenna (406) for manipulating the magnetic spins of the fluorine sample and for receiving fluorine magnetic resonance data from the fluorine sample. The antenna is connected to the radio-frequency transceiver. The method comprises the steps of acquiring (100, 200) the fluorine magnetic resonance data using the magnetic resonance imaging system; and calculating (102, 206) a magnetic field strength (344) using the fluorine magnetic resonance data.

Abstract: The invention provides MRI contrast agents which provide a high sensitivity and which have an optimised body retention time. These agents enable the mapping of the local pH, temperature, oxygen concentration or other metabolites in a patient's body by the use of Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST). Particularly pH and temperature mapping are useful for the detection of small cancer lesions and localized inflammation respectively.

Abstract: A method for MRI imaging to obtain information about a local physiochemical parameter after administration to a patient of a contrast agent including at least one non-responsive contrast enhancing entity that does not occur naturally in a human body and at least one responsive contrast enhancing entity attached to or mixed with the non-responsive contrast enhancing entity. By using such non-responsive contrast enhancing entities, a value for the physicochemical parameter can be obtained by acquiring only three images, providing a method which will be easier to apply in a clinical routine, since it will be faster and less sensitive to motion or flow artifacts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method MRI imaging. By applying a time modulation to the contrast enhancement of an MRI contrast agent, the method according to the invention leads to images with improved signal-to-noise ratio in the contrast-enhanced areas, strongly suppressed unwanted signal in the unenhanced areas, and reduced artefacts, such as motion artefacts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of at least a portion of a body of a patient placed in an examination volume of an MR device. The object of the invention is to improve CEST contrast enhanced imaging. The method of the invention comprises the following steps: a) saturation of nuclear magnetization of exchangeable protons of a CEST contrast agent administered to the patient by subjecting the portion of the body to at least one frequency-selective saturation RF pulse matched to the MR frequency of exchangeable protons of the CEST contrast agent, wherein the saturation period, i.e.

Abstract: A method for mapping a physico-chemical parameter using a chemical exchange saturation transfer contrast agent in Magnetic Resonance Imaging is used with agents having only one exchangeable entity pool, e.g. proton pool, by applying two different RF frequencies for pre-saturation of the contrast agent.

Abstract: In magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based on chemical exchange-dependent saturation transfer (CEST), a novel carrier for CEST contrast agents is provided. The carrier is non-spherical and comprises a semipermeable shell, wherein the shell comprises a paramagnetic compound. The shell encloses a cavitycomprising an MR analyte, wherein the semipermeable shell allows diffusion of the MR analyte. The CEST effect is based on the 5 bulk magnetic susceptibility effect caused by the anisotropy of the carrier. This leads to a versatile carrier that does not require interaction of the analyte with a paramgnetic chemical shift reagent.

Abstract: Described are Chemical Exchange-dependent Saturation Transfer (CEST) contrast agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) comprising a polymersome provided with a paramagnetic agent. The polymersome preferably comprises a polymeric shell enclosing a cavity, wherein the cavity comprises a pool of proton analytes, and wherein the shell allows diffusion of the proton analytes. The polymersome-based CEST MRI contrast agents are suitable as drug carriers useful in MRI-guided drug release.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance monitoring of a target (30) uses the detected magnetic resonance to determine movement such as diffusion of contrast agent relative to the object, and uses the movement to discriminate (50, 60) a part of the contrast agent which is bound to the target, from the rest of the contrast agent. The need for clearing agents can be avoided or reduced, and hence imaging is instantaneous. A “stationary spin map” of the object can be formed by comparing the movements in the different directions, and determining if the differences between them are less than a given threshold. Determining isotropic movement in this way for a number of locations on the object allows the map to be generated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for MRI imaging to obtain information about a local physiochemical parameter after administration to a patient of a contrast agent comprising at least one non-responsive contrast enhancing entity that does not occur naturally in a human body and at least one responsive contrast enhancing entity attached to or mixed with the non-responsive contrast enhancing entity. By using such non-responsive contrast enhancing entities, a value for the physicochemical parameter can be obtained by acquiring only three images through which the method according to the present invention will be easier to apply in clinical routine since it will be faster and less sensitive to motion or flow artefacts.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance monitoring of a target (30) uses the detected magnetic resonance to determine movement such as diffusion of contrast agent relative to the object, and uses the movement to discriminate (50, 60) a part of the contrast agent which is bound to the target, from the rest of the contrast agent. The need for clearing agents can be avoided or reduced, and hence imaging is instantaneous. A “stationary spin map” of the object can be formed by comparing the movements in the different directions, and determining if the differences between them are less than a given threshold. Determining isotropic movement in this way for a number of locations on the object allows the map to be generated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method MRI imaging. By applying a time modulation to the contrast enhancement of an MRI contrast agent, the method according to the invention leads to images with improved signal-to-noise ratio in the contrast-enhanced areas, strongly suppressed unwanted signal in the unenhanced areas, and reduced artefacts, such as motion artefacts.

Abstract: The invention provides MRI contrast agents which provide a high sensitivity and which have an optimised body retention time. These agents enable the mapping of the local pH, temperature, oxygen concentration or other metabolites in a patient's body by the use of Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST). Particularly pH and temperature mapping are useful for the detection of small cancer lesions and localised inflammation respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for mapping of a physico-chemical parameter such as pH, temperature, pO2 or metabolite concentration using a chemical exchange saturation transfer contrast agent in Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This method is a modification of the known ratiometric method and may be used with agents having only one exchangeable entity pool, e.g. proton pool, by applying two different RF frequencies for pre-saturation of the contrast agent.