Abstract: A system and method for a non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging technique using a temporal maximum intensity projection reconstructed from multiple temporal subsets of data acquired the acquisition window. The method includes applying a radiofrequency pulse to the subject, waiting a quiescent interval, performing a radial acquisition with a golden-angle view angle increment over a duration corresponding to a cardiac cycle of the subject to generate acquisition data, reconstructing a plurality of images across a plurality of temporal phases from the acquisition data and generating a temporal maximum intensity projection image by tracking an intensity of each pixel across the plurality of images and selecting the pixel having a maximum intensity value across the plurality of images.

Abstract: Systems and methods for recreating images from undersampled MRI image data includes capturing undersampled MRI data and enhancing it with multiple cascading stages, each including a data consistency block in parallel to a convolutional neural network (CNN). The data consistency block adjusts each input image by a sensitivity map and performs hard replacement of acquired lines in k-space into the image. The CNN estimates a regularizer term that attempts to minimize a difference between a true image and the output of the data consistency block. At each stage, the output of CNN and data consistency block are added to create a set of output images that feed into the next stage.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for determining parameter values in voxels of an examination object using magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF), a first signal comparison is made of signal characteristics of established voxel time series with first comparison signal characteristics. Further synthetic comparison signal characteristics are generated from the first comparison signal characteristics and values determined in the first signal comparison. The generated further comparison signal characteristics are used to perform a further signal comparison, with which values of at least a first and a second further parameter are determined. From the further comparison signal characteristics, a value of at least one further parameter is determined that could not necessarily already be determined in the first signal comparison.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a first magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary using fingerprints having a first length. A transformation matrix is also utilized that is configured to shorten the fingerprints to a second length that is shorter than the first length. A second magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary may then be obtained by multiplying the first magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary with the transformation matrix, with the fingerprints of the magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary having the second length. This facilitates the storage of a MRF dictionary that takes up less storage space and decreases the time taken to perform scanning operations.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention teaches methods and related systems for imaging the coronary arteries in high spatiotemporal resolution for the assessment of coronary stenosis. In some embodiments, the method teaches the use of a 3D radial k-space trajectory, continuous acquisition, retrospective cardiac and respiratory self-gating, and non-rigid cardiac and respiratory motion correction to reconstruct any arbitrary cardiac phase with minimal motion artifacts and high image quality.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging utilizing a continuous spoiled gradient echo sequence with 3D radial trajectory and 1D self-gating for respiratory motion detection can be used to characterize respirator motion in the abdomen. The resulting image data is acquired and is retrospectively sorted into different respiratory phases based on their temporal locations within a respiratory cycle, and each phase is reconstructed via a self-calibrating conjugate gradient sensitivity encoding (CG-SENSE) program.

Abstract: A system and method for a non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging technique using a temporal maximum intensity projection reconstructed from multiple temporal subsets of data acquired the acquisition window. The method includes applying a radiofrequency pulse to the subject, waiting a quiescent interval, performing a radial acquisition with a golden-angle view angle increment over a duration corresponding to a cardiac cycle of the subject to generate acquisition data, reconstructing a plurality of images across a plurality of temporal phases from the acquisition data and generating a temporal maximum intensity projection image by tracking an intensity of each pixel across the plurality of images and selecting the pixel having a maximum intensity value across the plurality of images.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present application discloses systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of coronary arteries. In various embodiments, the invention allows for motion corrected, simultaneously acquired multiple contrast weighted images with whole-heart coverage and isotropic high resolution. In some embodiments, the invention teaches using interleaved preparatory pulses, a 3D radial golden angle trajectory and 100% respiratory gating efficiency.

Abstract: A method for performing 3D body imaging includes performing a 3D MRI acquisition of a patient to acquire k-space data and dividing the k-space data into k-space data bins. Each bin includes a portion of the k-space data corresponding to a distinct breathing phase. 3D image sets are reconstructed from the bins, with each 3D image set corresponding to a distinct k-space data bin. For each bin other than a selected reference bin, forward and inverse transforms are calculated between the 3D image set corresponding to the bin and the 3D image set corresponding to the reference bin. Then, a motion corrected and averaged image is generated for each bin by (a) aligning the 3D image set from each other bin to the 3D image set corresponding to the bin using the transforms, and (b) averaging the aligned 3D image sets to yield the motion corrected and averaged image.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for determining parameter values in voxels of an examination object using magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF), a first signal comparison is made of signal characteristics of established voxel time series with first comparison signal characteristics. Further synthetic comparison signal characteristics are generated from the first comparison signal characteristics and values determined in the first signal comparison. The generated further comparison signal characteristics are used to perform a further signal comparison, with which values of at least a first and a second further parameter are determined. From the further comparison signal characteristics, a value of at least one further parameter is determined that could not necessarily already be determined in the first signal comparison.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing a first magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary using fingerprints having a first length. A transformation matrix is also utilized that is configured to shorten the fingerprints to a second length that is shorter than the first length. A second magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary may then be obtained by multiplying the first magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary with the transformation matrix, with the fingerprints of the magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary having the second length. This facilitates the storage of a MRF dictionary that takes up less storage space and decreases the time taken to perform scanning operations.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention teaches methods and related systems for imaging the coronary arteries in high spatiotemporal resolution for the assessment of coronary stenosis. In some embodiments, the method teaches the use of a 3D radial k-space trajectory, continuous acquisition, retrospective cardiac and respiratory self-gating, and non-rigid cardiac and respiratory motion correction to reconstruct any arbitrary cardiac phase with minimal motion artifacts and high image quality.

Abstract: A method for performing 3D body imaging includes performing a 3D MRI acquisition of a patient to acquire k-space data and dividing the k-space data into k-space data bins. Each bin includes a portion of the k-space data corresponding to a distinct breathing phase. 3D image sets are reconstructed from the bins, with each 3D image set corresponding to a distinct k-space data bin. For each bin other than a selected reference bin, forward and inverse transforms are calculated between the 3D image set corresponding to the bin and the 3D image set corresponding to the reference bin. Then, a motion corrected and averaged image is generated for each bin by (a) aligning the 3D image set from each other bin to the 3D image set corresponding to the bin using the transforms, and (b) averaging the aligned 3D image sets to yield the motion corrected and averaged image.

Abstract: The present invention teaches systems and methods for a simple cardiac MRI approach that (1) continuously acquires data; (2) covers the entire heart with high isotropic resolution within a few minutes; and (3) requires no physiological gating and minimal user intervention. Applications of the inventive systems and methods include, but are in no way limited to cardiac cine, myocardial perfusion, coronary MRA, delayed enhancement imaging, myocardial T1-weighted imaging for fibrosis imaging, and myocardial T2-weighted imaging for edema imaging.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present application discloses systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of coronary arteries. In various embodiments, the invention allows for motion corrected, simultaneously acquired multiple contrast weighted images with whole-heart coverage and isotropic high resolution. In some embodiments, the invention teaches using interleaved preparatory pulses, a 3D radial golden angle trajectory and 100% respiratory gating efficiency.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present application discloses utilizing a continuous spoiled gradient echo sequence with 3D radial trajectory and 1D self-gating for respiratory motion detection. In certain embodiments, data acquired are retrospectively sorted into different respiratory phases based on their temporal locations within a respiratory cycle, and each phase is reconstructed via a self-calibrating CG-SENSE program.

Abstract: The present invention teaches systems and methods for a simple cardiac MRI approach that (1) continuously acquires data; (2) covers the entire heart with high isotropic resolution within a few minutes; and (3) requires no physiological gating and minimal user intervention. Applications of the inventive systems and methods include, but are in no way limited to cardiac cine, myocardial perfusion, coronary MRA, delayed enhancement imaging, myocardial T1-weighted imaging for fibrosis imaging, and myocardial T2-weighted imaging for edema imaging.