Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (600) for generating information indicative of an MR response to an oxygen breathing challenge, the MRI (600) system comprising at least one controller (610) which is configured to define a reference region (302) within a region of interest (ROI) (300 A) of reconstructed MR image information (300) including a plurality of voxels, the reference region (302) comprising a plurality of reference voxels selected from the plurality of voxels, each of the plurality of voxels having associated ?R2* and ?R1 values; select a cluster of voxels comprising voxels from at least the reference voxels from a multiparametric ?R2* and ?R1 mapping of the plurality of voxels; determine AR2* and AR\ limit points based upon at least minimum ?R2* and ?R1 values of voxels of the cluster of voxels; and determine outlier voxels (115) based upon a comparison of ?R2* and ?R1 of at least one of the plurality of voxels with respective values of the ?R2* and ?R1 limit points.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, system (200) for acquiring magnetic resonance data from a target volume in a subject (218), the MRI system (200) comprising a memory (236) for storing machine executable instructions; and a processor (230) for controlling the MRI system (200), wherein execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor (230) to use a first MRI sequence (401) containing a first selective RF pulse (413) followed by a first excitation RF pulse (415) to control the MRI system (200) to selectively excite and saturate exchangeable amide protons within a first frequency range in the target volume; irradiate said target volume with the first excitation RF pulse (415) that is adapted to excite bulk water protons in the target volume; and acquire first magnetic resonance imaging data from the target volume in response to the first excitation RF pulse (415); use a second MRI sequence (403) containing a second selective RF pulse (423) followed by a seco

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (1) includes at least one processor (28) configured to receive (48) diffusion weighted imaging data based on a diffusion weighted imaging sequence with magnetic gradient fields applied in different directions and with different b-values. The at least one processor (28) is further configured to detect (50) motion corrupted data present in the received imaging data based on a comparison of data redundant in the received data, and substitute (52) alternative data for detected motion corrupted data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system (600) for generating information indicative of an MR response to an oxygen breathing challenge, the MRI (600) system comprising at least one controller (610) which is configured to define a reference region (302) within a region of interest (ROI) (300 A) of reconstructed MR image information (300) including a plurality of voxels, the reference region (302) comprising a plurality of reference voxels selected from the plurality of voxels, each of the plurality of voxels having associated ?R2* and ?R1 values; select a cluster of voxels comprising voxels from at least the reference voxels from a multiparametric ?R2* and ?R1 mapping of the plurality of voxels; determine AR2* and AR\ limit points based upon at least minimum ?R2* and ?R1 values of voxels of the cluster of voxels; and determine outlier voxels (115) based upon a comparison of ?R2* and ?R1 of at least one of the plurality of voxels with respective values of the ?R2* and ?R1 limit points.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of CEST or APT MR imaging of at least a portion of a body (10) placed in a main magnetic field B0 within the examination volume of a MR device. The method of the invention comprises the following steps: •a) subjecting the portion of the body (10) to a saturation RF pulse at a saturation frequency offset; •b) subjecting the portion of the body (10) to an imaging sequence comprising at least one excitation/refocusing RF pulse and switched magnetic field gradients, whereby MR signals are acquired from the portion of the body (10) as spin echo signals; •c) repeating steps a) and b) two or more times, wherein the saturation frequency offset and/or a echo time shift in the imaging sequence are varied, such that a different combination of saturation frequency offset and echo time shift is applied in two or more of the repetitions; •d) reconstructing a MR image and/or B0 field homogeneity corrected APT/CEST images from the acquired MR signals.

Abstract: A dual- or multi-resonant RF/MR transmit and/or receive antenna (1, 2) especially in the form of a planar antenna or a volume array antenna (also called antenna array) is disclosed for MR image generation of at least two different nuclei like e.g. 1H, 19F, 3He, 13C, 23Na or other nuclei having different Larmor frequencies. Basically, the antenna is coupled by means of an inductive coupling device (LI) with related transmit/receive channels (T/R). By such an inductive coupling, the tuning and matching of the antenna at the different resonant frequencies is easier to be obtained than in case of a galvanic connection. Further, the invention relates to an MR imaging apparatus comprising such a dual- or multi-resonant RF/MR transmit and/or receive antenna.

Abstract: A medical imaging system (5) includes a workstation (20), a coarse segmenter (30), a fine segmenter (32), and an enclosed tissue identification module (34). The workstation (20) includes at least one input device (22) for receiving a selected location as a seed in a first contrasted tissue type and a display device (26) which displays a diagnostic image delineating a first segmented region of a first tissue type and a second segmented region of a second contrasted tissue type and identified regions which include regions fully enclosed by the first segmented region as a third tissue type. The coarse segmenter (30) grows a coarse segmented region of coarse voxels for each contrasted tissue type from the seed location based on a first growing algorithm and a growing fraction for each contrasted tissue type.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of a moving portion of a body (10), the method comprising the steps of: detecting a motion ms signal (MS) from the body (10) while continuously subjecting the portion of the body (10) to one or more preparation RF pulses; subjecting the portion of the body (10) to an imaging sequence comprising at least one excitation RF pulse and switched magnetic field gradients, wherein the imaging sequence is triggered by the detected motion signal (MS); acquiring MR signals from the portion of the body (10); and reconstructing a MR image from the acquired MR signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of at least a portion of a body (10) of a patient placed in an examination volume of a MR device (1), the method comprising the steps of: subjecting the portion of the body (10) to a first imaging sequence for acquiring a first signal data set (21); subjecting the portion of the body (10) to a second imaging sequence for acquiring a second signal data set (23), wherein the imaging parameters of the second imaging sequence differ from the imaging parameters of the first imaging sequence; reconstructing a MR image from the second signal data set (23) by means of regularization using the first signal data set (21) as prior information. Moreover, the invention relates to a MR device (1) and to a computer program for a MR device (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of at least a portion of a body (110) of a patient placed in an examination volume of a MR device, the method comprising the steps of:—subjecting the portion of the body (110) to an imaging sequence comprising at least one RF pulse, the RF pulse being transmitted toward the portion of the body (110) via a RF coil arrangement (109) to which RF signals are supplied by two or more RF power amplifiers the RF power amplifiers being activated alternately during the imaging sequence in a time-multiplexed fashion, wherein the imaging sequence requires a RF duty cycle and/or a RF pulse duration exceeding the specification of at least one of the RF power amplifiers;—acquiring MR signals from the portion of the body (110); and—reconstructing a MR image from the acquired MR signals. Moreover, the invention relates to a method of MR spectroscopy involving the alternating use of RF power amplifiers in a time-multiplexed fashion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dynamic nuclear polarization apparatus (116) for continuous provision of hyperpolarized samples (114) comprising dynamically nuclear polarized nuclear spins, the apparatus (116) comprising a polarization region (106) for polarization of said nuclear spins resulting in said hyperpolarized samples, wherein the apparatus (116) further comprises: a cryostat (102) for cooling the samples (114) in the polarization region (106), a magnet (100) for providing a magnetic field to the cooled samples in the polarization region (106), a radiation source (112) for concurrently to the magnetic field provision providing a nuclear polarizing radiation to the polarization region (106) for receiving the hyperpolarized samples, a sample transport system (104) for continuously receiving unpolarized samples (114), transporting the unpolarized samples to the polarization region (106) for nuclear spin polarization and providing the resulting hyperpolarized samples (114).

Abstract: A dispenser (132), a magnetic resonance imaging system (100), and a method for using hyperpolarized contrast agent (304) during a magnetic resonance imaging examination. The dispenser comprises an attachment component (136) for a face piece (138). The face piece is adapted for receiving the surface of a subject (114) such that when the subject inhales hyperpolarized contrast agent enters the respiratory system of the subject. The dispenser further comprises a reservoir (300) adapted for receiving the hyperpolarized contrast agent. The dispenser further comprises a gas flow (406) tube connected to the attachment component and a vaporizer (406, 408, 412, 510, 602, 606) for vaporizing the hyperpolarized contrast agent in the gas flow tube into a hyperpolarized vapor. The dispenser further comprises a controller (402) for controlling when the vaporizer vaporizes the hyperpolarized contrast agent.

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: Described are drug carriers useful in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided drug release comprising a shell capable of releasing an enclosed biologically active agent as a result of a local stimulus, e.g. energy input, such as heat, wherein the shell encloses a 19F MR contrast agent. Preferably, the carrier also acts as a contrast enhancement agent for MRI based on the principle of Chemical Exchange-dependent Saturation Transfer (CEST). To this end the shell encloses a cavity that comprises a paramagnetic chemical shift reagent, a pool of proton analytes, and the 19F contrast agent, and wherein the shell allows diffusion of the proton analytes.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance examination system comprises displaceable carrier for supporting an object to be examined. The carrier can be moved over a two dimensional area. The magnetic resonance examination system is configured to acquire sets of magnetic resonance signals from the object for various positions of the carrier in the two dimensional area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of automatically acquiring magnetic resonance (MR) image data (500; 504) of an object located on a support (140), the support (140) being adapted to be moved to an image acquisition region of an MRI apparatus, the method comprising: specifying an area of interest (510) to be detected by the MRI apparatus, automatically moving of the support (140) in the direction towards the image acquisition region, automatically acquiring of first MR image data (500; 504) with a first resolution for identification of the area of interest (510) in the acquired image data (500; 504), automatically acquiring of second MR image data of the identified area of interest (510) with a second resolution, wherein the first resolution is lower than the second resolution.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for acquiring MR images (200-216) of an object, said object comprising at least first and second kinds of nuclei, the method comprising: acquiring (300; 304) first MR image data (200; 202; 204) of the object, wherein the first nuclei are excited, acquiring (302) second MR image data (206-216) of the object, wherein the second nuclei are excited, analyzing the first MR image data (200; 202; 204) determining motion parameters describing a motion of the object based on said analysis, motion correcting the first and/or second MR image data (206-216) using said motion parameters.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance examination system has an object carrier (14) to move an object to be examined relative to the field of view. A monitoring system (33) monitors examination circumstances under which magnetic resonance signals are acquired from the object within the field of view. In particular the monitoring system monitors the degree of physiological motion in the patient to be examined. A velocity control system (32) to control the velocity of the movement of the object relative to the field of view and to control the velocity on the basis of the monitored examination circumstances, i.e. the degree of physiological motion.

Abstract: A continuous moving table magnetic resonance imaging method is proposed where a ‘lateral’ read out is performed that is transverse to the direction of motion. This magnetic resonance imaging method for imaging a moving object includes spatially selective RF excitations are applied for respective phase-encodings. The sub-volume is excited by the spatially selective RF excitation moves with the motion of the object for respective subsets of primary phase-encodings. Acquisition of magnetic resonance signals is performed from a three-dimensional sub-volume of the object. The magnetic resonance signals are read encoded in a direction transverse to the direction of motion of the object and phase-encoded in at least the direction of motion of the object.

Abstract: During continuous moving of an imaging subject (12) through a scanner field of view (20), k-space data are acquired using a plurality of radio frequency coils (24, 26). The acquiring includes undersampling of k-space in at least one undersampled direction. A weighted transform (62) from k-space to real space is defined for at least one undersampled direction. The weighted transform incorporates patient position-dependent coil sensitivity weighting factors and a Fourier transform. The acquired k-space data are hybrid transformed along the direction of continuous moving to define hybrid space data having a real space dimension in the transformed direction of continuous moving and a k-space dimension in a transverse direction that is transverse to the direction of continuous moving. The hybrid space data are transformed along the transverse direction to generate a reconstructed image.