Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) location surveillance system (10) for determining access to a room (12) containing an MRI device (14) which includes a superconducting magnet and images subjects includes at least one video camera (26) positioned to view an entrance (26) to the room containing the MRI device (14), a recognize unit (36) in communication with the at least one video camera, a classify unit (37), and an authorize unit (38). The at least one video camera (26) images objects and persons approaching the entrance (16). The recognize unit (36) receives the imaged objects and persons, and recognizes each imaged object and each imaged person. The classify unit (37) classifies each recognized object (24) and each recognized person (22) according to MRI safety. The authorize unit (38) determines access to the room (14) containing the MRI device (14) based on each classified object and each classified person.

Abstract: A light data communication link device (50) for use in a magnetic resonance examination system (10) comprises a first light emitter and receiver unit (52) and a second light emitter and receiver unit (76). A light generating member (54), a first optical waveguide (62) and a light diffuser (58) of the first light emitter and receiver unit (52), a distance in space between the light diffuser (58) and a converging lens (84) of the second light emitter and receiver unit (76), and the converging lens (84), a second optical waveguide (88) and a light receiving member (80) of the second light emitter and receiver unit (76) form a first optical pathway (90) for data communication.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging radio frequency-receiver (112; 216; 308; 404), the receiver (112; 216; 308; 404) being adapted to receive analog signals from at least one radio frequency receiver coil unit (106; 200; 202; 300; 400; 402), the radio frequency receiver (112; 216; 308; 404) comprising: an analog-digital converter (118; 226) to convert the analog pre-amplified magnetic resonance signal into a digital signal, means (120; 230) for digital down converting the digital signal and a first communication interface (130; 252) adapted for transmitting the down converted digital signal via a communication link (e.g. wireless, optical or wire-bound).

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 present invention provides a method for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of an area (144) of a subject of interest (120), comprising the steps of issuing a breath-hold command to the subject of interest (120), performing motion detection of the subject of interest (120) to detect a breath-hold condition in the area (144) of the subject of interest (120), upon detection of the breath-hold condition in the area (144) of the subject of interest (120), performing k-space (154) sampling of the area (144) of the subject of interest (120) with a given resolution, processing the k-space (154) samples covering the area (144) of the subject of interest (120) to obtain a MR image of the area (144) of the subject of interest (120).

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) location surveillance system (10) for determining access to a room (12) containing an MRI device (14) which includes a superconducting magnet and images subjects includes at least one video camera (26) positioned to view an entrance (26) to the room containing the MRI device (14), a recognize unit (36) in communication with the at least one video camera, a classify unit (37), and an authorize unit (38). The at least one video camera (26) images objects and persons approaching the entrance (16). The recognize unit (36) receives the imaged objects and persons, and recognizes each imaged object and each imaged person. The classify unit (37) classifies each recognized object (24) and each recognized person (22) according to MRI safety. The authorize unit (38) determines access to the room (14) containing the MRI device (14) based on each classified object and each classified person.

Abstract: The present invention provides a safety monitoring device (10) for detecting radio frequency resonances in a subject of interest (12) comprising an essentially tubular examination space (14), which is vertically arranged, for locating therein the subject of interest (12), an radio frequency resonance device (16), which has at least one connection port (21), for covering at least a part of the examination space (14) along its longitudinal axis, a rotation device (22) for rotating the radio frequency resonance device (16) relative to the subject of interest (12), a controlling device (30) for controlling the rotation of the radio frequency resonance device (16), and a detection device (34) for monitoring an impedance of the at least one connection port (21) of the radio frequency resonance device (16) during the rotation and detecting radio frequency resonances out of the monitored impedance of the at least one connection port (21) of the radio frequency resonance device (16).

Abstract: Combined use is made of image values at corresponding image locations defined by amide proton transfer MRI image data and 18F-FLT, 11C-MET, or 18F-FDG PET image data. The combined use may include computing multimodal heterogeneity for combined PET and amide proton transfer MRI image values, using PET image data to distinguish different image locations during processing and/or display of amide proton transfer image data, and tissue classification based on combinations of values derived from the amide proton transfer MRI and/or PET images.

Abstract: An magnetic resonance examination system for examination of an object comprises an RF system to generate an RF transmission field and gradient system to generate temporary magnet gradient fields. A control module includes a sequence controller to control the RF system and the gradient system to produce acquisition sequences including RF pulses and magnetic gradient pulses to generate magnetic resonance signals. The sequence controller is configured to produce an detection scan including a steady state gradient echo acquisition sequence to generate steady state gradient echo signals and an RF spoiled echo acquisition sequence to produce RF spoiled echo signals. The control module further including an analysis unit to compare the gradient echo signals to the RF spoiled echo signals and for detection of an instrument in the object from the comparison of the gradient echoes and the RF spoiled echoes.

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 (MRI) system (600) for obtaining magnetic resonance (MR) images of a volume. The MRI system may include at least one controller (610) which may be configured to perform a preparation scan (103, 301) to acquire preparation echo phase information (105, PEPI) for a plurality of dynamics of a scan (300); output a plurality of pulse sequences (200) each of which is configured for a corresponding dynamic of the plurality of dynamics of the scan and comprises a navigator sequence (204) and an image sequence (206); acquire navigation and image information (111, 117) for each corresponding pulse sequence of the plurality of pulse sequences; and/or form corrected image information (125) by correcting echo phase information of the image information in accordance with the preparation echo phase information, correcting at least one of gradient delay and frequency offset of the image information in accordance with the navigation information.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided for producing a nuclear hyperpolarized contrast agent. The dispenser comprises a chamber to receive a compound. A photonic hyperpolarization system generates an OAM-photonic beam endowed with orbital angular momentum and is arranged to direct the OAM-photonic beam into the chamber so as to generate nuclear hyperpolarization in the compound. The chamber has an output over which the hyperpolarized compound can be issued. Since the hyperpolarization is generated ex-vivo, the penetration depth of the OAM-photonic beam in biological tissue is irrelevant for the present invention.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus (1) for magnetic resonance (MR) examination of a subject (S), comprising: an examination region (3) for accommodating the subject (S) during the MR examination; a radio-frequency system (5) for transmission of a radio-frequency (RF) signal or field into the examination region (3) during the MR examination; and a temperature control system (6) for controlling the temperature of the subject (S) in the examination region (3) during the examination. The temperature control system (6) is configured to actively control or regulate an environment of the subject (S), and thereby the temperature or thermal comformt of the subject (S) based upon a detected and/or an expected temperature of the subject (S) during the MR examination.

Abstract: A method for acquiring image data from a patient with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The proposed method comprises the steps of: a) predefining a number of scan geometries for acquiring the image data from at least one region of interest (ROI) relative to the patient, b) performing at least one scan for acquiring the image data in accordance with at least one of the predefined scan geometries, c) analysing in the image data a position of the region of interest to detect a deviation from the at least one predefined scan geometry, d) changing the at least one predefined scan geometry if said deviation exceeds a predetermined threshold value, and e) repeating steps b) to d) until a predetermined number of scans has been performed. Thus, by means of the proposed method the utility of such predefined scan geometries is greatly enhanced.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (10) includes a local coil (40) for receiving a resonance signal induced by a whole body quadrature coil (32). The local coil (40) includes a dielectric former (68) in which a plurality of receive coils (60, 74, 76, 78) and a passive B0 and B1 field shim (62, 82) are mounted. The passive shim includes a plurality of capacitively coupled elements (64) of an electrically conductive diamagnetic, paramagnetic, ferromagnetic material which passively shield and enhance the field in local regions. A surface configuration of the elements is tailored to optimize local B1 homogeneity and a mass of the elements is configured to optimize local B0 field homogeneity.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising—an imaging component for acquiring magnetic resonance images;—a storage component for storing the magnetic resonance images in a stack;—a sorting component for sorting the magnetic resonance images in the stack using machine defined meta information of the images; and—an interface for reading the ordered stack.

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: A therapeutic apparatus (100) comprising: a radio therapy apparatus (102) for treating a target zone (146) of a subject (144), wherein the radio therapy apparatus comprises a radio therapy source (110) for generating electromagnetic radiation (114), wherein the radio therapy apparatus is adapted for rotating the radio therapy source about a rotational point (116); a mechanical actuator (104) for supporting the radio therapy apparatus and for moving the position and/or orientation of the rotational point; and a magnetic resonance imaging system (106) for acquiring magnetic resonance data (170) from an imaging zone (138), wherein the target zone is within the imaging zone, wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a magnet (122) for generating a magnetic field within the imaging zone, wherein the radio therapy source is adapted for rotating at least partially about the magnet.

Abstract: A dispenser is provided for producing a nuclear hyperpolarised contrast agent. The dispenser comprises a chamber to receive a compound. A photonic hyperpolarisation system generates an OAM-photonic beam endowed with orbital angular momentum and is arranged to direct the OAM-photonic beam into the chamber so as to generate nuclear hyperpolarisation in the compound. The chamber has an output over which the hyperpolarised compound can be issued. Since the hyperpolarisation is generated ex-vivo, the penetration depth of the OAM-photonic beam in biological tissue is irrelevant for the present invention.

Abstract: An magnetic resonance examination system for examination of an object comprises an RF system to generate an RF transmission field and gradient system to generate temporary magnet gradient fields. A control module includes a sequence controller to control the RF system and the gradient system to produce acquisition sequences including RF pulses and magnetic gradient pulses to generate magnetic resonance signals. The sequence controller is configured to produce an detection scan including a steady state gradient echo acquisition sequence to generate steady state gradient echo signals and an RF spoiled echo acquisition sequence to produce RF spoiled echo signals. The control module further including an analysis unit to compare the gradient echo signals to the RF spoiled echo signals and for detection of an instrument in the object from the comparison of the gradient echoes and the RF spoiled echoes.