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: A radio frequency coil comprises: a coil unit (30, 100) including one or more conductive radio frequency receive elements (32, 110) tuned to receive a magnetic resonance signal and an on-board active electronic component (34, 114, 118) operatively coupled with the one or more conductive radio frequency receive elements; and a power coupling element (40, 46, 134, 138, 140) configured to non-conductively receive electrical power from a power delivery element (44, 132, 136) during a magnetic resonance acquisition session to power the on-board active electronic component (114, 118) during the magnetic resonance acquisition session (e.g. wirelessly by inductive coupling or by capacitive coupling). In some embodiments, the power coupling element (134, 138, 140) is a component of the coil unit (102), and the radio frequency coil further comprises a base coil unit (104) including the power delivery element (132, 136) operatively combinable with the coil unit (102) to define an annular coil.

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: 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 analogue 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 analogue-digital converter (118; 226) to convert the analogue 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 present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging system, to a magnetic resonance imaging method for operating a magnetic resonance imaging system and to a computer program for operating a magnetic resonance imaging system.

Abstract: The magnetic resonance apparatus comprises a carrier (8) to position an object (7), notably a patient to be imaged in an imaging volume V, first magnet system (2), a second magnet system (3), a power supply unit (4), an RF transmitter and modulator (6), an RF transmitter coil (5), a plurality of receiver elements (18, 19), a transmitter-receiver circuit (9), a signal amplifier and demodulation unit (10), a processing unit (12), an image processing unit (13), a monitor (14), and a control unit (11). The gradient coils (3) are fed by the power supply unit (4). The RF transmitter coil (5) serves to generate RF magnetic fields and is connected to the RF transmitter and modulator (6). The transmitter coil (5) is connected to the signal amplifier and demodulator unit (10) via the transmitter-receiver circuit (9). Receiver elements (18, 19), positioned at their respective locations L1, L2 on the carrier (8), are arranged to detect a response of the object to the RF magnetic fields.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system comprises an RF-excitation module to generate one of several RF-excitations and a gradient module to generate one of several magnetic gradient pulses, a control unit controls the RF-excitation module and the gradient module and performs an acquisition sequence containing a succession of RF-excitations and gradient pulses. The acquisition sequence comprising several acquisition segments in which magnetic resonance signals are generated, in respective segments different contrast types occur. Individual acquisition segments have one or several repetitive acquisition units, magnetic resonance signals in an individual acquisition unit pertaining to the same contrast type. This approach of acquisition of different contrast type per group of acquisition segments allows optimisation of the acquisition of each of the contrast type independently of the contrast type of other groups of acquisition segments.

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 magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a receiver system to acquire magnetic resonance signals. A control system controls the receiver system to reform an acquisition sequence to acquire the magnetic resonance signals in several acquisition segments. Respective groups of acquisition segments involve acquisition of magnetic resonance signals in different RF-receiver frequency bands. In the respective groups of acquisition segments, magnetic resonance signals are acquired from different nuclei having different gyromagnetic ratios. According to the invention, reconstruction of different types of information carried by the respective nuclei is made possible. For example, imaging of the anatomy of a patient to be examined is performed on the basis of proton magnetic resonance imaging. Imaging of a targeted contrast agent is achieved on the basis of 19F magnetic resonance imaging. Localisation of a invasive device, such as a catheter, is also performed on the basis of e.g. 19F magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: The magnetic resonance apparatus comprises a carrier (8) to position an object (7), notably a patient to be imaged in an imaging volume V, first magnet system (2), a second magnet system (3), a power supply unit (4), an RF transmitter and modulator (6), an RF transmitter coil (5), a plurality of receiver elements (18, 19), a transmitter-receiver circuit (9), a signal amplifier and demodulation unit (10), a processing unit (12), an image processing unit (13), a monitor (14), and a control unit (11). The gradient coils (3) are fed by the power supply unit (4). The RF transmitter coil (5) serves to generate RF magnetic fields and is connected to the RF transmitter and modulator (6). The transmitter coil (5) is connected to the signal amplifier and demodulator unit (10) via the transmitter-receiver circuit (9). Receiver elements (18, 19), positioned at their respective locations L1, L2 on the carrier (8), are arranged to detect a response of the object to the RF magnetic fields.

Abstract: The invention relates to a MRI system and to a method for producing an image with such an system. In order to provide a MR imaging technique with a high efficient MR signal acquisition, which provides a high level of comfort to a patient, a MRI system and method are suggested, where image data from an object are acquired while the object is moving with variable speed relative to the MRI system, and where the image data are combined and an image of the object is reconstructed.

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: In order to provide a magnetic resonance imaging system and method which allows an optimal timing of the imaging sequence at minimal procedure cost, a magnetic resonance imaging system and method is proposed, wherein a first MR scan of a structure of interest is performed for detecting the arrival of a contrast bolus in the structure of interest, the first MR scan using a first resonance frequency corresponding to first MR sensitive nuclei, the first performing step is repeated at least until the bolus arrival in the structure of interest has been detected, and a second MR scan of the structure of interest is performed for acquiring a MR image, the second MR scan using a second resonance frequency corresponding to second MR sensitive nuclei, the second nuclei being different from the first nuclei.

Abstract: A method of deriving a directional structure from an object dataset is proposed. The object dataset assigns local directions to positions in a multidimensional geometrical space. For example the local directions concern local flow directions in a diffusion tensor magnetic resonance image at least one ‘region of interest’ is selected on the basis of spatial functional information, such as an fMRI image, time correlation of an fMRI image series with a functional paradigm or an anatomical image. These ‘region of interest’ are employed to initialize a fibre tracking to derive the directional structure that represents the nervous fibre system.

Abstract: A novel magnetic resonance imaging method is described, for forming an image of an object from a plurality of signals sampled in a restricted homogeneity region of a main magnet field of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. A patient disposed on a table is moved continuously through the bore of the main magnet and spins in a predetermined area of the patient are excited by an excitation pulse from a transmitter antenna, such that an image is formed over a region exceeding largely the restricted region. Data is undersampled in the restricted region by means off at least one receiver antenna in a plurality of receive situations being defined as a block of measurements contiguous in time having preserved magnetisation and presaturation conditions within the excited area of the patient. Fold-over artefacts due to said undersampling are unfolded by means of the known sensitivity pattern of the receiver antenna and/or the properties of selected factors determining said receive situations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging system, to a magnetic resonance imaging method for operating a magnetic resonance imaging system and to a computer program for operating a magnetic resonance imaging system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of perfusion imaging comprising: performing a first magnetic resonance data acquisition (A) at a first sensitivity (b) value, performing a set of at least six second magnetic resonance data acquisitions (B1, B2, . . . B6) with gradiant encodings in different directions at second sensitivity (b) values, determining a perfusion tensor based on the magnetic resonance data acquisitions, performing a perfusion tensor visualitation step.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance imaging method magnetic resonance signal samples are received for a predetermined field of view by a receiving antenna having a spatial sensitivity profile. The sampling in the k space corresponds to the predetermined field of view in the geometrical space. Folded-over images having folded-over pixel values are reconstructed from the sampled magnetic resonance signals. Pixel contributions for spatial positions within the predetermined field of view are calculated from the folded-over pixel values and the spatial sensitivity profile of the receiver antenna. The magnetic resonance image is formed from the pixel contributions for spatial positions within the predetermined field of view. Thus, aliasing or fold-over artefacts caused by a field of view that is too small are avoided.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging method acquires interleaved k-space data from a common 2D region in two or more k-spaces. The k-spaces have a first coordinate axis and a second coordinate axis. The method comprises: a) sampling into a first direction along the first coordinate axis, b) applying a first compensation pulse, c) sampling into a second direction along the first coordinate axis, the second direction being opposite to the first direction, applying a second compensation pulse, d) repetitively carrying out the steps a) to d), e) reconstructig the data sampled in the first direction into a first image with first contract characteristics and data sampled in the second direction into a second image with second contrast characteristics different from the first, and, f) combining the first and second images.

Abstract: In a method for magnetic resonance imaging of at least a portion of a body placed in a stationary and substantially homogeneous main magnetic field, the body is subjected to a sequence of RF and magnetic field gradient pulses during an interval TSE, thereby generating a plurality of spin echo signals, which are measured and processed for reconstruction of an image. Thereafter, during an interval TDRV, an additional spin echo is generated by subjecting the body to at least one further refocusing RF pulse and/or magnetic field gradient pulse, and a RF drive pulse (?X) is irradiated at the time of this additional spin echo. In order to provide a fast and reliable method for T1-weighted imaging, which gives a high T1 contrast and also a sufficient signal-to-noise ratio, the phase of the RF drive pulse (?X) is selected such that nuclear magnetization at the time of the additional spin echo is transformed into negative longitudinal magnetization.