Abstract: A system for magnetic resonance imaging an object via a stochastic optimization of a sampling function is provided. The system includes a magnet assembly and a controller. The magnet assembly is operative to acquire MR data from the object. The controller is operative to: acquire a first MR data set using the magnet assembly; select the sampling function from a plurality of sampling function candidates based at least in part on the stochastic optimization; and acquire a second MR data set from the object using the magnet assembly based at least in part on the sampling function.

Abstract: A method for performing wave-encoded magnetic resonance imaging of an object is provided. The method includes applying one or more wave-encoded magnetic gradients to the object, and acquiring MR signals from the object. The method further includes calibrating a wave point-spread function, and reconstructing an image from the MR signals based at least in part on the calibrated wave point-spread function. Calibration of the wave point-spread function is based at least in part on one or more intermediate images generated from the MR signals.

Abstract: A method for performing spectroscopy using an interleaved readout for at least two species. A B0 field is applied. A first spatial-spectral (SPSP) position resolved spectroscopy sequence (PRESS) excitation with a sufficiently narrow band to excite a first species without exciting a second species is applied. A first readout that measures the first species is performed. A second SPSP PRESS excitation with a sufficiently narrow band to excite the second species without exciting the first species is applied. A second readout that measures the second species is performed.

Abstract: A manifestation of the invention provides a method for slice selective excitation for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A B0 field is applied. A STABLE pulse comprising of a BIR-4 envelope sampled by a plurality of subpulses with a duration is applied, where amplitude and frequency modulation functions of the BIR-4 envelope are slowly varying with respect to the duration of the subpulses. A portion of k-space is read out to obtain k-space data. The STABLE pulse and readout are repeated until sufficient k-space has been acquired. A Fourier Transform of the k-space data is taken.

Abstract: A manifestation of the invention provides a method for slice selective excitation for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A B0 field is applied. A STABLE pulse comprising of a BIR-4 envelope sampled by a plurality of subpulses with a duration is applied, where amplitude and frequency modulation functions of the BIR-4 envelope are slowly varying with respect to the duration of the subpulses. A portion of k-space is read out to obtain k-space data. The STABLE pulse and readout are repeated until sufficient k-space has been acquired. A Fourier Transform of the k-space data is taken.

Abstract: A method for performing spectroscopy using an interleaved readout for at least two species. A B0 field is applied. A first spatial-spectral (SPSP) position resolved spectroscopy sequence (PRESS) excitation with a sufficiently narrow band to excite a first species without exciting a second species is applied. A first readout that measures the first species is performed. A second SPSP PRESS excitation with a sufficiently narrow band to excite the second species without exciting the first species is applied. A second readout that measures the second species is performed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating T1-weighted images are provided. The method includes acquiring a pair of single-shot fast-spin-echo (SSFSE) images S1 and S2. The method further includes generating a T1-weighted image ST1w based on S1 and S2.

Abstract: In imaging a first species having a short T2 magnetic resonance parameter in the presence of a second and third species having longer T2 parameters, a method of suppressing signals from the longer T2 species comprises the steps of: a) applying a RF saturation pulse with multiple suppression bands for the second and third species to excite nuclei spins of the longer T2 species with the magnitude of the RF pulse being sufficiently low so as not to excite nuclei spins of the short T2 species, the RF saturation pulse being sufficiently long to rotate the longer T2 species nuclei spins into a transverse plane, and b) dephasing the longer T2 species nuclei spins in the transverse plane. An imaging pulse sequence is then applied to image the short T2 species.

Abstract: Banding artifacts in steady state free precession (SSFP) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are reduced by acquiring and combining multiple SSFP images in an augmented matrix where an acquisition vector in k-space is equal to a Fourier matrix of the trajectory on a known distortion operator for each trajectory in k-space.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system includes capabilities for receiving suspect item definitions (e.g. item serial numbers, lot numbers, operation identifiers, date ranges, etc.) into a computer database, detecting item identifiers in a manufacturing or assembly process, and comparing the item identifiers with the suspect item definitions. If the detected item identifier falls within one of the suspect item definitions, the item is automatically isolated or otherwise rejected from manufacturing or assembly process. Other aspects of the invention include functionality for determining the location of suspect items. Locations may be inferred and off-site. Another aspect includes automatically modifying the manufacturing or assembly process to bypass one or more suspect manufacturing or assembly operations. A plurality of user interfaces are provided for defining, locating and managing suspect items.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging utilizes view angle tilting to correct for in-plane distortions with each RF excitation pulse being followed by a plurality of signal readouts to reduce image blurring. Each image readout is in the presence of a frequency select gradient (Gx) and a slice select gradient (Gz), and at least the slice select gradient is refocused after each readout of an image signal. Each readout can have a time duration of the main lobe of the RF excitation pulse or the readout can have a higher bandwidth with an increased number of readouts. The combining of multiple readouts diminishes slice profile modulation resulting from Fourier transform.

Abstract: A method for designing non-linear phase 180° spectral-spatial radio frequency pulses that can be used for spectral editing in magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. A novel feature of the pulse is a symmetric sweep developed by the spectral profile from the outside edges of the spectral window towards the middle whereby coupled components are tipped simultaneously and over a short interval. Pulses have been designed for lactate editing at 1.5 T and 3 T. The spectral and spatial spin-echo profiles of the RF pulses can be measured experimentally and altered in an iterative manner. Spectral-spatial radio frequency (SSRF) pulses allow simultaneous selection in both frequency and spatial domains. These pulses are particularly important for clinical and research magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) applications for suppression of large water and lipid resonances.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system includes capabilities for receiving suspect item definitions (e.g. item serial numbers, lot numbers, operation identifiers, date ranges, etc.) into a computer database, detecting item identifiers in a manufacturing or assembly process, and comparing the item identifiers with the suspect item definitions. If the detected item identifier falls within one of the suspect item definitions, the item is automatically isolated or otherwise rejected from manufacturing or assembly process. Other aspects of the invention include functionality for determining the location of suspect items. Locations may be inferred and off-site. Another aspect includes automatically modifying the manufacturing or assembly process to bypass one or more suspect manufacturing or assembly operations. A plurality of user interfaces are provided for defining, locating and managing suspect items.

Abstract: Real-time spatially localized velocity distribution is measured using magnetic resonance techniques by first exciting a region of interest using an RF excitation pulse simultaneously with gradient pulses along two orthogonal axes. A cyclical read-out gradient is then applied along a read-out axis and a magnetic resonance signal is continuously sampled while the read-out gradient is applied. The excitation and read-out is repeated at time intervals to obtain time varying spatially localized velocities within the region of interest.