Abstract: The present invention relate to a system and associate method of MRI and MR spectroscopy which provide stable measurements of the relaxation times, T1 and T2, by using tailored multi-band RF pulses that direct control of the saturation conditions in the background pool of macro-molecular protons, and hence provide a flexible means to induce constant Magnetisation Transfer (MT) effects. In doing this, equal saturation of the background pool is obtained for all measurements independent of the parameters that may be changed, for example, the rotation rate used to obtain a desired flip angle, that is, the degree of change in the magnetisation of the free pool of protons.

Abstract: The present invention relate to a system and associate method of MRI and MR spectroscopy which provide stable measurements of the relaxation times, T1 and T2, by using tailored multi-band RF pulses that direct control of the saturation conditions in the background pool of macro-molecular protons, and hence provide a flexible means to induce constant Magnetisation Transfer (MT) effects. In doing this, equal saturation of the background pool is obtained for all measurements independent of the parameters that may be changed, for example, the rotation rate used to obtain a desired flip angle, that is, the degree of change in the magnetisation of the free pool of protons.

Abstract: A system is described for detecting fraud from medical imaging data comprising image data and associated metadata. The system comprises input means arranged to receive image data from at least one source, and processing means arranged to analyze the imaging data to determine whether it meets a fraud criterion, and if it does to generate a fraud indicator output.

Abstract: A method of generating an image data set, describing an object, as the object moves in a scanning space, comprises: a) performing a plurality of scans of the scanning space each scan being arranged to generate a set of samples, each sample including a sample value of at least one parameter associated with a respective point in the scanning space, the plurality of scans generating sample sets relating to a plurality of different parameters; b) determining a mapping for each of the samples from the scanning space into an object space which is fixed relative to the object; and c) determining object space values for each of the parameters at each of a plurality of points in the object space.

Abstract: A system for admitting medical imaging data comprising image data and associated metadata comprises input means arranged to received image data from at least one source, a memory having stored therein consistency data defining at least one consistency criterion, and processing means arranged to analyze the imaging data to determined whether it meets the consistency criterion, and if it does not to amend the imaging data so that it does.

Abstract: A system for admitting medical imaging data comprising image data and associated metadata comprises input means arranged to received image data from at least one source, a memory having stored therein consistency data defining at least one consistency criterion, and processing means arranged to analyse the imaging data to determined whether it meets the consistency criterion, and if it does not to amend the imaging data so that it does.

Abstract: A system is described for detecting fraud from medical imaging data comprising image data and associated meta-data. The system comprises input means arranged to receive image data from at least one source, and processing means arranged to analyse the imaging data to determine whether it meets a fraud criterion, and if it does to generate a fraud indicator output.

Abstract: A method of generating an image data set, describing an object, as the object moves in a scanning space, comprises: a) performing a plurality of scans of the scanning space each scan being arranged to generate a set of samples, each sample including a sample value of at least one parameter associated with a respective point in the scanning space, the plurality of scans generating sample sets relating to a plurality of different parameters; b) determining a mapping for each of the samples from the scanning space into an object space which is fixed relative to the object; and c) determining object space values for each of the parameters at each of a plurality of points in the object space.

Abstract: A scanning system comprises a scanner arranged to perform a scan of a subject to generate a scan data set; processing means arranged to receive the scan data set from the scanner, analyse the scan data set to determine whether it meets at least one criterion, and generate an output if it does not.

Abstract: A material having magnetic permeability at r.f. frequency, for example a microstructured magnetic material has a magnetic permeability of negative value but unity magnitude over a particular r.f. frequency range. The singularity in the flux pattern has the result that magnetic resonant disturbances in a plane C,E normal to the line C,D are focussed into a plane D,F also normal to the line C,D and vice versa. This is particularly applicable to magnetic resonance apparatus, since the material can be used to transfer the r.f. magnetic flux distribution in a target region in a patient, for example at C,E to D,F where the flux may be directly measured by receive coils. Equally, transmit coils may generate flux to be focussed into the target region by the material. Magnetic resonance apparatus may be constructed which does not require gradient coils, and r.f. hypothermia may be carried out in a focussed way, minimising damage to surrounding tissue.

Abstract: A material having magnetic permeability at r.f. frequency, for example a microstructured magnetic material has a magnetic permeability of negative value but unity magnitude over a particular r.f. frequency range. The singularity in the flux pattern has the result that magnetic resonant disturbances in a plane C,E normal to the line C,D are focussed into a plane D,F also normal to the line C,D and vice versa. This is particularly applicable to magnetic resonance apparatus, since the material can be used to transfer the r.f. magnetic flux distribution in a target region in a patient, for example at C,E to D,F where the flux may be directly measured by receive coils. Equally, transmit coils may generate flux to be focussed into the target region by the material. Magnetic resonance apparatus may be constructed which does not require gradient coils, and r.f. hypothermia may be carried out in a focussed way, minimising damage to surrounding tissue.

Abstract: In magnetic resonance imaging apparatus employing magnetic gradient fields in a phase-encode and in a read-out direction for spatially encoding excited MR active nuclei in a region of interest of a patient, in which a reduced number of readings in the read-out direction is taken, thereby creating an aliased reduced field of view image, at least two r.f. receive coils are used together with sensitivity information concerning those coils in order to unfold the aliased image to produce a full image while taking advantage of the reduced time of collection of data. In accordance with the invention, sensitivity information is collected at a lower resolution than that at which the image information is collected.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus in which excitation pulses are applied to a restricted region 5 of a magnetic resonance imaging magnet bore, in which the field is uniform, and the data samples collected are Fourier transformed to form a volumetric image of the restricted region, a motor 6 continuously moves a patient couch 3 so that a region of interest passes through the region of good field, and the data samples collected are corrected to compensate for the motion so that a volumetric image is formed of greater length than that of the restricted region.

Abstract: A non-selective inversion pulse is applied to a plurality of slices, r.f. resonance in MR active nuclei is excited in each of those slices individually, and the slice excitation order is cycled so that the time for the non-selective inversion pulse to any particular phase-encode gradient of all the slices is the same, the time of the zero phase-encode gradient corresponding to that for zero signal from cerebro spinal or other moving fluids.

Abstract: In magnetic resonance imaging apparatus employing magnetic gradient fields in a phase-encode direction for spatially encoding excited MR active nuclei in a region of interest of a patient, in which a reduced number of readings in the phase-encode direction is taken, thereby creating an aliased reduced field of view image, a pair of r.f. receive coils is used together with sensitivity information concerning those coils in order to unfold the aliased image to produce a full image while taking advantage of the reduced time of collection of data. In accordance with the invention, the phase sensitivity pattern of each coil over the region of interest is different from that of the other coil.

Abstract: A patient bed (1) of an MR imaging apparatus is provided with a tube (17) through which pre-polarised fluid can be injected into a patient in order to improve contrast when imaging veins, arteries or other vessels in the body. Fluid is delivered from pump (2) into a high field polarising magnet (3) and along a tube (4) to the patient. Valve (5) is provided so that fluid in the tube (4) downstream of the pre-polarised fluid can be discarded rather than being injected in the patient, and is associated with a reservoir into which the fluid to be discarded and the pre-polarised fluid can be rapidly injected. Then, when the pre-polarised fluid is injected into the patient, its magnetisation has not deteriorated by as much as it would have done if the tube (4) had been directly connected into the patient.