Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including a magnetic structure having two opposite and spaced apart poles and a column or wall transverse to the poles and connecting the poles; the poles defining two opposite walls delimiting a patient-imaging space, the two opposite walls extending along substantially parallel planes which are substantially parallel to a vertical plane; and a patient positioning table which is slidably connected to a supporting frame between the two poles; the table being positioned with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the two opposite parallel walls of the poles and the table being oriented with its transverse axis perpendicular to at least one of the two opposite walls.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a magnet having a two poles and a wall connecting the poles; the poles delimiting a patient-imaging space; and a table which is slidably connected to one of the two poles between the two poles and which table extends substantially parallel to the two poles; a drive for displacing the table relative to the magnet; a lock for locking the table in a selected position relative to the magnet; a drive for rotating the magnet about the axis; the table connected to the magnet such that the table rotates with the magnet when the magnet rotates about the axis; the magnet and the table being rotatable from a position in which the poles and the table are horizontal to a position in which the table and the poles are vertical.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a magnet having two poles and a wall connecting the poles; the poles delimiting a patient-imaging space; and a table which is slidably connected to one of the two poles between the two poles and which table extends substantially parallel to the two poles; a drive for displacing the table relative to the magnet; a lock for locking the table in a selected position relative to the magnet; a drive for rotating the magnet about the axis; the table connected to the magnet such that the table rotates with the magnet when the magnet rotates about the axis; the magnet and the table being rotatable from a position in which the poles and the table are horizontal to a position in which the table and the poles are vertical.

Abstract: A method for determining information for a diagnosis of pathologic conditions of the anatomical region of the pelvic floor by MRI imaging includes acquiring a sequence of MRI images along one or more predetermined section planes or inside a predetermined three-dimensional area, which planes intersect or which three-dimensional area contains at least a part of the pelvic floor. The image sequence is acquired for a time interval coinciding with or including at least a part of the length of the physiological process evacuating natural solids or liquids carried out on the basis both of a natural stimulation and an induced stimulation or during a simulation of physiological processes evacuating solids or liquids by introducing foreign bodies or substances simulating natural products.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including a magnetic structure having two opposite and spaced apart poles and a column or wall transverse to the poles and connecting the poles; the poles defining two opposite walls delimiting a patient-imaging space, the two opposite walls extending along substantially parallel planes which are substantially parallel to a vertical plane; and a patient positioning table which is slidably connected to a supporting frame between the two poles; the table being positioned with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the two opposite parallel walls of the poles and the table being oriented with its transverse axis perpendicular to at least one of the two opposite walls.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including a magnetic structure having two opposite and spaced apart poles and a column or wall transverse to the poles and connecting the poles; the poles defining two opposite walls delimiting a patient-imaging space, the two opposite walls extending along substantially parallel planes which are substantially parallel to a vertical plane; and a patient positioning table which is slidably connected to a supporting frame between the two poles; the table being positioned with its longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the two opposite parallel walls of the poles and the table being oriented with its transverse axis perpendicular to at least one of the two opposite walls.

Abstract: An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of patients with limbs, particularly lower limbs, under natural stress, which apparatus includes a magnet structure having an open or closed annular shape, and a predetermined axial extension, which structure delimits a cavity for receiving at least a part of the patient body, with at least two or three open sides, the open sides providing access to the cavity. The open or closed annular magnet structure being disposed with the axis of the open or closed annular shape oriented with at least one vertical directional component and devices being provided for vertical translation of the magnet structure or the patient relative to the magnet structure.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a magnet having a two poles and a wall connecting the poles; the poles delimiting a patient-imaging space; and a table which is slidably connected to one of the two poles between the two poles and which table extends substantially parallel to the two poles; a drive for displacing the table relative to the magnet; a lock for locking the table in a selected position relative to the magnet; a drive for rotating the magnet about the axis; the table connected to the magnet such that the table rotates with the magnet when the magnet rotates about the axis; the magnet and the table being rotatable from a position in which the poles and the table are horizontal to a position in which the table and the poles are vertical.

Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus having an open U- or C-shaped magnet structure, wherein the magnet structure has at least one vertical connection member for joining two horizontal wall members which lie one above the other and are supported in a cantilever fashion and in a predetermined spaced relationship by the vertical member, the vertical member being eccentrically connected to the two wall members at a side edge thereof. The horizontal wall members and the vertical member delimit the upper and lower sides and at least a vertical lateral band of a space for receiving at least one part of a patient body. The horizontal wall members also support means for generating a static magnetic field that permeates the patient receiving space.

Abstract: A combination Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatus and patient table, which apparatus has a magnet structure, defining a cavity for accommodating a part of the body under examination, which is supported by a base block, the patient table and the apparatus having a base block and a supporting structure respectively, that are slidable in at least one, or more directions. The patient table and the Magnetic Resonance imaging apparatus have a mechanism for removable connection therebetween and guide thereof along predetermined relative displacement paths.

Abstract: A magnet structure for an MRI apparatus utilizing a permanent magnet, which apparatus has an inverted U shape with two essentially parallel opposed pole pieces, which are supported at a predetermined distance from each other by an inverted U-shaped magnetic yoke, which pole pieces and/or at least a portion of which yoke delimit a cavity for receiving at least a part of the patient's body, whereas a partial volume is generated in the volume of said cavity, which has such magnetic field values as to provide MRI images of a sufficient quality to enable the use thereof as diagnostic images, i.e. a so-called imaging volume. According to the invention, the distance (D1) between the pole pieces (1, 2) of the magnet structure is of 36 to 42 cm, and the pole pieces (1, 2) have a surface area of 4500 to 5500 cm2. The invention also relates to an MRI imaging apparatus, particularly designed for the spine region, or a part thereof, and which has a magnet structure as described above.

Abstract: A combined apparatus for diagnostic imaging an inner part of a body, the apparatus including at least a device for imaging and displaying images according to at least two types of beams, waves or signals transmitted toward a body or a part of the body to be examined, the device including a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging and displaying device and an ultrasound imaging and displaying device in an integrated configuration within the same apparatus.

Abstract: A combined apparatus for diagnostic imaging an inner part of a body, the apparatus including at least a device for imaging and displaying images according to at least two types of beams, waves or signals transmitted toward a body or a part of the body to be examined, the device including a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance imaging and displaying device and an ultrasound imaging and displaying device in an integrated configuration within the same apparatus.

Abstract: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus having an open U- or C-shaped magnet structure, wherein the magnet structure has at least one vertical connection member for joining two horizontal wall members which lie one above the other and are supported in a cantilever fashion and in a predetermined spaced relationship by the vertical member, the vertical member being eccentrically connected to the two wall members at a side edge thereof. The horizontal wall members and the vertical member delimit the upper and lower sides and at least a vertical lateral band of a space for receiving at least one part of a patient body. The horizontal wall members also support means for generating a static magnetic field that permeates the patient receiving space.

Abstract: A combined imaging apparatus having a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus with at least one transmitting coil for exciting the matter of a body under examination or of a part thereof and at least one coil for receiving the signals transmitted by the body under examination or a part thereof, as well as an electronic unit for processing the received signals to create a diagnostic image and including a device for supporting and/or guiding at least one diagnostic and/or therapeutic tool. The combined apparatus further including an echographic imaging apparatus.

Abstract: Method for displaying MRI images including the following steps: displaying a plurality of different images one after the other obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance image acquisition, each of which images is different with respect to at least a part of the other images due to the fact that the plane of the displayed image corresponds to a different section plane through a body or part thereof under examination having a predetermined different position and/or a predetermined different orientation with respect to the body under examination and to a reference system; and the passage from displaying an image to display a further image is achieved by control means which define the position and/or orientation of different section planes of different images.

Abstract: A method for determining the condition of an animate or inanimate object by magnetic resonance imaging, MRI, particularly for determining the pathologic condition of rheumatoid arthritis (“arthritis rheumatoides”) and carrying out a patient follow-up.

Abstract: An apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of patients with limbs, particularly lower limbs, under natural stress, which apparatus includes a magnet structure having an open or closed annular shape, and a predetermined axial extension, which structure delimits a cavity for receiving at least a part of the patient body, with at least two or three open sides, the open sides providing access to the cavity. The open or closed annular magnet structure being disposed with the axis of the open or closed annular shape oriented with at least one vertical directional component and devices being provided for vertical translation of the magnet structure or the patient relative to the magnet structure.

Abstract: A magnet for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging apparatus, said magnet having at last two, preferably three open sides, and delimiting the patient receiving area, said magnet being composed of three yoke elements, i.e. two parallel magnetically permeable elements and one transverse yoke element for connection of said two parallel elements, whereby said magnet has a C shape and wherein, for both of said parallel elements, the terminal portion associated to said transverse connecting element has a transverse wall for connection of said two parallel elements with the transverse element, which has an end step for engagement of a corresponding end of said transverse element.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining indications helping the diagnosis of orthopedic diseases comprising a section detecting and acquiring signals from a body under examination or from a part thereof wherein the detecting section is a unit detecting images by nuclear magnetic resonance and it is integrated in a section for processing acquired images as regards image data and/or resonance signals, which processing section defines, from image data and/or resonance signals, values of one or more different numerical parameters indicating the presence or absence of an orthopedic disease and/or a measure of the evolution condition of said orthopedic disease. The invention comprises also a method for determining indications helping the diagnosis of orthopedic diseases.