Abstract: A magnetic resonance tomography device and a method for equalized mapping in real time are provided. A first slice and a second slice are captured in three-dimensional (3D) encoding, where the first slice and the second slice are oriented to one another at an angle, and an instrument or trajectory to be mapped lies in an intersecting set of both the first slice and the second slice. A two-dimensional (2D) image may be generated alternately from both the first slice and the second slice and is displayed to a user.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance tomography unit and a method is provided in which a patient couch may be moved in relation to the longitudinal direction into the patient tunnel in the transversal direction into a left-hand side extreme position and an opposite-lying right-hand side extreme position. Using an image acquisition facility in the left-hand side extreme position a right-hand side part is acquired and in the right-hand side extreme position a left-hand side part of the outer contour of the predetermined object is acquired. Using the image acquisition facility, the outer contour of the object is subsequently created from the left-hand side part of the outer contour and also from the right-hand side part of the outer contour.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance tomography unit and a method is provided in which a patient couch may be moved in relation to the longitudinal direction into the patient tunnel in the transversal direction into a left-hand side extreme position and an opposite-lying right-hand side extreme position. Using an image acquisition facility in the left-hand side extreme position a right-hand side part is acquired and in the right-hand side extreme position a left-hand side part of the outer contour of the predetermined object is acquired. Using the image acquisition facility, the outer contour of the object is subsequently created from the left-hand side part of the outer contour and also from the right-hand side part of the outer contour.

Abstract: Systems and methods for taking into account susceptibility deviations in magnetic-resonance-based therapy planning by a magnetic resonance tomography unit. A B0 field map is determined by the magnetic resonance tomography unit. A location blur distribution is determined from the B0 field map and from the location blur distribution in turn, a parameter of an image acquisition as a function of the location blur distribution, in such a way that an image acquisition brings about a reduced location blur with the determined parameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a synthetic electron density map based on at least one MR image dataset and based on at least one soft tissue image structure and one bone image structure determined in the synthetic electron density map. The soft tissue image structure and the bone image structure may be compared with the corresponding structures in the MR image dataset. From a correction of the first soft tissue image structure and/or of the bone image structure is based on the comparison, a corrected synthetic electron density map is determined.

Abstract: In a method and system for planning irradiation of a patient for therapy, a first time series acquired from computed tomography scan data of the patient is provided to a processor, as is a second time series acquired from magnetic resonance scan data of the patient. A first parameter that characterizes the first time series is acquired, as is a second parameter that characterizes the second time series. The first time series and the second time series are combined in the processor using the first parameter and the second parameter. An irradiation plan is calculated in the processor using the combined first time series and second time series.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for determining a synthetic electron density map based on at least one MR image dataset and based on at least one soft tissue image structure and one bone image structure determined in the synthetic electron density map. The soft tissue image structure and the bone image structure may be compared with the corresponding structures in the MR image dataset. From a correction of the first soft tissue image structure and/or of the bone image structure is based on the comparison, a corrected synthetic electron density map is determined.

Abstract: In a method and system for planning irradiation of a patient for therapy, a first time series acquired from computed tomography scan data of the patient is provided to a processor, as is a second time series acquired from magnetic resonance scan data of the patient. A first parameter that characterizes the first time series is acquired, as is a second parameter that characterizes the second time series. The first time series and the second time series are combined in the processor using the first parameter and the second parameter. An irradiation plan is calculated in the processor using the combined first time series and second time series.

Abstract: In a computerized method and apparatus to automatically determine an acquisition volume of an examination region for the acquisition of a magnetic resonance data set, at least one magnetic resonance image data set is acquired that at least partially images an examination region, and the magnetic resonance image data set is processed into at least one magnetic resonance image. The examination region is segmented and at least one envelope enclosing a segment is determined. At least one rectangle including the envelope is determined. The acquisition volume is calculated using the rectangle.

Abstract: A patient positioning table has a transfer plate that is reversibly transferable from the patient positioning table to a table associated with an imaging modality, and a headrest-forming extension component having a fastening section and a supporting section is provided, which can be detachably fastened to fastening devices provided on the transfer plate in exchange for a framework-like head immobilizing fixture, which can be detachably fastened to the same fastening devices.

Abstract: In a method for image guided prostate cancer needle biopsy, a first registration is performed to match a first image of a prostate to a second image of the prostate. Third images of the prostate are acquired and compounded into a three-dimensional (3D) image. The prostate in the compounded 3D image is segmented to show its border. A second registration and then a third registration different from the second registration is performed on distance maps generated from the prostate borders of the first image and the compounded 3D image, wherein the first and second registrations are based on a biomechanical property of the prostate. A region of interest in the first image is mapped to the compounded 3D image or a fourth image of the prostate acquired with the second modality.

Abstract: System and methods are provided for determining temperature with the aid of an intervention apparatus. A reference temperature at a detection location inside the examination object is detected using a reference temperature measuring unit. A relative temperature distribution in a measuring volume, having a spatial position in relation to the detection location of the reference temperature that is known, is detected using a temperature distribution measuring unit. An evaluation unit ascertains an absolute temperature distribution using the reference temperature and the relative temperature distribution.

Abstract: A method and system for fully automatic segmentation the prostate in magnetic resonance (MR) image data is disclosed. Intensity normalization is performed on an MR image of a patient to adjust for global contrast changes between the MR image and other MR scans and to adjust for intensity variation within the MR image due to an endorectal coil used to acquire the MR image. An initial prostate segmentation in the MR image is obtained by aligning a learned statistical shape model of the prostate to the MR image using marginal space learning (MSL). The initial prostate segmentation is refined using one or more trained boundary classifiers.

Abstract: In a method for determining a position of a target region of a patient to be irradiated in an irradiation device, a patient is positioned on a patient positioning device having markers that are visible in magnetic resonance images. A magnetic resonance image data record is acquired showing a target area of the patient containing the target region, together with the markers. The magnetic resonance image data record is evaluated to determine location information describing the three-dimensional position of the target region relative to the markers. The patient positioning device with the unmoved patient is transported to the irradiation device. Target information describing the position of the target region in the irradiation device is determined from marker information indicating the position of the markers in the irradiation device, and the location information.

Abstract: A patient positioning table has a transfer plate that is reversibly transferable from the patient positioning table to a table associated with an imaging modality, and a headrest-forming extension component having a fastening section and a supporting section is provided, which can be detachably fastened to fastening devices provided on the transfer plate in exchange for a framework-like head immobilizing fixture, which can be detachably fastened to the same fastening devices.

Abstract: A coil system for an interventional magnetic resonance examination has at least one penetration template, and at least one radio-frequency coil that has at least one opening therein, with the shape of the at least one opening is matched to the shape of the at least one penetration template so that the at least one penetration template can be integrated into the at least one opening.

Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance device for graphically assisting the navigation of an instrument (in particular a medical instrument such as a needle and/or a guide sleeve guiding a needle) within a procedure region of a target subject (in particular a patient), coordinates of a target position and/or target region to be addressed that are obtained from a high-contrast image data set acquired with the magnetic resonance device. Low-contrast image data showing the instrument are acquired continuously and/or intermittently during the navigation and/or the position and orientation of the instrument is determined (in particular measured) with a position determination device. The low-contrast image later are brought into registration with the magnetic resonance device continuously and/or intermittently during the navigation.

Abstract: A patient support apparatus is provided. The patient support apparatus has a patient table, a movable support plate for supporting a patient, a guide unit, which is designed to guide the support plate along at least one movement direction of the support plate, and a fastening unit for fastening an auxiliary unit to the support plate. The fastening unit has at least one setting unit for setting the position of the auxiliary unit in relation to the support plate in a flexible manner.

Abstract: Automatic prostate localization in T2-weighted MR images facilitate labor-intensive cancer imaging techniques. Methods and systems to accurately segment the prostate gland in MR images are provided and address large variations in prostate anatomy and disease, intensity inhomogeneities, and artifacts induced by endorectal coils. A center of the prostate is automatically detected with a boosted classifier trained on intensity based multi-level Gaussian Mixture Model Expectation Maximization (GMM-EM) segmentations of the raw MR images. A shape model is used in conjunction with Multi-Label Random Walker (MLRW) to constrain the seeding process within MLRW.

Abstract: In a computerized method and apparatus to automatically determine an acquisition volume of an examination region for the acquisition of a magnetic resonance data set, at least one magnetic resonance image data set is acquired that at least partially images an examination region, and the magnetic resonance image data set is processed into at least one magnetic resonance image. The examination region is segmented and at least one envelope enclosing a segment is determined. At least one rectangle including the envelope is determined. The acquisition volume is calculated using the rectangle.