Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method acquires NMR signal data for a periodically rotated data acquisition region in k-space wherein the acquisition region is caused to have non-linear acquisition loci. As an example, the width of the data acquisition region at a point distant from the origin of k-space is made larger than at a point nearer the origin of k-space thereby more fully filling k-space with acquired NMR data even if the number of RF pulse shots is reduced and/or the number of data acquisition region positions is reduce. A magnetic resonance image is reconstructed based on the acquired NMR signal data in k-space.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The data acquisition unit acquires data according to a sequence derived by adding a coherent control pulse on a Steady-State Free Precession pulse sequence for repeating plural radio frequency excitations with a constant interval. The coherent control pulse has a center at a substantially center time between adjacent radio frequency excitations and a zero-order moment of which amount is zero. The image data generating unit generates image data based on the data.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment, the sequence execution control unit alternately executes an imaging sequence of collecting data for generating a diagnostic image and a navigator sequence of collecting data for generating a navigator image that is an image for motion detection. The slice position detecting unit analyzes the navigator image generated from the data collected in the navigator sequence each time the navigator sequence is executed, and thereby detects the position of a mark indicating a slice excited by the imaging sequence executed prior to the navigator sequence. The respiratory motion estimating unit estimates the motion of a portion due to the subject's respiration, based on the detected position of the mark.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes an imaging signal acquisition unit, a motion signal acquisition unit, a motion amount determination unit, a motion correction unit and an image reconstruction unit. The imaging signal acquisition unit acquires MR signals as imaging signals. The motion signal acquisition unit repetitively acquires MR signals having PE amount less than that of the imaging signals as motion signals. The motion amount determination unit obtains a motion amount using the motion signals. The motion correction unit performs correction processing of the imaging signals in accordance with the motion amount. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs an image using the imaging signals after the correction processing.

Abstract: Data acquisition based on the same MRI encoding pattern is repeated at least once for each R wave occurring at time T0 used as a trigger. The necessary number of data for image reconstruction are extracted as subsets of a complete MRI data set from the resulting plural sets of acquired MRI by temporally retrospecting from the next R wave occurrence time (time T1) after the R wave (time T0) used as the trigger. The extracted data subsets are then rearranged to generate a complete composite MRI data set which is then used for image reconstruction of heart movement associated with end-diastole after the occurrence of the triggering R wave.

Abstract: In a medical imaging method of taking a tomographic image of a sample into which a contrast medium is injected by the use of a medical imaging system, a monitoring operation is performed on the sample into which the contrast medium is injected and then an imaging scan for reconstructing the tomographic image is performed.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The data acquisition unit acquires data according to a sequence derived by adding a coherent control pulse on a Steady-State Free Precession pulse sequence for repeating plural radio frequency excitations with a constant interval. The coherent control pulse has a center at a substantially center time between adjacent radio frequency excitations and a zero-order moment of which amount is zero. The image data generating unit generates image data based on the data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The data acquisition unit acquires data according to a sequence derived by adding a coherent control pulse on a Steady-State Free Precession pulse sequence for repeating plural radio frequency excitations with a constant interval. The coherent control pulse has a center at a substantially center time between adjacent radio frequency excitations and a zero-order moment of which amount is zero. The image data generating unit generates image data based on the data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an input unit, a data acquisition unit and an image generating unit. The input unit inputs information indicating a matter of which resonance frequency is a center frequency of an excitation pulse. The data acquisition unit acquires magnetic resonance data with obtaining a steady state free precession. Each of the plural excitation pulses has a transmission phase varying by a variation amount determined based on a difference between a resonance frequency and the center frequency. The image generating unit generates an image of the desired matter based on the magnetic resonance data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit, a correction unit, a sorting unit and n image reconstruction unit. The data acquires data for imaging and projection data. The correction unit performs motion correction of the data using the breath levels obtained based on the projection data. The data sorting unit sorts the data after the motion correction into a cardiac time phase order based on electrocardiographic information. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs three dimensional image data based on the sorted data after the motion correction.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an image generating unit. The data acquisition unit acquires MR data according to an imaging condition for obtaining a SSFP in flowing matter by applying excitation pulses having a same flip angle with a constant TR and gradient magnetic fields to an object. The image generating unit generates an image of the flowing matter based on the MR data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The data acquisition unit acquires data according to a sequence derived by adding a coherent control pulse on a Steady-State Free Precession pulse sequence for repeating plural radio frequency excitations with a constant interval. The coherent control pulse has a center at a substantially center time between adjacent radio frequency excitations and a zero-order moment of which amount is zero. The image data generating unit generates image data based on the data.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes an imaging signal acquisition unit, a motion signal acquisition unit, a motion amount determination unit, a motion correction unit and an image reconstruction unit. The imaging signal acquisition unit acquires MR signals as imaging signals. The motion signal acquisition unit repetitively acquires MR signals having PE amount less than that of the imaging signals as motion signals. The motion amount determination unit obtains a motion amount using the motion signals. The motion correction unit performs correction processing of the imaging signals in accordance with the motion amount. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs an image using the imaging signals after the correction processing.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a cine-imaging unit, a characterizing-part detecting unit, a motion-analyzing unit, and an image-extracting unit. First, the cine-imaging unit collects the time-series images of a region of interest in a subject and reconstructs an image. Next, the characterizing-part detecting unit detects the characteristics of the time-series images. The motion-analyzing unit analyzes motion-characteristic values of the characteristics extracted by the characterizing-part detecting unit. The image-extracting unit extracts a specified time-series image in accordance with the motion-characteristic values.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes an imaging signal acquisition unit, a motion signal acquisition unit, a motion amount determination unit, a motion correction unit and an image reconstruction unit. The imaging signal acquisition unit acquires MR signals as imaging signals. The motion signal acquisition unit repetitively acquires MR signals having PE amount less than that of the imaging signals as motion signals. The motion amount determination unit obtains a motion amount using the motion signals. The motion correction unit performs correction processing of the imaging signals in accordance with the motion amount. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs an image using the imaging signals after the correction processing.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes an imaging signal acquisition unit, a motion signal acquisition unit, a motion amount determination unit, a motion correction unit and an image reconstruction unit. The imaging signal acquisition unit acquires MR signals as imaging signals. The motion signal acquisition unit repetitively acquires MR signals having PE amount less than that of the imaging signals as motion signals. The motion amount determination unit obtains a motion amount using the motion signals. The motion correction unit performs correction processing of the imaging signals in accordance with the motion amount. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs an image using the imaging signals after the correction processing.

Abstract: Scanning operation of acquiring data by repeating a scan based on the same encoding pattern at least once by using an R wave occurring at time T0 as a trigger is executed with respect to all encoding patterns. The necessary number of data for image reconstruction are extracted from MR data acquired by temporally retrospecting from the R wave occurrence time (time T1) next to the R wave (time T0) used as the trigger on the basis of the obtained data, data acquisition time information, and the R wave time. The extracted data are then rearranged to generate a data set for imaging the movement of the heart which is associated with end-diastole after the occurrence of the R wave used as the trigger, thereby performing image reconstruction.

Abstract: In a phase unwrapping evolution method according to the invention, steps of grouping phase data first, phase unwrapping evolution targeting groups is performed, and, then, merging of the target groups is performed are repeatedly applied. As unwrapping evolution processing proceeds, groups increase and information on a phase difference among the group increases. Thus, the influence of phase data that tends to be a cause of failure of unwrapping evolution gradually decreases and a result with higher robustness than the conventional method is obtained. In addition, a group once subjected to unwrapping evolution continues to be subjected to unwrapping evolution as a new group created by merging. Thus, even if a phase is decided once, the group is subjected to wrapping evolution many times in order to match the phase with phases of other groups. As a result, it is possible to prevent a series of occurrence of failure of unwrapping evolution.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus generates an MR signal from an object by applying a gradient field pulse generated by a gradient field coil and a high-frequency magnetic field pulse generated by a high-frequency coil to the object in a static field, and reconstructs an image on the basis of the MR signal. The gradient field coil is housed in a sealed vessel. The internal air in the sealed vessel is exhausted by the pump to prevent noise. By controlling the operation of the pump using a control circuit, noise in imaging operation can be reduced more effectively.

Abstract: An MRI static field magnet coil is symmetrical along the z-axis direction with a static field uniform region center substantially coincident with the center of the coil. However, the gradient field coil has asymmetrical density along the z-axis direction with the gradient field linear region center displaced from the center of the coil. One end of the gradient magnetic field coil in the z-axis direction forms the linear field region and the other end forms u current return portion. In order to make the gradient magnetic field linear region and the static magnetic field uniform region coincident with each other, the center of the gradient magnetic field coil is displaced from the center of the static field magnet. Thus, the gradient magnetic field coil can be extended from one end of the static field magnet until one end is aligned with one end of the static magnetic field uniform region. This permits the bore end of the gantry to be opened accordingly for greater patient comfort and/or medical access.