Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprises a scanning unit for performing a pulse sequence PS including a MT (Magnetization Transfer) pulse b for lessening signals from the cerebral parenchyma (white matter and gray matter). The scanning unit performs the pulse sequence PS in periods of time P1 and P3 in the pulse sequence PS so that the MT pulse b is applied every repetition time TR, while it performs the pulse sequence PS in a period of time P2 in the pulse sequence PS so that no MT pulse b is applied.

Abstract: For the purpose of obtaining a spectrum suitable for acquiring information on a CEST effect, an MR apparatus comprises a Z-spectrum generating unit 91 for generating a Z-spectrum containing a CEST component representing a signal component affected by CEST and a baseline component representing a signal component unaffected by CEST based on data acquired by a plurality of sequences; a spectrum transforming unit 92 for transforming the Z-spectrum into a CPE spectrum; and first fitting unit 95 for calculating values of a plurality of coefficients included in a CEST term in an approximate expression of the CPE spectrum.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprises a scanning unit for performing a pulse sequence PS including a MT (Magnetization Transfer) pulse b for lessening signals from the cerebral parenchyma (white matter and gray matter). The scanning unit performs the pulse sequence PS in periods of time P1 and P3 in the pulse sequence PS so that the MT pulse b is applied every repetition time TR, while it performs the pulse sequence PS in a period of time P2 in the pulse sequence PS so that no MT pulse b is applied.

Abstract: For the purpose of obtaining a spectrum suitable for acquiring information on a CEST effect, an MR apparatus comprises a Z-spectrum generating unit 91 for generating a Z-spectrum containing a CEST component representing a signal component affected by CEST and a baseline component representing a signal component unaffected by CEST based on data acquired by a plurality of sequences; a spectrum transforming unit 92 for transforming the Z-spectrum into a CPE spectrum; and first fitting unit 95 for calculating values of a plurality of coefficients included in a CEST term in an approximate expression of the CPE spectrum.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus is provided. The magnetic resonance apparatus includes a scanner configured to execute a plurality of pulse sequences each including a plurality of RF pulses for generating magnetization transfer of protons and a data acquisition sequence for acquiring data from a region in which proton magnetization transfer occurs, wherein the phases of the plurality of RF pulses are cycled so as to make a phase difference between the phase of a pth RF pulse of the plurality of RF pulses and the phase of a p+1th RF pulse of the plurality of RF pulses different for each pulse sequence, and a controller configured to control operations that include processing for determining a spectrum indicative of a relationship between a signal intensity of each signal obtained from the region and the associated phase differences based on data obtained by executing the plurality of pulse sequences.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus which images a subject in such that body fluid that flows is emphasized over background tissues, includes a first coil control device that causes a transmission coil and a gradient coil to execute a first pulse sequence for causing longitudinal magnetization components of the background tissues to differ from a longitudinal magnetization component of the body fluid, a second coil control device that causes the transmission coil and the gradient coil to execute a second pulse sequence that inverts the longitudinal magnetization components of the body fluid and the background tissues a plurality of times after the execution of the first pulse sequence, and a third coil control device that causes the transmission coil and the gradient coil to execute a third pulse sequence for acquiring each MR signal of the body fluid after the execution of the second pulse sequence.

Abstract: Versatility and the quality of images are to be improved. As preparation pulses, a first RF pulse to flip along the yz plane spins oriented in a magnetostatic field direction in a subject; a velocity encoding gradient pulse which, in spins flipped by that first RF pulse, mutually shifts the phase of spins in a static state and the phase of spins in a moving state; and a second RF pulse to flip along the yz plane spins whose phase has been shifted by the velocity encoding gradient pulse are successively transmitted. After that, a killer pulse is transmitted to extinguish the transverse magnetizations of the spins flipped by the second RF pulse.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance apparatus is provided. The magnetic resonance apparatus includes a scanner configured to execute a plurality of pulse sequences each including a plurality of RF pulses for generating magnetization transfer of protons and a data acquisition sequence for acquiring data from a region in which proton magnetization transfer occurs, wherein the phases of the plurality of RF pulses are cycled so as to make a phase difference between the phase of a pth RF pulse of the plurality of RF pulses and the phase of a p+1th RF pulse of the plurality of RF pulses different for each pulse sequence, and a controller configured to control operations that include processing for determining a spectrum indicative of a relationship between a signal intensity of each signal obtained from the region and the associated phase differences based on data obtained by executing the plurality of pulse sequences.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus sequentially transmits a plurality of radio frequency (RF) pulses having flip angles of ?1°, ?2°, ??1°, and ??2° for refocusing transverse magnetization of spins, and brings the transverse magnetization of the spins to longitudinal magnetization after the refocusing of the transverse magnetization of the spins.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a coil control device that controls a transmission coil and a gradient coil such that (A) a longitudinal magnetization adjustment pulse sequence for setting a longitudinal magnetization component positive in value of a first body fluid smaller than a longitudinal magnetization component positive in value of a second body fluid is executed on the first and second body fluids, (B) a longitudinal magnetization reverse pulse for reversing the longitudinal magnetization components of the first and second body fluids is transmitted, and (C) a data acquisition pulse sequence for acquiring data of the first body fluid when an absolute value of the longitudinal magnetization component of the first body fluid flowing through an imaging area is larger than an absolute value of the longitudinal magnetization component of the second body fluid, is executed.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to divide a data acquisition region defined in a ky-kz plane into a plurality of regions and repeatedly execute a data acquisition sequence for acquiring echoes disposed in the regions is provided. The apparatus includes a divide unit configured to divide the data acquisition region into the plurality of regions by a plurality of curved lines defined with a point different from an origin point of the ky-kz plane as a reference.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus for imaging a bodily fluid flowing inside a subject includes a gradient coil which applies gradient pulses to the subject, a transmission coil which transmits RF pulses to the subject, and a control part which controls the gradient coil and the transmission coil. The control part controls the gradient coil and the transmission coil in order to: saturate longitudinal magnetization of the bodily fluid in a field of saturation positioned on an upstream flow of the bodily fluid during a saturation period, invert the direction of longitudinal magnetization of the bodily fluid in an imaging field of view positioned on an downstream flow of the bodily fluid during an inversion period following the saturation period, and acquire MR signals from the bodily fluid in the imaging field of view during a data acquisition period following the inversion period.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus executes a pulse sequence for generating a phase shift of each spin, corresponding to a flow rate of the spin to thereby acquire magnetic resonance signals from a subject and determines a position of each blood vessel of the subject, based on each of the magnetic resonance signals. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a blood vessel position specifying device for specifying a position of each blood vessel, based on a change in signal intensity of the magnetic resonance signal with time and based on a change in the flow rate of the spin with time.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus sequentially transmits a plurality of radio frequency (RF) pulses for refocusing transverse magnetization of spins, and brings the transverse magnetization of the spins to longitudinal magnetization after the refocusing of the transverse magnetization of the spins.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to scan a subject in order to collect magnetic resonance signals from the subject in a magnetostatic field space. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a scanning unit that executes an imaging pulse sequence after executing a preparation pulse sequence to transmit preparation pulses.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a coil control device that controls a transmission coil and a gradient coil such that (A) a longitudinal magnetization adjustment pulse sequence for setting a longitudinal magnetization component positive in value of a first body fluid smaller than a longitudinal magnetization component positive in value of a second body fluid is executed on the first and second body fluids, (B) a longitudinal magnetization reverse pulse for reversing the longitudinal magnetization components of the first and second body fluids is transmitted, and (C) a data acquisition pulse sequence for acquiring data of the first body fluid when an absolute value of the longitudinal magnetization component of the first body fluid flowing through an imaging area is larger than an absolute value of the longitudinal magnetization component of the second body fluid, is executed.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus which images a subject in such that body fluid that flows is emphasized over background tissues, includes a first coil control device that causes a transmission coil and a gradient coil to execute a first pulse sequence for causing longitudinal magnetization components of the background tissues to differ from a longitudinal magnetization component of the body fluid, a second coil control device that causes the transmission coil and the gradient coil to execute a second pulse sequence that inverts the longitudinal magnetization components of the body fluid and the background tissues a plurality of times after the execution of the first pulse sequence, and a third coil control device that causes the transmission coil and the gradient coil to execute a third pulse sequence for acquiring each MR signal of the body fluid after the execution of the second pulse sequence.

Abstract: An MR data acquisition method for acquiring data D_?fat according to a steady-state pulse sequence specifying that a phase of an RF pulse is varied in order of 0, 1×?fat, 2×?fat, etc., wherein ?fat=(2?TR/T_out+2×m)×? is established on an assumption that m denotes an integer equal to or larger than 0 and meets TR/(2×T_out)?1<m<TR/(2×T_out) where TR denotes a repetition time and T_out denotes a time during which spins in water and spins in fat are out of phase with each other due to chemical shifts.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus which executes an imaging sequence for obtaining, as imaging data, magnetic resonance signals each generated from a spin excited at a subject within a static magnetic field space and produces an image about the subject, based on the imaging data obtained by the execution of the imaging sequence, includes a scan section which executes the imaging sequence and executes, before the execution of the imaging sequence, a preparation sequence for transmitting preparation pulses to the subject in such a manner that signal intensities of the magnetic resonance signals differ according to the velocities of spins moved in the subject, wherein the scan section sequentially transmits, as the preparation pulses, a first RF pulse, a second RF pulse, a third RF pulse and a fourth RF pulse respectively to the subject, wherein the scan section transmits a first crusher gradient pulse constituted of a pair of gradient pulses to the subject in such a manner that a point of time at which an

Abstract: With the objective of easily drawing a flow such as a bloodstream in a subject at low luminance, there is provided a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including a static magnetic field forming unit, a transmission unit which transmits a plurality of inversion RF pulses to a subject lying in a static magnetic field plural times within one repetition time after transmission of one excitation RF pulse thereby to excite spins of the subject, a gradient magnetic field application unit, a data acquisition unit which acquires magnetic resonance signals encoded by the gradient magnetic field, and an image generation unit which generates an image of the subject based on the magnetic resonance signals acquired by the data acquisition unit. The gradient magnetic field application unit applies velocity encode gradient pulses inverted to one another in polarity to the subject within transmission interval times for the plural RF pulses transmitted to the subject.