Abstract: Methods and devices which can use fractal radiofrequency coils to improve the use of magnetic resonant imaging over, for example, standard circular coils. The fractal coils can be Koch loops, and can reduce or eliminate mutual inductance between pairs of coils. Further, embodiments of the fractal radiofrequency coils can be used with higher T magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a non-invasive, radiofrequency (RF) coil array comprising at least two loop coils configured to wrap in close proximity around a specific anatomical region of a subject, a magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system comprising the RF coil array, and a method of magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: An apparatus combines magnetic resonance (MR) and nuclear imaging of human breast for cancer diagnosis. An MRI system including an MR breast RF coil is combined with a nuclear imaging system having a detector disposed or disposable within the MR breast RF coil arranged and configured for the performance of simultaneous or sequential coregistered breast MRI and nuclear imaging. A selectively controlled compression mechanism for lightly compresses the breast being imaged. The remotely controlled compression mechanism is integrated with the MR breast RF coil.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a high-resolution nuclear image of a biological object, which image is acquired by a nuclear detector inside an MRI system includes the steps of acquiring MRI information pertaining to a wide field of view; focusing a field of view of the nuclear detector to a small region that covers only the target region; obtaining a nuclear image of the small region; and using a priori information included in the MRI information to eliminate image artifacts in the nuclear image. An apparatus for performing the method and a data image formed by practice of the method is also included.

Abstract: Methods and devices which can use fractal radiofrequency coils to improve the use of magnetic resonant imaging over, for example, standard circular coils. The fractal coils can be Koch loops, and can reduce or eliminate mutual inductance between pairs of coils. Further, embodiments of the fractal radiofrequency coils can be used with higher T magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing dual modality SPECT/MRI imaging on an object in combination with a whole-body MRI system includes a collimated nuclear radiation detector for receiving radiation from the object, and a radiofrequency MRI coil enveloping the object and interfaced with the collimated nuclear radiation detector. The MRI coil and collimated detector are arranged and configured for disposition within the whole-body MRI system.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing an integrated tri-modality system includes a fluorescence tomography subsystem (FT), a diffuse optical tomography subsystem (DOT), and an x-ray tomography subsystem (XCT), where each subsystem is combined in the integrated tri-modality system to perform quantitative fluorescence tomography with the fluorescence tomography subsystem (FT) using multimodality imaging with the x-ray tomography subsystem (XCT) providing XCT anatomical information as structural a priori data to the integrated tri-modality system, while the diffuse optical tomography subsystem (DOT) provides optical background heterogeneity information from DOT measurements to the integrated tri-modality system as functional a priori data.

Abstract: An apparatus combines magnetic resonance (MR) and nuclear imaging of human breast for cancer diagnosis. An MRI system including an MR breast RF coil is combined with a nuclear imaging system having a detector disposed or disposable within the MR breast RF coil arranged and configured for the performance of simultaneous or sequential coregistered breast MRI and nuclear imaging. A selectively controlled compression mechanism for lightly compresses the breast being imaged. The remotely controlled compression mechanism is integrated with the MR breast RF coil.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a high-resolution nuclear image of a biological object, which image is acquired by a nuclear detector inside an MRI system includes the steps of acquiring MRI information pertaining to a wide field of view; focusing a field of view of the nuclear detector to a small region that covers only the target region; obtaining a nuclear image of the small region; and using a priori information included in the MRI information to eliminate image artifacts in the nuclear image. An apparatus for performing the method and a data image formed by practice of the method is also included.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing dual modality SPECT/MRI imaging on an object in combination with a whole-body MRI system includes a collimated nuclear radiation detector for receiving radiation from the object, and a radiofrequency MRI coil enveloping the object and interfaced with the collimated nuclear radiation detector. The MRI coil and collimated detector are arranged and configured for disposition within the whole-body MRI system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing dual modality SPECT/MRI imaging on an object in combination with a whole-body MRI system includes a collimated nuclear radiation detector for receiving radiation from the object, and a radiofrequency MRI coil enveloping the object and interfaced with the collimated nuclear radiation detector. The MRI coil and collimated detector are arranged and configured for disposition within the whole-body MRI system.

Abstract: An MRI RF coil that is optimized for SENSE imaging is used in a method where the surface current density distribution on a coil former was calculated to maximize the SNRsense within a volume of interest. An analytic relationship was formulated between the SNRsense and surface current density on the coil former. The SNR at pixel ? in a SENSE-MR image, SNRsense,?, is inversely proportional to the g-factor. The g-factor was formulated in terms of the B1 distribution of the coils. By specifying the geometry of the desired coil former and using a finite element mesh, the surface current distribution was calculated to maximize the SNRsense, by minimizing (1/SNRsense) in the volume of interest using a least squares procedure. A simple two-coil array was tested and phantom images were collected. The results show that the new coil design method yielded better uniformity and SNR compared to standard coils.

Abstract: An MRI RF coil that is optimized for SENSE imaging is used in a method where the surface current density distribution on a coil former was calculated to maximize the SNRsense within a volume of interest. An analytic relationship was formulated between the SNRsense and surface current density on the coil former. The SNR at pixel ? in a SENSE-MR image, SNRsense,?, is inversely proportional to the g-factor The g-factor was formulated in terms of the B1 distribution of the coils. By specifying the geometry of the desired coil former and using a finite element mesh, the surface current distribution was calculated to maximize the SNRsense, by minimizing (1/SNRsense) in the volume of interest using a least squares procedure. A simple two-coil array was tested and phantom images were collected. The results show that the new coil design method yielded better uniformity and SNR compared to standard coils.

Abstract: The gradient coil currents driving the RF gradient coil within an magnetic resonance imaging system are noninvasively monitored with Hall-effect sensors to produce a real-time, k-space map of the scanning gradient coil currents. The k-space map, when visually depicted, readily displays imperfections in the magnetic resonance imaging scanning hardware and software, more particularly in the scanning gradient coil currents. Based on the k-space map imperfections which are determined from analysis of the k-space map, operation of the magnetic resonance imaging system may be remotely monitored in real-time, and remotely repaired or altered to improve the magnetic resonance image quality. The k-space, real-time map can also be used as a real-time system development for use as a research and design tool for magnetic resonance imaging systems.

Abstract: An improvement is made in a high resolution clinical fluoroscopic system by utilizing a beam splitter for selectively directing a fluoroscopic image of an X-ray pattern transmitted through a patient to either a low resolution or high resolution television channel. The low resolution channel operates a low magnification level to provide a macroscopic view of an object of interest in order to orient the patient and object of interest within the center of view. Thereafter, the beam splitter is activated to redirect the fluoroscopic image to a zoom lens which magnifies the image. The magnified image is then scanned by a sensitive CCD-type camera to alternatively produce through the video processor a magnified view of the object of interest at variable magnification having submillimeter resolution. Collimation of the X-ray beam is coordinated with the degree of magnification through the zoom lens to provide for contrast resolution without any substantial increase of the X-ray exposure levels.