Abstract: A magnetic resonance system includes a magnetic resonance scanner having a multi-channel transmit coil or coil system and a magnetic resonance receive element; and a digital processor configured to perform an imaging process. The image process includes shimming the multi-channel transmit coil or coil system, acquiring a coil sensitivity map for the magnetic resonance receive element using the multi-channel transmit coil or coil system, acquiring a magnetic resonance image using the magnetic resonance receive element and the shimmed multi-channel transmit coil or coil system, and performing an intensity level correction on the acquired magnetic resonance image using the coil sensitivity map to generate a corrected magnetic resonance image.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance method comprising: loading a subject into a magnetic resonance scanner; with the subject loaded into the magnetic resonance scanner, acquiring B1 maps (72) for a plurality of radio frequency transmit channels of the magnetic resonance scanner; shimming the plurality of radio frequency transmit channels and setting a radio frequency transmit power for the shimmed plurality of radio frequency transmit channels using the acquired B 1 maps to generate optimized amplitude and phase parameters (98) for the plurality of radio frequency transmit channels; acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data of the subject loaded into the magnetic resonance scanner including exciting magnetic resonance by operating the plurality of radio frequency transmit channels using the optimized amplitude and phase parameters; generating a reconstructed image from the acquired magnetic resonance imaging data; and displaying the reconstructed image.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance system comprises: a magnetic resonance scanner including a multi-channel transmit coil or coil system and a magnetic resonance receive element; and a digital processor configured to perform an imaging process including shimming the multi-channel transmit coil or coil system, acquiring a coil sensitivity map for the magnetic resonance receive element using the multi-channel transmit coil or coil system, acquiring a magnetic resonance image using the magnetic resonance receive element and the shimmed multi-channel transmit coil or coil system, and performing an intensity level correction on the acquired magnetic resonance image using the coil sensitivity map to generate a corrected magnetic resonance image.

Abstract: Hybrid circuitry (40, 40?, 40?) for operatively coupling a radio frequency drive signal (70) with a quadrature coil (30) is configurable in one of at least two coil modes of a group consisting of: (i) a linear I channel mode in which an I channel input port (42) is driven without driving a Q channel input port (44); (ii) a linear Q channel mode in which the Q channel input port is driven without driving the I channel input port; (iii) a quadrature mode in which both the I and Q channel input ports are driven with a selected positive phase difference; and (iv) an anti quadrature mode in which both the I and Q channel input ports are driven with a selected negative phase difference. A temporal sequence of the at least two coil modes may be determined and employed to compensate for B1 inhomogeneity.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance scanner, a main magnet (20, 22) generates a static magnetic field at least in an examination region. A magnetic field gradient system (30, 54) selectively superimposes magnetic field gradients on the static magnetic field at least in the examination region. A magnetic resonance excitation system (36, 36?) includes at least one radio frequency coil (30, 301, 302, 303) arranged to inject radio frequency B1 fields into the examination region and at least two radio frequency amplifiers (38, 40, 40?) coupled with different input ports of the at least one radio frequency coil. A controller (66, 70) controls the magnetic resonance excitation system to produce a time varying spatial B1 field distribution in a subject (16) in the examination region that time integrates to define a spatial tip angle distribution in the subject having reduced spatial non uniformity.

Abstract: A medical imaging system (2) excites multiple nuclei through a single RF amplifier (24). The medical imaging system (2) includes a magnet (10) that generates a main magnetic field (Bo) in an examination region. A gradient coil (14) superimposes magnetic field gradients (G) on the main magnetic field Bo. At least one transmitter (28) generates multi-nuclei excitation pulses associated with at least two different isotopes and two different frequency spectra. The single amplifier (24) sends the multi-nuclei excitation pulses to a RF coil (18, 20) for application to the examination region.

Abstract: Hybrid circuitry (40, 40?, 40?) for operatively coupling a radio frequency drive signal (70) with a quadrature coil (30) is configurable in one of at least two coil modes of a group consisting of: (i) a linear I channel mode in which an I channel input port (42) is driven without driving a Q channel input port (44); (ii) a linear Q channel mode in which the Q channel input port is driven without driving the I channel input port; (iii) a quadrature mode in which both the I and Q channel input ports are driven with a selected positive phase difference; and (iv) an anti quadrature mode in which both the I and Q channel input ports are driven with a selected negative phase difference. A temporal sequence of the at least two coil modes may be determined and employed to compensate for B inhomogeneity.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance scanner, a main magnet (20, 22) generates a static magnetic field at least in an examination region. A magnetic field gradient system (30, 54) selectively superimposes magnetic field gradients on the static magnetic field at least in the examination region. A magnetic resonance excitation system (36, 36?) includes at least one radio frequency coil (30, 301, 302, 303) arranged to inject radio frequency B1 fields into the examination region and at least two radio frequency amplifiers (38, 40, 40?) coupled with different input ports of the at least one radio frequency coil. A controller (66, 70) controls the magnetic resonance excitation system to produce a time varying spatial B1 field distribution in a subject (16) in the examination region that time integrates to define a spatial tip angle distribution in the subject having reduced spatial non uniformity.

Abstract: A transverse electromagnetic (TEM) coil is provided. The TEM coil includes an electrically conductive shell and an end plate disposed at a first end of the shell. The TEM coil also includes a plurality of TEM elements disposed within the shell, the plurality of TEM elements being shorter than the shell.

Abstract: A medical imaging system (2) excites multiple nuclei through a single RF amplifier (24). The medical imaging system (2) includes a magnet (10) that generates a main magnetic field (Bo) in an examination region. A gradient coil (14) superimposes magnetic field gradients (G) on the main magnetic field Bo. At least one transmitter (28) generates multi-nuclei excitation pulses associated with at least two different isotopes and two different frequency spectra. The single amplifier (24) sends the multi-nuclei excitation pulses to a RF coil (18, 20) for application to the examination region.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system (10) utilizes an ultra-short RF body coil (36). The ultra-short body coil (36) is shorter than the mechanical equivalent birdcage coil by at least a factor of two. Such coil provides equivalent (Bt) magnetic field-uniformity, while conforming to SAR limitations.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a main magnet for generating a main magnetic field in an examination region, a plurality of gradient coils for generating gradient fields within the main field, an RF transmit coil for transmitting RF signals into the examination region and exciting magnetic resonance in a subject disposed therein in accordance with a plurality of imaging parameters, the transmitted RF signals having a SAR associated therewith, and a SAR processor for maintaining the transmitted RF signals below a prescribed SAR level.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing discontinuities between the data of a first and second data set acquired in a k-space for a same MRI image of a subject, where the data for each of the data sets is acquired at k-coordinate points in adjacent regions of the k-space, using different MRI imaging techniques or operating conditions.

Abstract: A method is provided for evaluating an inhomogeneity in a magnetic polarizing field used to acquire an MRI image of a slice of a subject, at a point in the slice, the method comprising: acquiring data in a k-space for first and second k-space scans of the subject with a single application of a first MRI pulse sequence, wherein data acquisition for the second k-space scan is delayed with respect to data acquisition for the first k-space scan by a time delay; generating first and second spatial images from the first and second k-space scans; determining a phase difference between values of the first and second spatial images at the point; and evaluating the inhomogeneity at the point using the phase difference and the time delay.

Abstract: A method of iterative reconstruction for MRI imaging, comprising: (a) acquiring data into a k-space, wherein some of said data is acquired using an opposite gradient polarity from other of said data; (b) partially reconstructing at least a portion of the data, using a Fourier transform; (c) test reconstructing, at least a portion of an image, from the partially reconstructed data, using a set of reconstruction parameters, comprising at least one reconstruction parameter; (d) measuring an image quality measure of the test reconstructed image; and (e) automatically repeating (c) and (d) for a plurality of sets of reconstruction parameters to determine an acceptable reconstructed image, using the same partially reconstructed data.

Abstract: An MRI system incorporating modular whole body gradient coils that can selectively be used for conventional imaging or for ultra-fast imaging. A central modular coil is used alone for the ultra-fast imaging or used in combination with a modular flanking coil for conventional imaging.