Abstract: Magnetic resonance examination system comprises displaceable carrier for supporting an object to be examined. The carrier can be moved over a two dimensional area. The magnetic resonance examination system is configured to acquire sets of magnetic resonance signals from the object for various positions of the carrier in the two dimensional area.

Abstract: A system and method determines an isocenter for an imaging scan. The method includes receiving, by a control panel, patient data generated by at least one sensor, the patient data corresponding to dimensions of a body of a patient. The method includes generating, by the control panel, model data as a function of the patient data, the model data representing the body of the patient. The method includes receiving, by the control panel, a target location on the model data, the target location corresponding to a desired position on the body of the patient for performing the imaging scan. The method includes determining, by the control panel, an isocenter for the imaging scan as a function of the target location.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging protocol includes an acquisition segment to control an acquisition sequence to acquire magnetic resonance signals at a lower main magnetic field strength. A reconstruction segment controls reconstruction of a diagnostic magnetic resonance image from the magnetic resonance signals at a lower main magnetic field strength. A segmentation segment to control segmentation of a pre-determined image-detail of the diagnostic magnetic resonance image. In the magnetic resonance imaging protocol: the acquisition sequence has a set of imaging parameters that cause the image quality of the diagnostic magnetic resonance to be similar to the image quality of the magnetic resonance training images.

Abstract: At least two gradient echo signals are generated at two different echo times by subjecting a portion of a body (10) in an MR examination region (1) to an imaging sequence of RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients. The 0th moment of the readout magnetic field gradient essentially vanishes at the time of a first gradient echo while the 1st moment of the readout gradient is non-zero. Both the 0th and 1st moments of the readout magnetic field gradient essentially vanish at a time of a second gradient echo. Gradient echo signals are acquired. Acquiring the gradient echo signals is repeated for a plurality of phase encoding steps. A first MR image is reconstructed from the gradient echo signals of the first gradient echo and a second MR image is reconstructed from the gradient echo signals of the second gradient echo. Ghosting artefacts in the first and/or second MR image are identified by comparing the first and second MR images.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance system (10), and corresponding method, image a subject using a conversion-free interleaved black and bright blood imaging (cfIBBI) sequence. A MR scanner (12) is controlled to perform a plurality of repetitions of a black blood imaging sequence (52). The black blood imaging sequence (52) includes a tissue nulling sub-sequence followed by a black blood acquisition sub-sequence (56) performed a time interval (TI) after the tissue nulling sub-sequence. The MR scanner (12) is further controlled to, between successive repetitions of the black blood imaging sequence (52), perform a bright blood imaging sequence (54) including the tissue nulling sub-sequence followed by a bright blood acquisition sub-sequence (58) performed the time interval (TI) after the tissue nulling sub-sequence. The time intervals (TI) of the black blood imaging sequence (52) and the bright blood imaging sequence (54) are of the same duration.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of at least a portion of a body (10) of a patient placed in an examination volume of a MR device (1), the method comprising the steps of: —subjecting the portion of the body (10) to a first imaging sequence for acquiring a first signal data set (21); —subjecting the portion of the body (10) to a second imaging sequence for acquiring a second signal data set (23), wherein the imaging parameters of the second imaging sequence differ from the imaging parameters of the first imaging sequence; —reconstructing a MR image from the second signal data set (23) by means of regularization using the first signal data set (21) as prior information. Moreover, the invention relates to a MR device (1) and to a computer program for a MR device (1).

Abstract: A black blood magnetic resonance imaging sequence is performed using a magnetic resonance scanner. The sequence includes: applying a first flow sensitization gradient; applying a spoiler gradient after applying the first flow sensitization gradient; applying a second flow sensitization gradient after applying the spoiler gradient wherein the second flow sensitization gradient has area equal to the first flow sensitization gradient but of opposite polarity; applying a slice-selective radio frequency excitation pulse after applying the spoiler gradient; and performing a magnetic resonance readout after applying the second flow sensitization gradient and after applying the slice selective radio frequency excitation. The readout acquires magnetic resonance imaging data having blood signal suppression in the region excited by the slice-selective radio frequency excitation pulse. The magnetic resonance imaging data is suitably reconstructed to generate a black blood image that may be displayed.

Abstract: A virtual coil emulation method is used in a magnetic resonance imaging scan for acquiring a magnetic resonance image of an object (10). The scan is performed by an MR system (1) using a physical coil arrangement (9; 11; 12; 13) including a set of individual transmit coils. The coils are adapted for transmission of a desired RF transmit field to the object (10) for magnetic resonance spin excitation of the object (10). Each coil is associated with a physical transmit channel. The RF transmit field corresponds to a virtual arrangement of two or more of the coils. Virtual transmit channel properties include virtual transmit channel weights are assigned to the RF transmit field which describe the virtual complex RF field amplitudes with respect to each individual coil of the virtual coil arrangement to be applied to the physical coils (9; 11; 12; 13) for generating the RF transmit field.

Abstract: A radiation therapy system comprises: a radiation therapy subsystem (20, 22, 32) configured to perform radiation therapy by applying radiation pulses to a region of a subject at pulse intervals (Tpi); a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging subsystem (10, 16, 30, 36) configured to acquire a dataset of MR imaging data samples from the region of the subject over one or more MR sampling intervals (TAQ) that are longer than the pulse intervals, the one or more MR sampling intervals overlapping at least some of the pulse intervals; a synchronizer (40) configured to identify MR imaging data samples of the dataset whose acquisition times overlap pulse intervals; and a reconstruction processor (44) configured to reconstruct the dataset without the measured values for the MR imaging data samples identified as having acquisition times overlapping pulse intervals to generate a reconstructed MR image.

Abstract: A medical imaging system (5) includes one or more processors and a display device (36). The one or more processors are programmed to receive (60) a first image (10) contrasting regions of tissue with a distinct radiotracer accumulation probability and generate (64) a constraint map (20) based on the regions of tissue with the distinct radiotracer accumulation probability. The one or more processors are programmed to reconstruct (70) a second image (44) with redistribution of a measured radiotracer based on the constraint map (20) and acquired image raw data (23) registered to the constraint map. The display device (36) displays the reconstructed second image.

Abstract: At least a portion of a body (10) of a patient positioned in an examination volume of a MR device (1). A portion of the body (10) is subject to a calibration sequence including RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients controlled in such a manner that a calibration signal data set is acquired by a multi-point Dixon technique at a first image resolution. Calibration parameters are derived from the calibration signal data set. The MR device (1) is controlled according to the derived calibration parameters. The portion of the body (10) is subject to an imaging sequence including RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients controlled in such a manner that a diagnostic signal data set is acquired at a second image resolution which is higher than the first image resolution. A diagnostic MR image is reconstructed from the diagnostic signal data set.

Abstract: A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system (10) with regard to acquiring multiple-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance images, the method comprising steps of acquiring (48) a first set of magnetic resonance image data (xpre) prior to administering a contrast agent to the subject of interest (20), by employing a water/fat magnetic resonance signal separation technique, determining (52) a first image of the spatial distribution of fat (Ipre) of at least the portion of the subject of interest (20), acquiring (50) at least a second set of magnetic resonance image data (x2) of at least the portion of the subject of interest (20) after administering the contrast agent to the subject of interest (20), by employing a water/fat magnetic resonance signal separation technique, determining (54) at least a second image of the spatial distribution of fat (I2ph) of at least the portion of the subject of interest (20), applying (56) an image registration method to the second image of the spatial

Abstract: Interleaved black/bright imaging (IBBI) is performed using a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner wherein the black blood module of the IBBI includes: applying a first flow sensitization gradient; applying a spoiler gradient after applying the first flow sensitization gradient; applying a second flow sensitization gradient after applying the spoiler gradient wherein the second flow sensitization gradient has area equal to the first flow sensitization gradient but of opposite polarity; applying a slice selective radio frequency excitation pulse after applying the spoiler gradient; and performing a MR readout after applying the second flow sensitization gradient and after applying the slice selective radio frequency excitation wherein the readout acquires MR imaging data having blood signal suppression in the region excited by the slice selective radio frequency excitation pulse.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance (MR) spins are inverted by applying an inversion recovery (IR) radio frequency pulse (50). MR signals are acquired at an inversion time (TI) after the IR radio frequency pulse. TI is selected such that a first tissue of interest (e.g., blood) exhibits negative magnetism excited by the IR radio frequency pulse and a second tissue (e.g., intraplaque hemorrhage tissue) exhibits positive magnetism excited by the IR radio frequency pulse. The acquired magnetic resonance signals are reconstructed to generate spatial pixels or voxels wherein positive pixel or voxel values indicate spatial locations of positive magnetism and negative pixel or voxel values indicates spatial locations of negative magnetism. A first image (28) representative of the first tissue is generated from spatial pixels or voxels having negative signal intensities, and a second image (26) representative of the second tissue is generated from spatial pixels or voxels having positive signal intensities.

Abstract: A combined magnetic resonance (MR) and radiation therapy system includes a bore-type magnet with a magnet radiation translucent region which allows radiation beams to travel radially through the magnet and a split-type gradient coil includes a gradient coil radiation translucent region aligned to the magnet radiation translucent region. A radiation source, disposed laterally to the magnet, administers a radiation dose through the magnet and gradient coil radiation translucent regions to an examination region. A dosage unit determines the actual radiation dose delivered to each voxel of a target volume and at least one non-target volume based on a pre-treatment, intra-treatment, and/or post-treatment image representation of the target volume and the at least one non-target volume. A planning processor updates at least one remaining radiation dose of a radiation therapy plan based on the determined actual radiation dose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of at least two chemical species having different MR spectra. It is an object of the invention to provide a PSIR-based MR imaging method which enables distinction between myocardial scar and myocardial triglyceride deposition. The method of the invention comprises the steps of: a) generating echo signals at two or more different echo times by subjecting an object (10) positioned in the examination volume of a MR device (1) to an imaging sequence of RF pulses and switched magnetic field gradients, which imaging sequence is an inversion recovery sequence comprising an inversion RF pulse followed by an excitation RF pulse after an inversion recovery time; b) acquiring the echo signals; c) separating signal contributions of the at least two chemical species to the acquired echo signals; and d) reconstructing a phase-sensitive MR image (28, 29) from the signal contributions of at least one of the chemical species.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system including a memory for storing machine executable instructions and a processor for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system. The MRI system for performing a plurality of MRI scans for acquiring magnetic resonance data from a target volume of a patient in accordance with respective predefined scan geometries. The execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor to control the MRI system to at least: perform a first calibration scan; perform a second calibration scan; generate geometry transformation data; determine a deviation of the target volume caused by a movement of the patient; update each of the predefined scan geometries and the second scan geometry as a function of the geometry transformation data; and perform at least one MRI scan of the plurality of MRI scans to acquire image data in accordance with the respective updated predefined scan geometry.

Abstract: The invention provides for a magnetic resonance imaging system (100) for acquiring magnetic resonance data (142, 148, 158) with a pulse sequence (140) for multiple slice acquisition performed over multiple repetition cycles. The magnetic resonance imaging system further comprises a processor (540) for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system. The execution of the instructions cause the processor to: acquire (200) a first slice group (142) of the magnetic resonance data during a first repetition cycle; extract (202) first central k-space data (144) from the first slice group; reconstruct (204) first navigator data (146) using the first central k-space data.

Abstract: A medical system (10) and method (100) image a vessel wall automatically. A scout scan of a patient for localizing a target vessel of the patient is automatically performed (102) using magnetic resonance (MR). The scout scan is three-dimensional (3D) and isotropic. An MR data set of the scout scan is automatically reconstructed (104) into foot-to-head (FH), left-to-right (LR) and posterior-to-anterior (PA) projections. A3D imaging volume (16) encompassing the target vessel is automatically determined (106) from the projections, and a diagnostic scan of the 3D imaging volume (16) is performed (108) using MR.

Abstract: A system and method determines an isocenter for an imaging scan. The method includes receiving, by a control panel, patient data generated by at least one sensor, the patient data corresponding to dimensions of a body of a patient. The method includes generating, by the control panel, model data as a function of the patient data, the model data representing the body of the patient. The method includes receiving, by the control panel, a target location on the model data, the target location corresponding to a desired position on the body of the patient for performing the imaging scan. The method includes determining, by the control panel, an isocenter for the imaging scan as a function of the target location.