Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) fingerprinting using echo splitting are described. One example apparatus includes an NMR logic configured to repetitively and variably sample a (k, t, E) space associated with an object to acquire a set of NMR signals. Members of the set of NMR signals are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The varying parameters may include the number of echo splitting pulses, spacings between echo splitting pulses, flip angle of echo splitting pulses, echo time, RF amplitude, and other parameters. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic configured to produce an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals, and a characterization logic configured to characterize a resonant species in the object as a result of comparing acquired signals to reference signals.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) fingerprinting using echo splitting are described. One example apparatus includes an NMR logic configured to repetitively and variably sample a (k, t, E) space associated with an object to acquire a set of NMR signals. Members of the set of NMR signals are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The varying parameters may include the number of echo splitting pulses, spacings between echo splitting pulses, flip angle of echo splitting pulses, echo time, RF amplitude, and other parameters. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic configured to produce an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals, and a characterization logic configured to characterize a resonant species in the object as a result of comparing acquired signals to reference signals.

Abstract: A system enhances MR imaging contrast between vessels containing dynamically flowing blood and static tissue using an MR imaging system. The MR imaging system, in response to a heart rate synchronization signal, acquires an anatomical preparation data set representing a spatially non-localized preparation 3D volume in response to a first magnetization preparation pulse sequence. The MR imaging system acquires a spatially localized anatomical imaging data set representing a second imaging volume. The MR imaging system subtracts slice specific MR imaging data of the spatially localized anatomical imaging data set from spatially and temporally corresponding slice specific imaging data of the anatomical preparation data set to derive blood flow indicative imaging data. The temporally corresponding slice specific imaging data comprises data acquired at a substantially corresponding cycle point within a heart beat cycle determined in response to said heart rate synchronization signal.

Abstract: An MR magnetic field inhomogeneity compensation system acquires multiple MR data sets representing luminance intensity values of individual image elements comprising corresponding multiple different image versions of at least a portion of a first imaging slice of patient anatomy including fat and water components. The compensation system employs the multiple MR data sets in solving corresponding multiple simultaneous nonlinear equations to calculate local frequency offset associated with magnetic field inhomogeneity at the individual image element location, for an individual image element of the image elements. The local frequency offset comprises a difference between proton spin frequency at the location and a nominal proton spin frequency. The compensation system derives data representing an electrical signal to be applied to magnetic field generation coils to substantially compensate for determined offset frequencies at the plurality of individual locations.

Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance tomography apparatus for evaluation of a cinematographic image series of the heart during a heart cycle, wherein the image series is acquired with an acquisition unit, and in the image series healthy heart muscle tissue is presented as differentiable from damaged heart muscle tissue, at least two individual images of the image series are processed in a data processing unit, with at least one region of the healthy heart muscle and/or of the damaged heart muscle being detected in each of the individual images by a pattern recognition algorithm, and at least one descriptive quantity is measured that describes a geometric property of the region that has been detected by the pattern recognition algorithm, a dynamic change of the descriptive quantity is detected, and medically-relevant information that is acquired from the dynamic change of the descriptive quantity is made available as an output.

Abstract: An MR magnetic field inhomogeneity compensation system acquires multiple MR data sets representing luminance intensity values of individual image elements comprising corresponding multiple different image versions of at least a portion of a first imaging slice of patient anatomy including fat and water components. The compensation system employs the multiple MR data sets in solving corresponding multiple simultaneous nonlinear equations to calculate local frequency offset associated with magnetic field inhomogeneity at the individual image element location, for an individual image element of the image elements. The local frequency offset comprises a difference between proton spin frequency at the location and a nominal proton spin frequency. The compensation system derives data representing an electrical signal to be applied to magnetic field generation coils to substantially compensate for determined offset frequencies at the plurality of individual locations.

Abstract: A system enhances MR imaging contrast between vessels containing dynamically flowing blood and static tissue using an MR imaging system. The MR imaging system, in response to a heart rate synchronization signal, acquires an anatomical preparation data set representing a spatially non-localized preparation 3D volume in response to a first magnetization preparation pulse sequence. The MR imaging system acquires a spatially localized anatomical imaging data set representing a second imaging volume. The MR imaging system subtracts slice specific MR imaging data of the spatially localized anatomical imaging data set from spatially and temporally corresponding slice specific imaging data of the anatomical preparation data set to derive blood flow indicative imaging data. The temporally corresponding slice specific imaging data comprises data acquired at a substantially corresponding cycle point within a heart beat cycle determined in response to said heart rate synchronization signal.

Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance tomography apparatus for evaluation of a cinematographic image series of the heart during a heart cycle, wherein the image series is acquired with an acquisition unit, and in the image series healthy heart muscle tissue is presented as differentiable from damaged heart muscle tissue, at least two individual images of the image series are processed in a data processing unit, with at least one region of the healthy heart muscle and/or of the damaged heart muscle being detected in each of the individual images by a pattern recognition algorithm, and at least one descriptive quantity is measured that describes a geometric property of the region that has been detected by the pattern recognition algorithm, a dynamic change of the descriptive quantity is detected, and medically-relevant information that is acquired from the dynamic change of the descriptive quantity is made available as an output.