Abstract: An MRI apparatus according to an embodiment includes a whole body RF coil accommodated in a gantry. The whole body RF coil includes a first element unit used for transmission of a radio frequency magnetic field; and a second element unit used for reception of a magnetic resonance signal produced from a subject having been applied with the radio frequency magnetic field. The first element unit is a birdcage-type RF coil having two end rings and a plurality of rungs spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the end rings. The second element unit is a microstrip antenna.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a MRI apparatus includes a transmitter coil generating a RF magnetic field, a receiver coil, and processing circuitry. The receiver coil receives a MR signal generated by an object placed in an imaging space to which the RF magnetic field is applied. The processing circuitry calculates a specific absorption rate by using a first correction coefficient which indicates a characteristic that is inherent to the transmitter coil and relates to the generation of the RF magnetic field, and a second correction coefficient which indicates a characteristic that the receiver coil has on the RF magnetic field by electromagnetic coupling between the receiver coil and the RF magnetic field during a generation period of the RF magnetic field.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry and a display. The processing circuitry acquires information of an RF (radio frequency) coil. The processing circuitry sets a protocol to be applied to imaging using the RF coil before execution of the imaging. When there are a plurality of protocols that can be selected as the protocol applied to the imaging, the display displays at least one protocol narrowed down from the protocols as the protocol that can be applied to the imaging, based on information of the RF coil.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry generates positional information related to a positional relationship between a transmitter coil and a receiver coil based on a magnetic resonance signal received from a subject. The processing circuitry adjusts an irradiation intensity of an RF pulse to be irradiated on the subject in accordance with the positional information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a first transmit coil transmitting a first RF pulse corresponding to a resonance frequency of a first nuclide species in an object placed in an imaging space, a first receive coil receiving a first NMR signal of the first nuclide species, a cable connected to the first receive coil, a balun attached to the cable and/or the first receive coil, a substance attached to the balun and/or a vicinity of the balun, the substance including a second nuclide species having a resonance frequency different from the resonance frequency of the first nuclide species, a second transmit coil transmitting a second RF pulse corresponding to a resonance frequency of the second nuclide species, and a second receive coil receiving a second NMR signal of the second nuclide species in the substance.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a plurality of first coil elements and a connector. The first coil elements are embedded in a couchtop on which a subject is placed. The connector is provided in such a region of the couchtop that is positioned on the inside of the loop of at least one of the first coil elements. It is possible to attach and detach a second coil element different from the first coil elements to and from the connector.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a transmission coil, a plurality of reception channels, transmission/reception circuitry, and processing circuitry. The transmission coil transmits an RF wave to a subject. The reception channels receive MR signals generated from the subject. The transmission/reception circuitry controls the transmission coil to change the flip angle of a nucleus contained in the subject and excited by the transmitted RF wave. The processing circuitry determines whether the reception channels include an impaired channel, based on the comparison between the distributions of the signal values of the received MR signals with respect to the changing flip angles among the reception channels.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a wireless communication unit, a radio frequency (RF) coil, and a specifying unit. The wireless communication unit includes an antenna and that transmits and receives a wireless signal through the antenna. The RF coil includes one or more antennas and that receives the wireless signal and to respond to the received wireless signal through the one or more antennas. The specifying unit that specifies the position and the orientation of the RF coil on the basis of a response result indicated by the response from the RF coil.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes receiving coils each including an A/D converter configured to convert an MR signal received from an object into a digital signal by sampling the MR signal, a clock generation circuit configured to generate a reference clock of the sampling, and a radio transmission circuit configured to wirelessly transmit a digitized MR signal; and a main body configured to wirelessly receive the digitized MR signal and generate an image of the object by reconstructing the digitized MR signal, wherein one of the receiving coils selected as a reference receiving coil by the main body is configured to transmit the reference clock to each of other receiving coils by radio or by wire; and each of the other receiving coils is configured to synchronize the reference clock generated by the clock generation circuit with the reference clock transmitted from the reference receiving coil.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, a transmission RF coil is configured to emit an RF pulse generated by using a first clock. In addition to an echo signal emitted from a patient, a reception RF coil is configured to further receive the RF pulse emitted by the transmission RF coil and configured to transmit, via a wireless communication, a multiplexed signal in which the echo signal digitalized by using a second clock, the RF pulse, and the second clock are multiplexed together. Wireless receiving circuitry is configured to receive the multiplexed signal via a wireless communication. Correcting circuitry is configured to correct the phase of the echo signal on the basis of the RF pulse and the second clock restored from the multiplexed signal received via the wireless communication. Reconstructing circuitry is configured to reconstruct an image by using the corrected echo signal.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a Radio Frequency (RE) coil configured to apply an RF magnetic field to a subject. The RF coil includes: a supporting member formed to have a circular cylindrical shape; and an electrically-conductive member which is arranged to extend along an axial direction of the supporting member and through which a radio frequency current flows when the RF magnetic field is generated. The electrically-conductive member includes: a first part provided on an outer circumferential surface of the supporting member; and a second part positioned farther away from an RF shield provided on an outer circumferential side of the RF coil than the first part is, in terms of a radial direction of the supporting member.

Abstract: MRI apparatus includes an RF coil device, a first radio communication unit, a second radio communication unit, an image reconstruction unit and a judging unit. The RF coil device detects an MR signal, and includes a data saving unit for storing the MR signal. The first radio communication unit wirelessly transmits the MR signal detected by the RF coil device, and the second radio communication unit receives the MR signal from the first radio communication unit. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs image data using the MR signal. The judging unit judges existence of a transmission error in radio communication between the first and second radio communication units. If the transmission error is present, the first radio communication unit wirelessly transmit the MR signal stored in the data saving unit to the second radio communication unit.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes a supporting unit, a first radio communication unit, a second radio communication unit and a power supply unit. The supporting unit supports a table inside a gantry. The first radio communication unit acquires an MR signal detected by an RF coil device, and wirelessly transmits the MR signal. The second radio communication unit receives the MR signal wirelessly transmitted from the first radio communication unit. At least a part of the power supply unit is disposed inside a bed device or inside the supporting unit. The power supply unit supplies consumed power of the RF coil device via the first radio communication unit, by wirelessly supplying electric power to the first radio communication unit.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a wireless communication unit, a radio frequency (RF) coil, and a specifying unit. The wireless communication unit includes an antenna and that transmits and receives a wireless signal through the antenna. The RF coil includes one or more antennas and that receives the wireless signal and to respond to the received wireless signal through the one or more antennas. The specifying unit that specifies the position and the orientation of the RF coil on the basis of a response result indicated by the response from the RF coil.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes an RF coil and an RF shield. The RF coil is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The RF shield is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape and is disposed on an outer circumferential side of the RF coil. The RF shield is provided with a plurality of slits that are in a form of a line extending in an axial direction and having an asymmetrical length in the axial direction with respect to a center in the axial direction and are disposed so as to alternately switch positions thereof in the axial direction along a circumferential direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a MRI apparatus includes a transmitter coil generating a RF magnetic field, a receiver coil, and processing circuitry. The receiver coil receives a MR signal generated by an object placed in an imaging space to which the RF magnetic field is applied. The processing circuitry calculates a specific absorption rate by using a first correction coefficient which indicates a characteristic that is inherent to the transmitter coil and relates to the generation of the RF magnetic field, and a second correction coefficient which indicates a characteristic that the receiver coil has on the RF magnetic field by electromagnetic coupling between the receiver coil and the RF magnetic field during a generation period of the RF magnetic field.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a transmission coil and processing circuitry. The transmission coil is configured to apply a high frequency magnetic field to an object. The processing circuitry is configured to: derive, based on at least one of an imaging region and the body shape data of the object, a specific area in a field of view (FOV); and determine, based on a signal within the specific area, an output power level of a high frequency pulse signal supplied to the transmission coil.

Abstract: A medical image diagnosis apparatus according to an embodiment includes a storage circuitry and processing circuitry. The storage circuitry is configured to store therein workflow information indicating a plurality of procedures related to a preparation for an imaging process. The processing circuitry is configured to analyze an image obtained by a camera. The processing circuitry is configured to identify which of the plurality of procedures has been performed on the basis of the workflow information and a result of the analysis performed on the image and to cause an informing device to provide information about one or more of the procedures corresponding to a result of the identifying.

Abstract: An adjustment method according to an embodiment of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, including a transmission coil configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) pulse and an RF amplifier configured to transmit an RF pulse signal to the transmission coil, includes steps of detecting and adjusting. The detecting step detects an output power level of the RF amplifier. The adjusting step adjusts a line length of a transmission line to be provided between the RF amplifier and the transmission coil such that the output power level of the RF amplifier exceeds a predetermined value in a state where there is a load on the transmission coil, or such that the output power level of the RF amplifier falls below a predetermined value in a state where there is no load on the transmission coil.

Abstract: An RF coil includes a puncture needle insertion assembly in which a plurality of holes into which a puncture needle is inserted are formed within a surface of the puncture needle insertion assembly. In the puncture needle insertion assembly, conductors of a plurality of elements of a coil that are being insulated from one another are laid to meander on a frame between the holes.