Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The method includes performing a gradient echo pulse sequence that includes a phase increment of an RF pulse of the gradient echo pulse sequence selected to encode diffusion information into a phase of MR signals. The method also includes controlling the plurality of gradient coils and the RF system to acquire the MR signals as MR data, processing the MR data to determine MR signals corresponding to diffusion in the subject when acquiring the MR signals, and generating at least one of an image or a map of the subject indicating the diffusion in the subject from the MR data.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The method includes performing a gradient echo pulse sequence that includes a phase increment of an RF pulse of the gradient echo pulse sequence selected to encode diffusion information into a phase of MR signals. The method also includes controlling the plurality of gradient coils and the RF system to acquire the MR signals as MR data, processing the MR data to determine MR signals corresponding to diffusion in the subject when acquiring the MR signals, and generating at least one of an image or a map of the subject indicating the diffusion in the subject from the MR data.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for producing at least one of an image or a map of a subject includes controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to perform a pulse sequence that includes a phase increment of an RF pulse selected to induce a phase difference between two echoes at different echo times (TE). The method also includes controlling the MRI system to acquire MR data corresponding to at least the two echoes at different TEs, deriving a static magnetic field (B0) map of the MRI system using the MR data corresponding to the two echoes, and using the B0 map and MR data from at least one of the two echoes, generate a map of T2 of the subject.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging system to perform a gradient echo pulse sequence that includes varying a phase of an RF pulse of the gradient echo pulse sequence between repetitions and acquire complex MR data. The method includes processing the complex MR data to determine signal contributions from transverse relaxation (T2) in the subject, generating a quantitative T2 map of the subject using the signal contributions from T2 in the subject, and displaying the quantitative T2 map.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging system to perform a gradient echo pulse sequence that includes varying a phase of an RF pulse of the gradient echo pulse sequence between repetitions and acquire complex MR data. The method includes processing the complex MR data to determine signal contributions from transverse relaxation (T2) in the subject, generating a quantitative T2 map of the subject using the signal contributions from T2 in the subject, and displaying the quantitative T2 map.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing tissue properties of a subject within a region of interest (ROI) using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes acquiring chemical-shift-encoded imaging data of the ROI. The method also includes determining, from imaging data a proton density water fraction (PDWF) map and quantifying, using the PDWF map, a property of tissue within the ROI. The method further includes generating, using the PDWF map, a report indicating the quantified property of the tissue. The tissue may include fibroglandular tissue (FGT).

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining B1 inhomogeneities or creating a T1 map of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that is corrected for an influence of a presence of fat and a presence of iron in the subject on T1 weighting. The method includes controlling the MRI system using a single pulse sequence to acquire, from the subject, a plurality of datasets with varied T1 weighting created by varying at least one of a repetition time (TR) and a flip angle (FA) for repetitions of the single pulse sequence. The method also includes using an MR signal model and the plurality of datasets, estimating B1 inhomogeneities or generating a T1 map of the subject that is corrected for an influence of a presence of fat and a presence of iron in the subject on T1 weighting in the plurality of datasets.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining B1 inhomogeneities or creating a T1 map of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that is corrected for an influence of a presence of fat and a presence of iron in the subject on T1 weighting. The method includes controlling the MRI system using a single pulse sequence to acquire, from the subject, a plurality of datasets with varied T1 weighting created by varying at least one of a repetition time (TR) and a flip angle (FA) for repetitions of the single pulse sequence. The method also includes using an MR signal model and the plurality of datasets, estimating B1 inhomogeneities or generating a T1 map of the subject that is corrected for an influence of a presence of fat and a presence of iron in the subject on T1 weighting in the plurality of datasets.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing magnetic susceptibility of tissue of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire chemical-shift-encoded, water-fat separated data. From the water-fat separated data, separated water and fat images, as well as a magnetic field inhomogeneity map are used to estimate the magnetic susceptibility within tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing tissue properties of a subject within a region of interest (ROI) using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes acquiring chemical-shift-encoded imaging data of the ROI. The method also includes determining, from imaging data a proton density water fraction (PDWF) map and quantifying, using the PDWF map, a property of tissue within the ROI. The method further includes generating, using the PDWF map, a report indicating the quantified property of the tissue. The tissue may include fibroglandular tissue (FGT).

Abstract: A system and method for accelerated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using spectral sensitivity information are provided. The MRI system is used to acquire k-space data from a subject that when positioned in the main magnetic field of the MRI system causes inhomogeneities in the main magnetic field. Spectral sensitivity information is derived from the acquired k-space data. In general, the spectral sensitivity information relates specific resonance frequencies to distinct spatial locations in the main magnetic field of the MRI system. One or more images of the subject may be reconstructed from the acquired k-space data using the produced spectral sensitivity information to spatially encode the acquired k-space data. By using the spectral sensitivity information to provide spatial-encoding, the data acquisition can be accelerated, for example, by undersampling k-space. In addition, using the provided system and method, clinically viable images can be obtained in the presence of severe off-resonance.

Abstract: A method for producing parametric maps using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The MRI system is used to acquire k-space data from a field-of-view. A series of images is reconstructed from the acquired k-space data, and a confidence map is produced using the k-space data. The confidence map depicts regions in the field-of-view that are affected by error sources. A parametric map is produced using the reconstructed series of images and the produced confidence map. Values in the parametric map associated with regions in the field-of-view depicted in the confidence map as being affected by error sources are not computed, thereby reducing errors in the parametric map.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system and method for producing an image of a subject with the MRI system in which signal contributions of water and fat are separated are provided. A plurality of in-phase echoes formed at a plurality of different echo times are sampled to acquire k-space data. The in-phase echoes include signal contributions from water and fat that are in-phase with each other. The signal contributions from water and fat are then separated by fitting only those echo signals that are in-phase echo signals to a signal model that models a fat spectrum as including multiple resonance peaks. From these signal contributions, an image of the subject depicting a desired amount of signal contribution from water and a desired amount of signal contribution is produced.

Abstract: A method for producing parametric maps using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The MRI system is used to acquire k-space data from a field-of-view. A series of images is reconstructed from the acquired k-space data, and a confidence map is produced using the k-space data. The confidence map depicts regions in the field-of-view that are affected by error sources. A parametric map is produced using the reconstructed series of images and the produced confidence map. Values in the parametric map associated with regions in the field-of-view depicted in the confidence map as being affected by error sources are not computed, thereby reducing errors in the parametric map.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing magnetic susceptibility of tissue of a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire chemical-shift-encoded, water-fat separated data. From the water-fat separated data, separated water and fat images, as well as a magnetic field inhomogeneity map are used to estimate the magnetic susceptibility within tissue.

Abstract: A system and method for accelerated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using spectral sensitivity information are provided. The MRI system is used to acquire k-space data from a subject that when positioned in the main magnetic field of the MRI system causes inhomogeneities in the main magnetic field. Spectral sensitivity information is derived from the acquired k-space data. In general, the spectral sensitivity information relates specific resonance frequencies to distinct spatial locations in the main magnetic field of the MRI system. One or more images of the subject may be reconstructed from the acquired k-space data using the produced spectral sensitivity information to spatially encode the acquired k-space data. By using the spectral sensitivity information to provide spatial-encoding, the data acquisition can be accelerated, for example, by undersampling k-space. In addition, using the provided system and method, clinically viable images can be obtained in the presence of severe off-resonance.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system and method for producing an image of a subject with the MRI system in which signal contributions of water and fat are separated are provided. A plurality of in-phase echoes formed at a plurality of different echo times are sampled to acquire k-space data. The in-phase echoes include signal contributions from water and fat that are in-phase with each other. The signal contributions from water and fat are then separated by fitting only those echo signals that are in-phase echo signals to a signal model that models a fat spectrum as including multiple resonance peaks. From these signal contributions, an image of the subject depicting a desired amount of signal contribution from water and a desired amount of signal contribution is produced.

Abstract: The in vivo measurement of tissue temperature is performed during a medical procedure using an MRI system. Fat and Water images are acquired at each temperature measurement time and corresponding phase images are produced. A temperature map is produced by subtracting the phase at each Fat image pixel from the corresponding pixel in the Water phase image to improve measurement accuracy in tissues with fat/water mixtures.

Abstract: A method for producing an image of a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system in which a signal contribution of a chemical species is depicted and a signal contribution of another chemical species is substantially separated is provided. For example, the provided method is applicable for water-fat separation. Spectral differences between at least two different chemical species are exploited to produce a weighting map that depicts the likelihood that one chemical species being depicted as another. A weighting map that characterizes the smoothness of a field map variation is also produced. These weighting maps are utilized to produce a correct field map estimate, such that a robust separation of the signal contributions of the at least two chemical species can be performed.

Abstract: A method for producing an image of a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system in which a signal contribution of a chemical species is depicted and a signal contribution of another chemical species is substantially separated is provided. For example, the provided method is applicable for water-fat separation. Spectral differences between at least two different chemical species are exploited to produce a weighting map that depicts the likelihood that one chemical species being depicted as another. A weighting map that characterizes the smoothness of a field map variation is also produced. These weighting maps are utilized to produce a correct field map estimate, such that a robust separation of the signal contributions of the at least two chemical species can be performed.