Abstract: A system and method is provided to acquire images of a subject having received a tissue soluble hyperpolarized gas into the airways. The method includes performing a pulse sequence including (i) for each effective repetition time (TReff), acquiring at least one gas-phase dataset and at least one dissolved-phase dataset, wherein a gas-phase echo time (TEGas) of the at least one gas-phase dataset and a dissolved-phase echo time (TEDissolved) of the at least one dissolved-phase dataset are selected to isolate gas-phase contamination of the dissolved-phase dataset from dissolved-phase components in the dissolved-phase dataset.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to acquire images of a subject having received a tissue soluble hyperpolarized gas into the airways. The method includes performing a pulse sequence including (i) for each effective repetition time (TReff), acquiring at least one gas-phase dataset and at least one dissolved-phase dataset, wherein a gas-phase echo time (TEGas) of the at least one gas-phase dataset and a dissolved-phase echo time (TEDissolved) of the at least one dissolved-phase dataset are selected to isolate gas-phase contamination of the dissolved-phase dataset from dissolved-phase components in the dissolved-phase dataset.

Abstract: An RF coil assembly for an MRI system includes a resonator formed by a cylindrical shield and pairs of opposing conductive legs disposed symmetrically around a central axis and extending the axial length of the shield. Drive circuitry for each pair of opposing conductive legs includes a current balun that maintains substantially equal and opposite currents in the two conductive legs. Terminal susceptance elements are used to maintain maximum currents and minimum voltage at the midpoints of the conductive legs. Multinuclear measurements can be made simultaneously at different Larmor frequencies.

Abstract: Diagnostic MR images of the lung are segmented to distinguish the airway tree from lung parenchyma. Diffusion weighted images of the lungs are acquired using hyperpolarized gas MRI and a segmentation image is produced from the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) image calculated from the diffusion weighted images. Voxels in the diagnostic MR images having an ADC above a selected amount are segmented as being in the airway tree.