Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a collection unit that applies a uniform static magnetic field to a subject and also applies a radio-frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field to the subject in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence to collect a magnetic resonance signal from the subject, an imaging unit that images the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal collected by the collection unit, a detection unit that detects a respiratory level of the subject, an informing unit that informs the subject of whether the detected respiratory level falls within an allowable range, and a unit that controls the collection unit and the imaging unit in such a manner that the magnetic resonance signal for imaging is collected and the subject is imaged based on the thus collected magnetic resonance signal for imaging when the detected respiratory level falls within the allowable range.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus is configured in such a manner that: a high-frequency transmission coil transmits a high-frequency electromagnetic wave at a magnetic resonance frequency to an examined subject; a heating coil performs a heating process by radiating a high-frequency electromagnetic wave onto the examined subject at a frequency different from the magnetic resonance frequency; based on a magnetic resonance signal, a measuring unit measures the temperature of the examined subject changing due to the high-frequency electromagnetic wave radiated by the heating coil; and a control unit exercises control so that the measuring unit measures the temperature while the heating coil is performing the heating process, by ensuring that the transmission of the high-frequency electromagnetic wave by the high-frequency transmission coil and the radiation of the high-frequency electromagnetic wave by the heating coil are performed in parallel.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes an imaging data acquiring unit and a blood flow information generating unit. The imaging data acquiring unit acquires imaging data from an imaging region including myocardium, without using a contrast medium, by applying a spatial selective excitation pulse to a region including at least a part of an ascending aorta for distinguishably displaying inflowing blood flowing into the imaging region. The blood flow information generating unit generates blood flow image data based on the imaging data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a calculation unit and an imaging unit. The calculation unit calculates an inversion time for imaging by analyzing frames of image data or magnetic resonance signals acquired from an object. The frames of the image data or the magnetic resonance signals are acquired in response to inversion times which are different with each other and set based on a inversion recovery method. The imaging unit performs the imaging under the inversion recovery method using the inversion time calculated for the imaging.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a MRI apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a reference section information calculating unit, a positioning unit and an imaging unit. The acquisition unit acquires frames of section image data including a heart from an object with use of magnetic resonance. The reference section information calculating unit calculates spatial positional information of a reference section of the heart based on the frames of the section image data. The positioning unit displays a reference section image of the heart on a display unit and performs positioning of an imaging part for imaging through the displayed reference section image of the heart. The reference section image is calculated from the frames of the section image data based on the positional information of the reference section. The imaging unit images the imaging part set by the positioning.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus is configured in such a manner that: a high-frequency transmission coil transmits a high-frequency electromagnetic wave at a magnetic resonance frequency to an examined subject; a heating coil performs a heating process by radiating a high-frequency electromagnetic wave onto the examined subject at a frequency different from the magnetic resonance frequency; based on a magnetic resonance signal, a measuring unit measures the temperature of the examined subject changing due to the high-frequency electromagnetic wave radiated by the heating coil; and a control unit exercises control so that the measuring unit measures the temperature while the heating coil is performing the heating process, by ensuring that the transmission of the high-frequency electromagnetic wave by the high-frequency transmission coil and the radiation of the high-frequency electromagnetic wave by the heating coil are performed in parallel.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a collection unit that applies a uniform static magnetic field to a subject and also applies a radio-frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field to the subject in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence to collect a magnetic resonance signal from the subject, an imaging unit that images the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal collected by the collection unit, a detection unit that detects a respiratory level of the subject, an informing unit that informs the subject of whether the detected respiratory level falls within an allowable range, and a unit that controls the collection unit and the imaging unit in such a manner that the magnetic resonance signal for imaging is collected and the subject is imaged based on the thus collected magnetic resonance signal for imaging when the detected respiratory level falls within the allowable range.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store data of a series of images associated with a range including a heart and diaphragm of an object, a moving amount generating unit configured to generate a temporal change in moving amount of the diaphragm and a temporal change in moving amount of the heart from the series of images, and a ratio calculation unit configured to calculate a ratio of the moving amount of the heart to the moving amount of the diaphragm.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store data of a series of slice images associated with a region including a target region of an object, a first rest period specifying unit configured to specify a first rest period based on a change between images of the series of slice images, and a second rest period specifying unit configured to specify a second rest period shorter than the first rest period by tracking the target region on a plurality of slice images corresponding to the specified first rest period or a rest period enlarged from the first rest period.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system for interventional MR imaging involves operations to insert a device such as a catheter into an object. According to the system, a tip position of the catheter is detected, data indicative of moved loci of the catheter are produced from data indicative of the detected tip position, and the produced movement locus data are displayed. In addition, even when an operator changes the progress direction of the device such as a puncture needle, an imaging cross-section automatically tracks movements of the device. Appropriate preoperative planning is also provided.

Abstract: According to one of the aspects of an MRI apparatus of the present invention, the MRI apparatus includes an imaging data acquiring unit and a blood flow information generating unit. The imaging data acquiring unit acquires imaging data from an imaging region including myocardium, without using a contrast medium, by applying a spatial selective excitation pulse to a region including at least a part of an ascending aorta for distinguishably displaying inflowing blood flowing into the imaging region. The blood flow information generating unit generates blood flow image data based on the imaging data.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes an imaging signal acquisition unit, a motion signal acquisition unit, a motion amount determination unit, a motion correction unit and an image reconstruction unit. The imaging signal acquisition unit acquires MR signals as imaging signals. The motion signal acquisition unit repetitively acquires MR signals having PE amount less than that of the imaging signals as motion signals. The motion amount determination unit obtains a motion amount using the motion signals. The motion correction unit performs correction processing of the imaging signals in accordance with the motion amount. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs an image using the imaging signals after the correction processing.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a collection unit which collects a magnetic resonance signal from the subject by applying a uniform static magnetic field to a subject and also applies a radio-frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field to the subject in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence, a reconstruction unit which reconstructs an image concerning the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal collected by the collection unit, a detection unit which detects a respiration level of the subject, a control unit which controls the reconstruction unit to reconstruct the image based on the magnetic resonance signal collected by the collection unit in a state wherein a peak of the detected respiration level falls within an allowable range, and a change unit which changes the allowable range based on a change in a plurality of peak values of a plurality detected respiration levels.

Abstract: Data acquisition based on the same MRI encoding pattern is repeated at least once for each R wave occurring at time T0 used as a trigger. The necessary number of data for image reconstruction are extracted as subsets of a complete MRI data set from the resulting plural sets of acquired MRI by temporally retrospecting from the next R wave occurrence time (time T1) after the R wave (time T0) used as the trigger. The extracted data subsets are then rearranged to generate a complete composite MRI data set which is then used for image reconstruction of heart movement associated with end-diastole after the occurrence of the triggering R wave.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a collector which collects magnetic resonance signals emitted from a region of interest of a subject, and a correction magnetic field generator which generates a correction magnetic field to correct the nonuniformity of a static magnetic field on the basis of magnetic resonance signals which are contained in the magnetic resonance signals collected by the collector, are emitted from a specific region which forms a portion of the region of interest.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a collection unit which applies a uniform static magnetic field to a subject and also applies a radio-frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field to the subject in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence to collect a magnetic resonance signal from the subject, a imaging unit which images the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal collected by the collection unit, a detection unit which detects a respiratory level of the subject, an informing unit which informs the subject of whether the detected respiratory level falls within an allowable range, and a unit which controls the collection unit and the imaging unit in such a manner that the magnetic resonance signal for imaging is collected and the subject is imaged based on the thus collected magnetic resonance signal for imaging when the detected respiratory level falls within the allowable range.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes an imaging signal acquisition unit, a motion signal acquisition unit, a motion amount determination unit, a motion correction unit and an image reconstruction unit. The imaging signal acquisition unit acquires MR signals as imaging signals. The motion signal acquisition unit repetitively acquires MR signals having PE amount less than that of the imaging signals as motion signals. The motion amount determination unit obtains a motion amount using the motion signals. The motion correction unit performs correction processing of the imaging signals in accordance with the motion amount. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs an image using the imaging signals after the correction processing.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system performing various types of imaging that involves movement of a patient's couch. The system has a patient's couch having a tabletop movable in a predetermined direction passing through a static magnetic field as well as reception multiple RF coils consisting of for example a plurality of coil groups. The tabletop is automatically moved in its longitudinal direction in accordance with a length of each coil group in the predetermined direction. At each moved position, scanning is performed on a given pulse sequence. An echo signal is received through the multiple RF coils, then switched over by an input switchover unit to be sent to a receiving-system circuit. The echo signal is subjected to given processing in this circuit so that it is converted to echo data. The echo data are produced into an MR image by a host computer.

Abstract: A respiration suppressing member includes a main body of an elastic material which is formed into a shape having a pressurizing portion for pressurizing that portion of the abdomen of a subject under imaging diagnosis by a medical modality which is located below the sternum and between the right and left ribs of the subject.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus includes an imaging signal acquisition unit, a motion signal acquisition unit, a motion amount determination unit, a motion correction unit and an image reconstruction unit. The imaging signal acquisition unit acquires MR signals as imaging signals. The motion signal acquisition unit repetitively acquires MR signals having PE amount less than that of the imaging signals as motion signals. The motion amount determination unit obtains a motion amount using the motion signals. The motion correction unit performs correction processing of the imaging signals in accordance with the motion amount. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs an image using the imaging signals after the correction processing.