Abstract: A method for producing an image representative of the vasculature of a subject using a MRI system includes the acquisition of a signal indicative of a subject' cardiac phase. During each heartbeat of the subject, image slices of a volume covering a region of interest (ROI) within the subject are acquired by applying a volume-selective venous suppression pulse to suppress (a) venous signal for an upper slice in the ROI; (b) venous signal for slices that are upstream for venous flow in the ROI; and (c) background signal from the upstream slices. Next, a slice-selective background suppression pulse is applied to suppress background signal of the upper slice. Following a quiescent time interval, a spectrally selective fat suppression pulse is applied to the entire volume to attenuate signal from background fat signal. Then, a simultaneous multi-slice acquisition of the upper slice and the upstream slices is performed.

Abstract: A method for producing an image representative of the vasculature of a subject using a MRI system includes the acquisition of a signal indicative of a subject' cardiac phase. During each heartbeat of the subject, image slices of a volume covering a region of interest (ROI) within the subject are acquired by applying a volume-selective venous suppression pulse to suppress (a) venous signal for an upper slice in the ROI; (b) venous signal for slices that are upstream for venous flow in the ROI; and (c) background signal from the upstream slices. Next, a slice-selective background suppression pulse is applied to suppress background signal of the upper slice. Following a quiescent time interval, a spectrally selective fat suppression pulse is applied to the entire volume to attenuate signal from background fat signal. Then, a simultaneous multi-slice acquisition of the upper slice and the upstream slices is performed.

Abstract: A method for dual-contrast unenhanced magnetic resonance angiography includes iteratively acquiring flow-dependent slices and flow-independent slices in a region. Each iteration of the acquisition process comprises identifying a flow-dependent slice location within the region and identifying a flow-independent slice location upstream from the flow-dependent slice location according to blood flow in the region. Each iteration further includes applying a first radio frequency (RF) saturation pulse to the region such that MR signals from veins in the region are substantially suppressed, and applying a second RF saturation pulse to the flow-dependent slice location such that MR signals from background muscle and arterial blood in the region are substantially suppressed. A flow independent slice is acquired at the flow-independent slice location after the second RF saturation pulse is applied and before unsaturated arterial blood has maximally flowed into the region.

Abstract: A method for producing an image representative of the vasculature of a subject using a MRI system includes the acquisition of a signal indicative of a subject' cardiac phase. During each heartbeat of the subject, image slices of a volume covering a region of interest (ROI) within the subject are acquired by applying a volume-selective venous suppression pulse to suppress (a) venous signal for an upper slice in the ROI; (b) venous signal for slices that are upstream for venous flow in the ROI; and (c) background signal from the upstream slices. Next, a slice-selective background suppression pulse is applied to suppress background signal of the upper slice. Following a quiescent time interval, a spectrally selective fat suppression pulse is applied to the entire volume to attenuate signal from background fat signal. Then, a simultaneous multi-slice acquisition of the upper slice and the upstream slices is performed.

Abstract: A method of acquiring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of a subject includes dividing a region of interest into a plurality of slices, and acquiring the slices using an iterative process that interleaves acquisition of shim data covering the plurality of slices with acquisition of image data covering the slices over a plurality of iterations.

Abstract: An imaging system includes determination of a first range of values of an imaging parameter, determination of a cost function expressing a difference between a first pulse profile and a second pulse profile, the second pulse profile generated based on respective values of each of a set of pulse parameters, identification of first coefficient values of each function of a set of functions which substantially minimize the cost function over the first range of values of the imaging parameter, where each of the set of functions determines a value of a respective one of the set of pulse parameters based on a value of the imaging parameter, and storage of the first coefficient values of each function of the set of functions in association with the first range of values.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method and system to improve fat suppression and reduce motion and off-resonance artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by using a background-suppressed, reduced field-of-view (FOV) radial imaging. The reduction of such artifacts provides improved diagnostic image quality, higher throughput of MRI scans for the imaging center, and increased patient comfort. By using a small FOV radial acquisition that only encompasses the structures of interest, structures that cause motion artifacts, such as the anterior abdominal wall, bowel loops, or blood vessels with pulsatile flow, are excluded from the image. According to an embodiment, combining a small FOV radial acquisition with one or more background-suppression techniques minimizes the impact of artifacts caused by anatomy outside of the FOV.

Abstract: Embodiments can provide a computer-implemented method for simultaneous multi-slice pulse wave velocity measurement, the method comprising simultaneously acquiring a plurality of multiple parallel images slices from a medical imaging device; shifting the plurality of image slices through modulation of the line-by-line phase patterns for each slice in the plurality of slices; deriving a plurality of image waveforms from the plurality of slices; measuring a distance between a plurality of imaging planes corresponding to the plurality of image slices; determining, for each of the image waveforms, a time-to marker; determining the temporal shift by calculating the difference between the time-to markers; and computing the pulse wave velocity by dividing the distance between the plurality of imaging planes by the temporal shift.

Abstract: Embodiments can provide a computer-implemented method for simultaneous multi-slice pulse wave velocity measurement, the method comprising simultaneously acquiring a plurality of multiple parallel images slices from a medical imaging device; shifting the plurality of image slices through modulation of the line-by-line phase patterns for each slice in the plurality of slices; deriving a plurality of image waveforms from the plurality of slices; measuring a distance between a plurality of imaging planes corresponding to the plurality of image slices; determining, for each of the image waveforms, a time-to marker; determining the temporal shift by calculating the difference between the time-to markers; and computing the pulse wave velocity by dividing the distance between the plurality of imaging planes by the temporal shift.

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing a data acquisition scheme to be used in magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) are provided. In particular, the systems and methods include designing efficient, or otherwise optimized, azimuthal equidistant projections for radially sampling k-space. This sampling pattern resulting from this data acquisition scheme minimizes image artifacts, including those attributable to eddy currents. The data acquisition scheme can be computed rapidly and automatically and, thus, is fit for routine use in clinical MRI systems.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance method and system are provided for projection MR imaging of vascular structures within a subject, with scan times that are shorter than those needed for conventional techniques. Image acquisition sequences are synchronized with heartbeat cycles of the subject, and are configured to generate image data having a reduced spatial resolution in the projection direction perpendicular to a preselected projection plane. A reduction factor F quantifies this reduced resolution, such that the number of data acquisition sequences provided within each heartbeat cycle is F times as many as a comparable imaging protocol that generates full-resolution data. The total scan time can be reduced by a factor of F with negligible degradation in the projection image quality.

Abstract: A method for producing an image representative of the vasculature of a subject using a MRI system includes the acquisition of a signal indicative of a subject' cardiac phase. During each heartbeat of the subject, image slices of a volume covering a region of interest (ROI) within the subject are acquired by applying a volume-selective venous suppression pulse to suppress (a) venous signal for an upper slice in the ROI; (b) venous signal for slices that are upstream for venous flow in the ROI; and (c) background signal from the upstream slices. Next, a slice-selective background suppression pulse is applied to suppress background signal of the upper slice. Following a quiescent time interval, a spectrally selective fat suppression pulse is applied to the entire volume to attenuate signal from background fat signal. Then, a simultaneous multi-slice acquisition of the upper slice and the upstream slices is performed.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method and system to improve fat suppression and reduce motion and off-resonance artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by using a background-suppressed, reduced field-of-view (FOV) radial imaging. The reduction of such artifacts provides improved diagnostic image quality, higher throughput of MRI scans for the imaging center, and increased patient comfort. By using a small FOV radial acquisition that only encompasses the structures of interest, structures that cause motion artifacts, such as the anterior abdominal wall, bowel loops, or blood vessels with pulsatile flow, are excluded from the image. According to an embodiment, combining a small FOV radial acquisition with one or more background-suppression techniques minimizes the impact of artifacts caused by anatomy outside of the FOV.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance method and system are provided for projection MR imaging of vascular structures within a subject, with scan times that are shorter than those needed for conventional techniques. Image acquisition sequences are synchronized with heartbeat cycles of the subject, and are configured to generate image data having a reduced spatial resolution in the projection direction perpendicular to a preselected projection plane. A reduction factor F quantifies this reduced resolution, such that the number of data acquisition sequences provided within each heartbeat cycle is F times as many as a comparable imaging protocol that generates full-resolution data. The total scan time can be reduced by a factor of F with negligible degradation in the projection image quality.

Abstract: A method for operating a Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging system including generating radio frequency (RF) excitation pulses in a volume of patient anatomy that includes a patient's heart to provide subsequent acquisition of associated RF echo data and generating slice select magnetic field gradients for phase encoding and readout RF data acquisition in the volume of patient anatomy. The method also includes acquiring a plurality of slices of an image of the volume of patient anatomy within a plurality of cycles representing time period between successive beats of the patient's heart. The method also includes causing, by a control processor, accelerated acquisition of two or more slices of the plurality of slices within a quiescent phase of each of the plurality of cycles. The method further includes applying, by the control processor, one or more saturation areas proximate to a target volume of the patient anatomy.

Abstract: A method of acquiring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of a subject includes dividing a region of interest into a plurality of slices, and acquiring the slices using an iterative process that interleaves acquisition of shim data covering the plurality of slices with acquisition of image data covering the slices over a plurality of iterations.

Abstract: A method for dual-contrast unenhanced magnetic resonance angiography includes iteratively acquiring flow-dependent slices and flow-independent slices in a region. Each iteration of the acquisition process comprises identifying a flow-dependent slice location within the region and identifying a flow-independent slice location upstream from the flow-dependent slice location according to blood flow in the region. Each iteration further includes applying a first radio frequency (RF) saturation pulse to the region such that MR signals from veins in the region are substantially suppressed, and applying a second RF saturation pulse to the flow-dependent slice location such that MR signals from background muscle and arterial blood in the region are substantially suppressed. A flow independent slice is acquired at the flow-independent slice location after the second RF saturation pulse is applied and before unsaturated arterial blood has maximally flowed into the region.

Abstract: An imaging system includes determination of a first range of values of an imaging parameter, determination of a cost function expressing a difference between a first pulse profile and a second pulse profile, the second pulse profile generated based on respective values of each of a set of pulse parameters, identification of first coefficient values of each function of a set of functions which substantially minimize the cost function over the first range of values of the imaging parameter, where each of the set of functions determines a value of a respective one of the set of pulse parameters based on a value of the imaging parameter, and storage of the first coefficient values of each function of the set of functions in association with the first range of values.

Abstract: Systems and methods for designing a data acquisition scheme to be used in magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) are provided. In particular, the systems and methods include designing efficient, or otherwise optimized, azimuthal equidistant projections for radially sampling k-space. This sampling pattern resulting from this data acquisition scheme minimizes image artifacts, including those attributable to eddy currents. The data acquisition scheme can be computed rapidly and automatically and, thus, is fit for routine use in clinical MRI systems.

Abstract: A method for operating a Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging system including generating radio frequency (RF) excitation pulses in a volume of patient anatomy that includes a patient's heart to provide subsequent acquisition of associated RF echo data and generating slice select magnetic field gradients for phase encoding and readout RF data acquisition in the volume of patient anatomy. The method also includes acquiring a plurality of slices of an image of the volume of patient anatomy within a plurality of cycles representing time period between successive beats of the patient's heart. The method also includes causing, by a control processor, accelerated acquisition of two or more slices of the plurality of slices within a quiescent phase of each of the plurality of cycles. The method further includes applying, by the control processor, one or more saturation areas proximate to a target volume of the patient anatomy.