Abstract: Described herein are various embodiments of techniques for controlling creation of a magnetic resonance (MR) image from a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of a subject using an MRI scanner, through real-time, dynamic control of the MRI scanner during the MRI scan and/or of processing during the MRI scan of acquired MR signals as part of generating MR data for creation of the MR image. More particularly, some embodiments described herein relate to identifying changes that occur in a magnetic field within an MRI scanner during a course of an MRI scan. In response to changes in the magnetic field, an MRI scanner may be adjusted to change a way in which additional MR data is captured and/or a processing of captured MR signals (that are to be used in generating an MR image) may be adjusted.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques to estimate motion of a subject during a magnetic resonance image (MRI) scan. The estimation may be based on one or more slices acquired during the MRI scan, permitting automated estimation of motion of the subject during the MRI scan. Some such techniques may be performed during the MRI scan, before the completion of the MRI scan, or after the MRI scan before or after magnetic resonance data (MR data) resulting from the MRI scan has been processed to generate an image from the MR data.

Abstract: Described herein are techniques to determine whether an image that would result from a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan would satisfy quality metrics, such as by being of sufficient quality to permit a diagnostic read of the image. The determination may be based on signals emitted and captured by an MRI system during the MRI scan, permitting an automated determination of quality of an image that would result from an MRI scan. Some such techniques may be performed during the MRI scan, before the completion of the MRI scan, or after the MRI scan before or after magnetic resonance data (MR data) resulting from the MRI scan has been processed to generate an image from the MR data.

Abstract: A method for imaging a tissue region of a patient includes receiving a plurality of magnetic resonance (MR) signals of the tissue region, each MR signal being measured by a corresponding one of a plurality of coils, each coil having a different spatial sensitivity profile; and generating an image of the tissue region based on the plurality of MR signals and the spatial sensitivity profile of each coil, including applying one or more constraints to the image generation, wherein at least one of the constraints couples a first image value to one or more neighboring image values.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for acquiring diffusion-weighted images. The method comprises selecting a plurality of diffusion gradient vectors, wherein at least two of the plurality of diffusion gradient vectors correspond to different non-zero b-values. The method further comprises determining a gradient strength for each of the plurality of diffusion gradient vectors such that an echo image time (TE) remains constant when gradients corresponding to each of the plurality of diffusion gradient vectors are applied. The method further comprises acquiring the diffusion-weighted images using a gradient encoding scheme including the gradients corresponding to each of the plurality of gradient vectors.

Abstract: System and method for processing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of an object to perform motion correction. The method comprises estimating, for each slice of the MRI data, parameters for a state space model using a filter that predicts the location of the object for temporally adjacent slices, wherein the state space model represents motion dynamics of the object throughout acquisition of a three-dimensional volume, registering the slices to a reference image based, at least in part, on the estimated parameters, reconstructing an image based, at least in part, on the registered two-dimensional slices, and outputting the reconstructed image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for characterizing biological micro structure in a voxel based, at least in part, on a set of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) data. A multi-compartment parametric model is used to predict a diffusion signal for the voxel using information from the set of diffusion-weighted MR data. Predicting the diffusion signal comprises determining, based on the set of diffusion-weighted MR data, a first set of parameters describing isotropic diffusion in a first compartment of the multi-compartment model and a second set of parameters describing anisotropic diffusion due to the presence of at least one white matter fascicle in a second compartment of the multi-compartment model. At least one first dataset of the set of diffusion-weighted MR data is associated with a first non-zero b-value and at least one second dataset of the set of diffusion-weighted MR data is associated with a second non-zero b-value different than the first non-zero b-value.

Abstract: System and method for processing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of an object to perform motion correction. The method comprises estimating, for each slice of the MRI data, parameters for a state space model using a filter that predicts the location of the object for temporally adjacent slices, wherein the state space model represents motion dynamics of the object throughout acquisition of a three-dimensional volume, registering the slices to a reference image based, at least in part, on the estimated parameters, reconstructing an image based, at least in part, on the registered two-dimensional slices, and outputting the reconstructed image.

Abstract: Some aspects provide a method of determining a set of parameter estimates for an incoherent motion model from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance data of a portion of a biological body. The method comprises determining a first set of parameter estimates for a plurality of voxels associated with one or more images based, at least in part, on the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance data, determining a second set of parameter estimates by stochastically perturbing the first set of parameter estimates, determining a third set of parameter estimates based, at least in part, on the first set of parameter estimates and the second set of parameter estimates, and determining whether at least one criterion associated with the third set of parameter estimates is satisfied.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for characterizing biological micro structure in a voxel based, at least in part, on a set of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) data. A multi-compartment parametric model is used to predict a diffusion signal for the voxel using information from the set of diffusion-weighted MR data. Predicting the diffusion signal comprises determining, based on the set of diffusion-weighted MR data, a first set of parameters describing isotropic diffusion in a first compartment of the multi-compartment model and a second set of parameters describing anisotropic diffusion due to the presence of at least one white matter fascicle in a second compartment of the multi-compartment model. At least one first dataset of the set of diffusion-weighted MR data is associated with a first non-zero b-value and at least one second dataset of the set of diffusion-weighted MR data is associated with a second non-zero b-value different than the first non-zero b-value.

Abstract: Some aspects provide a method of determining a set of parameter estimates for an incoherent motion model from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance data of a portion of a biological body. The method comprises determining a first set of parameter estimates for a plurality of voxels associated with one or more images based, at least in part, on the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance data, determining a second set of parameter estimates by stochastically perturbing the first set of parameter estimates, determining a third set of parameter estimates based, at least in part, on the first set of parameter estimates and the second set of parameter estimates, and determining whether at least one criterion associated with the third set of parameter estimates is satisfied.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for acquiring diffusion-weighted images. The method comprises selecting a plurality of diffusion gradient vectors, wherein at least two of the plurality of diffusion gradient vectors correspond to different non-zero b-values. The method further comprises determining a gradient strength for each of the plurality of diffusion gradient vectors such that an echo image time (TE) remains constant when gradients corresponding to each of the plurality of diffusion gradient vectors are applied. The method further comprises acquiring the diffusion-weighted images using a gradient encoding scheme including the gradients corresponding to each of the plurality of gradient vectors.