Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-channel (e.g. quadrature) MRI transmit system in which RF power amplifiers having different power capabilities are used in different transmit channels. This results in reduced system costs, due to the avoidance of an unused excess of RF power capability when the power demand for obtaining a homogeneous B1-field (RF shimming) is asymmetric and the asymmetry is qualitatively the same for different imaging applications. The multi-channel transmit unit may also comprise a commutator which enables to selectively connect each RF power amplifier to each drive port of transmit coil arrangement (e.g. a birdcage coil).

Abstract: An RF volume resonator system is disclosed comprising a multi-port RF volume resonator (40, 50; 60), like e.g. a TEM volume coil or TEM resonator, or a birdcage coil, all of those especially in the form of a local coil like a head coil, or a whole body coil, and a plurality of transmit and/or receive channels (T/RCh1, . . . T/RCh8) for operating the multi-port RF volume resonator for transmitting RF excitation signals and/or for receiving MR relaxation signals into/from an examination object or a part thereof. By the individual selection of each port (P1, . . . P8) and the appropriate amplitude and/or frequency and/or phase and/or pulse shapes of the RF transmit signals according to the physical properties of an examination object, a resonant RF mode within the examination object with an improved homogeneity can be excited by the RF resonator.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus to enable increased RF duty cycle in high field MR scans, a specific energy absorption rate (SAR) calculation processor calculates the local and global SAR or even a spatial SAR map. By incorporating additional information as, e.g. patient position, the SAR calculation accuracy can be increased as well as by using more patient specific pre-calculated information (e.g. based on different bio meshes), the so called Q-matrices. A sequence controller maybe provided to create a global SAR optimal RF pulse. After the optimal RF pulse is applied, the SAR and its spatial distribution are determined. SAR hotspots are also determined. Q-matrices within an appropriate radius around the hotspots are averaged and added to a global Q-matrix in a weighted fashion. After the global Q-matrix is updated, a new optimal RF pulse is created.

Abstract: Abstract: An RF volume resonator system is disclosed comprising a multi-port RF volume resonator (40, 50; 60), like e.g. a TEM volume coil or TEM resonator, or a birdcage coil, all of those especially in the form of a local coil like a head coil, or a whole body coil, and a plurality of transmit and/or receive channels (T/RCh1, . . . T/RCh8) for operating the multi-port RF volume resonator for transmitting RF excitation signals and/or for receiving MR relaxation signals into/from an examination object or a part thereof. By the individual selection of each port (P1, . . . P8) and the appropriate amplitude and/or frequency and/or phase and/or pulse shapes of the RF transmit signals according to the physical properties of an examination object, a resonant RF mode within the examination object with an improved homogeneity can be excited by the RF resonator.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-channel (e.g. quadrature) MRI transmit system in which RF power amplifiers having different power capabilities are used in different transmit channels. This results in reduced system costs, due to the avoidance of an unused excess of RF power capability when the power demand for obtaining a homogeneous B1-field (RF shimming) is asymmetric and the asymmetry is qualitatively the same for different imaging applications. The multi-channel transmit unit may also comprise a commutator which enables to selectively connect each RF power amplifier to each drive port of transmit coil arrangement (e.g. a birdcage coil).

Abstract: In a method and apparatus to enable increased RF duty cycle in high field MR scans, a specific energy absorption rate (SAR) calculation processor (36) calculates the local and global SAR or even a spatial SAR map. The efficient implementation by using pre-averaged data (based on E-fields) makes a fast and accurate SAR estimation possible. By incorporating additional information as e.g. patient position the SAR calculation accuracy can be increased as well as by using more patient specific precalculated information (e.g. based on different bio meshes), the so called Q-matrices. Optionally, a sequence controller (24) creates a global SAR optimal RF pulse. After the optimal RF pulse is applied, the SAR and its spatial distribution are determined. SAR hotspots are also determined. Q-matrices within an appropriate radius around the hotspots are averaged and added to a global Q-matrix in a weighted fashion. After the global Q-matrix is updated, a new optimal RF pulse is created.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes an examination volume (9), a main magnet system (17) for generating a main magnetic field (B0) in the examination volume, a gradient magnet system (25) for generating gradients of the main magnetic field, and a control system (37) for compensating disturbances of the magnetic field caused by mechanical vibrations of the MRI system. The control system is a feed-forward control system which determines a necessary compensation for said disturbances in dependence on an electric current in the gradient magnet system according to a predetermined response relation. Since in most MRI systems the mechanical vibrations are predominantly caused by the altering electric currents in the gradient magnet system and by eddy currents induced thereby, an accurate and reliable compensation for said disturbances is provided, so that artifacts and other distortions of the reconstructed image caused by said disturbances are considerably reduced.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system comprises reconstruction unit that is arranged to reconstruct a complex image of complex valued pixels from magnetic resonance signals. A compute a distribution of phase values of the complex image and to apply a phase correction to the complex image to form a corrected magnetic resonance image. The phase correction is controlled on the basis of the distribution of phase values of the complex image. Notably, the histogram power function is an effective indicator of the accuracy of the phase correction.