Abstract: A perfusion chamber for use in a phantom including a waterproof housing containing a porous material, the porous material defining fluid paths between pores and tubular channels within the porous material; and a reservoir for use in a phantom, a pump mechanism for use within the bore of an MRI scanner, a phantom for use in an MRI scanner, and a method for calibrating a scanning device.

Abstract: A perfusion chamber for use in a phantom includes a waterproof housing containing a porous material defining fluid paths between pores and tubular channels within the porous material. A reservoir for use in a phantom, a pump mechanism for use within the bore of an MRI scanner, a phantom for use in an MRI scanner, and a method for calibrating a scanning device are disclosed. Also disclosed is apparatus for validating images of a phantom that includes: one or more sensors for coupling to a phantom to be imaged; a control/logging system configured to: collect sensor data during imaging of the phantom and pass this as input to a computer model; compare the image data with reference image data produced using the computer model; and return a pass score depending on the comparison. A system and method for verifying images of a phantom are also disclosed.

Abstract: A phantom for use in an MRI scanner includes an outer housing and a plurality of vessels located within the outer housing, where each of the vessels contains a material. The value of a property of the material at a particular temperature is different for each of the vessels. The phantom also includes a phase change material between the outer housing and the vessels. Also provided are a method for manufacturing a phantom, a method for obtaining calibrated measurements from non-calibrated images using a phantom, a system for obtaining calibrated measurements from non-calibrated images, and a coil assembly for use in an MRI scanner.

Abstract: The invention provides a phantom for use in an MRI scanner comprising: an outer housing; a plurality of vessels located within the outer housing, each of the vessels containing a material, wherein the value of a property of the material at a particular temperature is different for each of the vessels; and a phase change material between the outer housing and the vessels. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing a phantom, a method for obtaining calibrated measurements from non-calibrated images using a phantom, a system for obtaining calibrated measurements from non-calibrated images, and a coil assembly for use in an MRI scanner.

Abstract: A perfusion chamber for use in a phantom includes a waterproof housing containing a porous material defining fluid paths between pores and tubular channels within the porous material. A reservoir for use in a phantom, a pump mechanism for use within the bore of an MRI scanner, a phantom for use in an MRI scanner, and a method for calibrating a scanning device are disclosed. Also disclosed is apparatus for validating images of a phantom that includes: one or more sensors for coupling to a phantom to be imaged; a control/logging system configured to: collect sensor data during imaging of the phantom and pass this as input to a computer model; compare the image data with reference image data produced using the computer model; and return a pass score depending on the comparison. A system and method for verifying images of a phantom are also disclosed.

Abstract: Intravascular contrast agents are provided by Gd-chelates modified so as to comprise an amino acid unit attached to the chelate via a linker group suitably selected from C2-4alkylene and C3-5alkynylene. The chelates may be used as an intravascular contrast agent for MRI. Certain embodiments demonstrate enhanced relaxivity and good levels of signal enhancement.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a magnetic resonance imaging scanner (10) that performs an inversion recovery magnetic resonance excitation sequence (70) having a blood-nulling inversion time (60) determined based on a blood T1 value appropriate for a selected magnetic field and blood hematocrit, whereby magnetic resonance of blood is substantially nulled. The inversion recovery excitation sequence (70) includes an inversion radio frequency pulse (74) applied with a small or zero slice-selective magnetic field gradient pulse to avoid inflow effects, and an excitation radio frequency pulse (80). The inversion pulse (74) and excitation pulse (80) are separated by the inversion time (60). The magnetic resonance imaging scanner (10) subsequently performs a readout magnetic resonance sequence (72) or spectroscopy sequence to acquire a magnetic resonance signal from tissue other than the nulled blood.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, a surface acoustic wave resonator is provided.

Abstract: Intravascular contrast agents are provided by Gd-chelates modified so as to comprise an amino acid unit attached to the chelate via a linker group suitably selected from C2-4alkylene and C3-5alkynylene. The chelates may be used as an intravascular contrast agent for MRI. Certain embodiments demonstrate enhanced relaxivity and good levels of signal enhancement.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for generating quantitative imagery of demyelination in the spinal cord. The method includes acquiring a magnetization transfer weighted (MTw) MR image of the spinal column, identifying a reference region of interest within the image corresponding to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), averaging the signal intensity corresponding to the reference region of interest, and computing a ratio, on a voxel-by-voxel basis, of the signal intensity of each voxel by the averaged reference signal intensity. In doing so, normalized MTw images are obtained such that detrimental artifacts such as motion-induced errors, coil loading, and RF coil sensitivity variations are obviated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for generating quantitative imagery of demyelination in the spinal cord. The method includes acquiring a magnetization transfer weighted (MTw) MR image of the spinal column, identifying a reference region of interest within the image corresponding to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), averaging the signal intensity corresponding to the reference region of interest, and computing a ratio, on a voxel-by-voxel basis, of the signal intensity of each voxel by the averaged reference signal intensity. In doing so, normalized MTw images are obtained such that detrimental artifacts such as motion-induced errors, coil loading, and RF coil sensitivity variations are obviated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for generating quantitative imagery of demyelination in the spinal cord. The method includes acquiring a magnetization transfer weighted (MTw) MR image of the spinal column, identifying a reference region of interest within the image corresponding to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), averaging the signal intensity corresponding to the reference region of interest, and computing a ratio, on a voxel-by-voxel basis, of the signal intensity of each voxel by the averaged reference signal intensity. In doing so, normalized MTw images are obtained such that detrimental artifacts such as motion-induced errors, coil loading, and RF coil sensitivity variations are obviated.

Abstract: Featured are methods for magnetic resonance imaging in which MR signals of selected tissues, fluid or body components in a target area are desired to be essentially eliminated, which method includes applying an initial RF inversion pulse to invert the magnetization of the selected tissues or to apply any other T1 preparation aimed at nulling one or more tissue species and successively applying one or more RF inversions pulses thereafter. More particularly, the successively applied RF inversion pulses are applied so as to essentially maintain the magnetization of the selected tissues at or about the zero-crossing point of the longitudinal magnetization. Such methods further include interleaving a plurality of excitation pulses for acquiring image data and the RF inversion pulses so that at least one of the plurality of excitation pulses follows in a time sequence the application of one of the applied RF inversion pulses such that the image data is acquired following an inversion pulse.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a magnetic resonance imaging scanner (10) that performs an inversion recovery magnetic resonance excitation sequence (70) having a blood-nulling inversion time (60) determined based on a blood T1 value appropriate for a selected magnetic field and blood hematocrit, whereby magnetic resonance of blood is substantially nulled. The inversion recovery excitation sequence (70) includes an inversion radio frequency pulse (74) applied with a small or zero slice-selective magnetic field gradient pulse to avoid inflow effects, and an excitation radio frequency pulse (80). The inversion pulse (74) and excitation pulse (80) are separated by the inversion time (60). The magnetic resonance imaging scanner (10) subsequently performs a readout magnetic resonance sequence (72) or spectroscopy sequence to acquire a magnetic resonance signal from tissue other than the nulled blood.

Abstract: Featured are methods for magnetic resonance imaging in which MR signals of selected tissues, fluid or body components in a target area are desired to be essentially eliminated, which method includes applying an initial RF inversion pulse to invert the magnetization of the selected tissues or to apply any other T1 preparation aimed at nulling one or more tissue species and successively applying one or more RF inversions pulses thereafter. More particularly, the successively applied RF inversion pulses are applied so as to essentially maintain the magnetization of the selected tissues at or about the zero-crossing point of the longitudinal magnetization. Such methods further include interleaving a plurality of excitation pulses for acquiring image data and the RF inversion pulses so that at least one of the plurality of excitation pulses follows in a time sequence the application of one of the applied RF inversion pulses such that the image data is acquired following an inversion pulse.