Abstract: A method of generating biomarker parameters includes acquiring imaging data depicting a patient using a MRI system. The imaging data is acquired for a plurality of contrasts resulting from application of a pulse on the patient's anatomy. A process is executed to generate a MoCoAve image for each contrast. This process includes dividing the imaging data for the contrast into bins corresponding to one of a plurality of respiratory motion phases, and reconstructing the imaging data in each bin to yield bin images. The process further includes selecting a reference bin image from the bin images, and warping the bin images based on the reference bin image. The warped bin images and the reference bin image are averaged to generate the MoCoAve image for the contrast. One or more biomarker parameter maps are calculated based on the MoCoAve images generated for the contrasts.

Abstract: A method of generating biomarker parameters includes acquiring imaging data depicting a patient using a MRI system. The imaging data is acquired for a plurality of contrasts resulting from application of a pulse on the patient's anatomy. A process is executed to generate a MoCoAve image for each contrast. This process includes dividing the imaging data for the contrast into bins corresponding to one of a plurality of respiratory motion phases, and reconstructing the imaging data in each bin to yield bin images. The process further includes selecting a reference bin image from the bin images, and warping the bin images based on the reference bin image. The warped bin images and the reference bin image are averaged to generate the MoCoAve image for the contrast. One or more biomarker parameter maps are calculated based on the MoCoAve images generated for the contrasts.

Abstract: A system for performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a subject has a pulse sequence system that generates a pulse sequence and has a gradient system, a plurality of gradient coils, a radio-frequency system, and a plurality of RF coils. The pulse sequence system causes the subject to emit MR signals which are captured as k-space data. The system also has a k-space ordering processor that collects first k-space data and second k-space data, an MR signal modeler that generates a signal variation model, and a compensation module that applies the signal variation model to the second k-space data collected to produce compensated k-space data. A display processor reconstructs the compensated k-space data into an image of the subject. The compensated data accounts for variation in magnetization during the pulse sequence and k-space data collection to reduce artifacts in the images.

Abstract: An imaging system includes determination of a first gradient-modulated offset-independent adiabaticity pulse associated with a first bandwidth and a first gradient strength, determination of a second gradient-modulated offset-independent adiabaticity pulse associated with a second bandwidth less than the first bandwidth and a second gradient strength less than the first gradient strength, determination of a third asymmetric adiabatic pulse based on the first gradient-modulated offset-independent adiabaticity pulse and the second gradient-modulated offset-independent adiabaticity pulse, and control of a radio frequency system and gradient system to apply the third asymmetric adiabatic pulse to patient tissue.

Abstract: A method includes capturing a first set of optical images of the subject while a subject is lying on a table of a Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner. This first set of optical images is acquired without any MR phased-array coils placed on the subject. While the subject continues to lie on the table of the MR scanner, a second set of optical images of the subject is acquired with the MR phased-array coils placed on the subject. Aside from the optical images, a set of MR images of the subject is acquired using the MR scanner. The first and second set of optical images are registered to the MR images. Following registration, the first and second set of optical images are used to determine element positioning of the MR phased-array coils in the set of MR images.

Abstract: An imaging system includes determination of a first gradient-modulated offset-independent adiabaticity pulse associated with a first bandwidth and a first gradient strength, determination of a second gradient-modulated offset-independent adiabaticity pulse associated with a second bandwidth less than the first bandwidth and a second gradient strength less than the first gradient strength, determination of a third asymmetric adiabatic pulse based on the first gradient-modulated offset-independent adiabaticity pulse and the second gradient-modulated offset-independent adiabaticity pulse, and control of a radio frequency system and gradient system to apply the third asymmetric adiabatic pulse to patient tissue.

Abstract: A method includes capturing a first set of optical images of the subject while a subject is lying on a table of a Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner. This first set of optical images is acquired without any MR phased-array coils placed on the subject. While the subject continues to lie on the table of the MR scanner, a second set of optical images of the subject is acquired with the MR phased-array coils placed on the subject. Aside from the optical images, a set of MR images of the subject is acquired using the MR scanner. The first and second set of optical images are registered to the MR images. Following registration, the first and second set of optical images are used to determine element positioning of the MR phased-array coils in the set of MR images.

Abstract: A system for performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of a subject has a pulse sequence system that generates a pulse sequence and has a gradient system, a plurality of gradient coils, a radio-frequency system, and a plurality of RF coils. The pulse sequence system causes the subject to emit MR signals which are captured as k-space data. The system also has a k-space ordering processor that collects first k-space data and second k-space data, an MR signal modeler that generates a signal variation model, and a compensation module that applies the signal variation model to the second k-space data collected to produce compensated k-space data. A display processor reconstructs the compensated k-space data into an image of the subject. The compensated data accounts for variation in magnetization during the pulse sequence and k-space data collection to reduce artifacts in the images.

Abstract: Embodiments can provide a computer-implemented method for free breathing three dimensional diffusion imaging, the method comprising initiating, via a k-space component processor, diffusion/T2 preparation, comprising generating diffusion contrast; and adjusting one or more of amplitude, duration, and polarity to set a first order moment; applying, via an image data processor, a stack of stars k-space ordering, comprising acquiring a radial/spiral view for all members of a plurality of partitions in a partition-encoding direction; increasing an azimuthal angle until a complete set of radial/spiral views are sampled; and applying diffusion gradients along each of three axis simultaneously; and calculating, via the image data processor, an apparent diffusion coefficient map.

Abstract: A method for performing 3D body imaging includes performing a 3D MRI acquisition of a patient to acquire k-space data and dividing the k-space data into k-space data bins. Each bin includes a portion of the k-space data corresponding to a distinct breathing phase. 3D image sets are reconstructed from the bins, with each 3D image set corresponding to a distinct k-space data bin. For each bin other than a selected reference bin, forward and inverse transforms are calculated between the 3D image set corresponding to the bin and the 3D image set corresponding to the reference bin. Then, a motion corrected and averaged image is generated for each bin by (a) aligning the 3D image set from each other bin to the 3D image set corresponding to the bin using the transforms, and (b) averaging the aligned 3D image sets to yield the motion corrected and averaged image.

Abstract: A method for acquiring an image volume using a magnetic resonance imaging device includes performing an acquisition process to acquire a first dataset corresponding to a first portion of an anatomical region of interest at a first slice resolution, wherein the first dataset comprises a first plurality of three-dimensional slabs or a first plurality of two-dimensional slice regions. Additionally, one or more additional acquisition processes is performed to acquire a second dataset corresponding to a second portion of the anatomical region of interest at a second slice resolution that is lower or higher than the first slice resolution, wherein the second dataset comprises a second plurality of three-dimensional slabs or a second plurality of two-dimensional slice regions. Once the datasets are acquired, a reconstruction process is applied to jointly reconstruct the first dataset and the second dataset as a single consistent volume.

Abstract: Embodiments can provide a computer-implemented method for free breathing three dimensional diffusion imaging, the method comprising initiating, via a k-space component processor, diffusion/T2 preparation, comprising generating diffusion contrast; and adjusting one or more of amplitude, duration, and polarity to set a first order moment; applying, via an image data processor, a stack of stars k-space ordering, comprising acquiring a radial/spiral view for all members of a plurality of partitions in a partition-encoding direction; increasing an azimuthal angle until a complete set of radial/spiral views are sampled; and applying diffusion gradients along each of three axis simultaneously; and calculating, via the image data processor, an apparent diffusion coefficient map.

Abstract: A system includes applying, to patient tissue, a first imaging sequence comprising first balanced gradient pulse trains and RF pulses, where phases of successive RF pulses in the first imaging sequence differ by a first pulse phase increment, detecting first signals emitted from the patient tissue in response to the first imaging sequence, and to generate a first image based on the first signals, applying, to the patient tissue, a second imaging sequence comprising second balanced gradient pulse trains and RF pulses, where phases of successive RF pulses in the second imaging sequence differ by a second pulse phase increment different from the first pulse phase increment, detecting second signals emitted from the patient tissue in response to the second imaging sequence, and to generate a second image based on the second signals, applying motion-correction processing to the first image to generate a first motion-corrected image, applying motion-correction processing to the second image to generate a second mot

Abstract: A magnetic resonance method and system are provided for providing improved 3D imaging of blood vessels and the like, which provides suppression of both blood and fat signals and is insensitive to subject motion, thereby facilitating improved visualization of vessel walls. The image data pulse sequence includes a plurality of pulse series, where each series includes a dark-blood sequence, a fat-suppression sequence, and a data readout sequence. Each data readout sequence samples a particular radial direction within each partition (Kz value) that passes through the Kz axis, and different radial orientations are sampled in subsequent series to provide a stack-of-stars sampling scheme.

Abstract: A method for performing 3D body imaging includes performing a 3D MRI acquisition of a patient to acquire k-space data and dividing the k-space data into k-space data bins. Each bin includes a portion of the k-space data corresponding to a distinct breathing phase. 3D image sets are reconstructed from the bins, with each 3D image set corresponding to a distinct k-space data bin. For each bin other than a selected reference bin, forward and inverse transforms are calculated between the 3D image set corresponding to the bin and the 3D image set corresponding to the reference bin. Then, a motion corrected and averaged image is generated for each bin by (a) aligning the 3D image set from each other bin to the 3D image set corresponding to the bin using the transforms, and (b) averaging the aligned 3D image sets to yield the motion corrected and averaged image.

Abstract: A method for acquiring an image volume using a magnetic resonance imaging device includes performing an acquisition process to acquire a first dataset corresponding to a first portion of an anatomical region of interest at a first slice resolution, wherein the first dataset comprises a first plurality of three-dimensional slabs or a first plurality of two-dimensional slice regions. Additionally, one or more additional acquisition processes is performed to acquire a second dataset corresponding to a second portion of the anatomical region of interest at a second slice resolution that is lower or higher than the first slice resolution, wherein the second dataset comprises a second plurality of three-dimensional slabs or a second plurality of two-dimensional slice regions. Once the datasets are acquired, a reconstruction process is applied to jointly reconstruct the first dataset and the second dataset as a single consistent volume.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for determining magnetic field inversion time of a tissue species includes generating a T1-mapping image of a tissue of interest, the T1-mapping image comprising a plurality of T1 values within an expected range of T1 values for the tissue of interest. An image mask is created based on predetermined identification information about the tissue of interest. Next, an updated image mask is created based on a largest connected region in the image mask. The updated image mask is applied to the T1-mapping image to yield a masked image. Then, a mean relaxation time value is determined for the largest connected region. The mean relaxation time value is then used to determine a time point for nulling longitudinal magnetization.

Abstract: A system includes applying, to patient tissue, a first imaging sequence comprising first balanced gradient pulse trains and RF pulses, where phases of successive RF pulses in the first imaging sequence differ by a first pulse phase increment, detecting first signals emitted from the patient tissue in response to the first imaging sequence, and to generate a first image based on the first signals, applying, to the patient tissue, a second imaging sequence comprising second balanced gradient pulse trains and RF pulses, where phases of successive RF pulses in the second imaging sequence differ by a second pulse phase increment different from the first pulse phase increment, detecting second signals emitted from the patient tissue in response to the second imaging sequence, and to generate a second image based on the second signals, applying motion-correction processing to the first image to generate a first motion-corrected image, applying motion-correction processing to the second image to generate a second mot

Abstract: A magnetic resonance method and system are provided for providing improved 3D imaging of blood vessels and the like, which provides suppression of both blood and fat signals and is insensitive to subject motion, thereby facilitating improved visualization of vessel walls. The image data pulse sequence includes a plurality of pulse series, where each series includes a dark-blood sequence, a fat-suppression sequence, and a data readout sequence. Each data readout sequence samples a particular radial direction within each partition (Kz value) that passes through the Kz axis, and different radial orientations are sampled in subsequent series to provide a stack-of-stars sampling scheme.

Abstract: A system includes an image data processor for automatically processing data representing multiple patient anatomical images acquired in a single imaging scan. The images are acquired by, identifying multiple different anatomical elements in corresponding multiple different anatomical regions and identifying multiple different potentially pathology indicative features associated with the multiple different anatomical elements in response to first predetermined information associating different potentially pathology indicative features with corresponding different anatomical elements. The image data processor determines multiple different image acquisition methods for use in imaging the multiple different potentially pathology indicative features in response to second predetermined information associating different image acquisition methods with corresponding identified different pathology indicative features. An output processor collates images for output.