Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus acquires 3D data of a subject, extracts 2D data for ky=constant out of the 3D data concurrently with the collection of 3D data, Fourier-transforms in a z-axis direction the extracted 2D data for ky=constant and rearranges the same on a kx-z space concurrently with the collecting of 3D data, performs a one-dimensional Fourier transform on z-data completed in a kx direction and acquires a 2D image for real space concurrently with the collection of 3D data, and displays a 2D image on a monitor concurrently with the collection of 3D data. Meanwhile, the the 3D data in the z-axis direction is Fourier-transformed and rearranged on a kx-ky-z space, a two-dimensional Fourier transform is performed on the z-data completed in a kx/ky direction and a 3D image is acquired for real space.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a sensitivity map data generating unit and a sensitivity corrected image data generating unit. The sensitivity map data generating unit generates reference image data based on data for generating sensitivity map data of a phased array coil and generates the sensitivity map data by using reference image data after correction processing obtained by applying the correction processing to improve a uniformity with the reference image data based on the reference image data and phased array coil data for generating the sensitivity map data. The sensitivity corrected image data generating unit acquires image data for imaging with the phased array coil and performs sensitivity correction of the image data using the sensitivity map data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance diagnosis apparatus includes a coil assembly including a high-frequency coil, a transmission unit which excites magnetization of a specific atomic nucleus of an object via the high-frequency coil, a reception unit including a detection unit for receiving a magnetic resonance signal via the high-frequency coil, a low-pass filter, and an analog/digital converter, a control unit which sets a passband of the low-pass filter to not less than three odd multiple of a frequency band determined from an imaging field of view, and sets a sampling frequency of the analog/digital converter to an oversampling frequency exceeding a signal band of the magnetic resonance signal, a noise spatial distribution generating unit which generates a noise spatial distribution on the basis of an output from the reception unit.

Abstract: MRI echo data is acquired by performing selective-excitation on regions composed of multi-slices of an object, while the object is moved continuously. The positions of the multi-slices are moved within a predetermined imaging range fixedly determined by an MRI system, according to object movement. This allows positions of the multi-slices to be changed in compliance with the moved object, so that the multi-slices positionally track with the object within the imaging range. Accordingly, a multi-slice imaging technique can be provided, which is executable during even continuous movement of the object.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an array coil in which a plurality of element coils are arranged to receive magnetic resonance signals from a subject, a calculation unit which calculates projection data for the element coils regarding an arrangement direction of the plurality of element coils on the basis of the plurality of magnetic resonance signals received by the plurality of element coils, and a determination unit which determines the positions of the plurality of element coils or the position of the array coil on the basis of the projection data for the plurality of element coils.

Abstract: In a medical imaging method of taking a tomographic image of a sample into which a contrast medium is injected by the use of a medical imaging system, a monitoring operation is performed on the sample into which the contrast medium is injected and then an imaging scan for reconstructing the tomographic image is performed.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a sensitivity map data generating unit and a sensitivity corrected image data generating unit. The sensitivity map data generating unit generates reference image data based on data for generating sensitivity map data of a phased array coil and generates the sensitivity map data by using reference image data after correction processing obtained by applying the correction processing to improve a uniformity with the reference image data based on the reference image data and phased array coil data for generating the sensitivity map data. The sensitivity corrected image data generating unit acquires image data for imaging with the phased array coil and performs sensitivity correction of the image data using the sensitivity map data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance diagnosis apparatus includes a coil assembly including a high-frequency coil, a transmission unit which excites magnetization of a specific atomic nucleus of an object via the high-frequency coil, a reception unit including a detection unit for receiving a magnetic resonance signal via the high-frequency coil, a low-pass filter, and an analog/digital converter, a control unit which sets a passband of the low-pass filter to not less than three odd multiple of a frequency band determined from an imaging field of view, and sets a sampling frequency of the analog/digital converter to an oversampling frequency exceeding a signal band of the magnetic resonance signal, a noise spatial distribution generating unit which generates a noise spatial distribution on the basis of an output from the reception unit.

Abstract: In a calculator system of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, a filter setting unit sets a shape of a filter superimposed on k-space data to match a shape of a data collecting area in a k-space. A filter processing unit performs a filtering process on the k-space data using the filter of which the shape is set.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus 20 includes a scan executing unit that executes scan to generate sensitivity map data of an RF coil 24, a region reduction unit 44b that applies region reduction to a signal region near a no-signal region of image data obtained by the scan, a sensitivity map data generating unit 44 that generates sensitivity map data using image data after the region reduction, and a smoothing processing unit 44i that applies three-dimensional smoothing filter to the sensitivity map data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an array coil in which a plurality of element coils are arranged to receive magnetic resonance signals from a subject, a calculation unit which calculates projection data for the element coils regarding an arrangement direction of the plurality of element coils on the basis of the plurality of magnetic resonance signals received by the plurality of element coils, and a determination unit which determines the positions of the plurality of element coils or the position of the array coil on the basis of the projection data for the plurality of element coils.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes data acquiring means that acquires 3D raw data of a subject, 2D data extract means that extracts 2D data for “ky=0” out of the 3D raw data concurrently with the acquiring of 3D raw data by the data acquiring means, 2D-data rearranging means that Fourier-transforms in a z-axis direction the extractped 2D data for “ky=0” and rearranges the same on a kx-z space concurrently with the acquiring of 3D raw data by the data acquiring means, 2D-imade reconstructing means that performs a one-dimensional Fourier transform on z-data completed in a kx direction and acquires a 2D image for a real space concurrently with the acquiring of 3D raw data by the data acquiring means, and a display control means that causes to display a 2D image on a monitor concurrently with the acquiring of 3D raw data by the data acquiring means.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising an imaging condition setting unit, a gradient coil, a radio frequency coil, a data acquisition unit, an image reconstructing unit and an image data generating unit. The imaging condition setting unit sets a first imaging condition and a second imaging condition at least. The data acquisition unit acquires first magnetic resonance signal data corresponding to the first imaging condition and second magnetic resonance signal data corresponding to the second imaging condition. The image reconstructing unit reconstructs first three dimensional image data in accordance with the first magnetic resonance signal data and second three dimensional image data in accordance with the second magnetic resonance signal data. The image data generating unit combines the first three dimensional image data and the second three dimensional image data to generate third three dimensional image data.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus acquires magnetic resonance signals by the PI method using an RF coil unit having basic coils serving as surface coils which are arrayed with at least two coils along a static magnetic field direction (Z direction) and and at least two coils along each of two orthogonal x, y directions. The coils are divided into an upper unit and a lower unit. The upper unit and lower unit are fixed by a band or the like to allow them to be mounted on an object to be examined. The signals detected by the respective surface coils are sent to a data processing system through independent receiver unit and formed into a magnetic resonance image.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a sensitivity map database that stores sensitivity map data of a multi-coil including plural coils necessary for parallel imaging unfolding processing; a data slicing unit that slices partial data from three-dimensional volume data collected for the respective coils by parallel imaging, respectively; an intermediate image reconstructing unit that executes reconstruction processing for the partial data to thereby reconstruct intermediate images for the respective coils; and a reference image generating unit that slices sensitivity map data corresponding to the intermediate images from the sensitivity map database as sensitivity map data for unfolding processing, executes the parallel imaging unfolding processing for the intermediate images using the sensitivity map data for unfolding processing, and generates reference images.

Abstract: Parallel imaging is performed by a magnetic resonance imaging system provided with a multiple RF coil composed of plural element coils. As part of parallel imaging conditions, a desired imaging FOV and a reduction rate of data acquisition time for the parallel imaging are specified by an operator. An unfolding FOV to which an unfolding scale is assigned is specified. The unfolding scale is larger in value than the reduction rate, thus the unfolding FOV is larger in the size than the imaging FOV. Using an acquisition FOV specified based on the imaging FOV and the reduction rate, a scan for parallel imaging is performed and images are reconstructed corresponding to the respective element coils. The reconstructed images are unfolded into an unfolding-FOV image at the unfolding scale. An image having the imaging FOV is cut out, as a desired final image, from the unfolded image.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging system includes an MR signal reception apparatus comprising a receiving multi-coil and a switchover member. The receiving multi-coil receives MR signals and is composed of a plurality of element coils. The switchover member is configured to switch reception states of the MR signals received by the plurality of element coils in response to imaging conditions. The switchover member connects output paths of the MR signals from the plurality of element coils to a receiver, to reception channels in the receiver in response to the imaging conditions. The reception channels is less in number than the element coils. The imaging conditions are for example directed to parallel MR imaging.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus acquires magnetic resonance signals by the PI method using an RF coil unit having basic coils serving as surface coils which are arrayed with at least two coils along a static magnetic field direction (z direction) and at least two coils along each of two orthogonal x, y directions. The coils are divided into an upper unit and a lower unit. The upper unit and lower unit are fixed by a band or the like to allow them to be mounted on an object to be examined. The signals detected by the respective surface coils are sent to a data processing system through independent receiver units and formed into a magnetic resonance image.

Abstract: MRI echo data is acquired by performing selective-excitation on regions composed of multi-slices of an object, while the object is moved continuously. The positions of the multi-slices are moved within a predetermined imaging range fixedly determined by an MRI system, according to object movement. This allows positions of the multi-slices to be changed in compliance with the moved object, so that the multi-slices positionally track with the object within the imaging range. Accordingly, a multi-slice imaging technique can be provided, which is executable during even continuous movement of the object.

Abstract: Parallel imaging is performed by a magnetic resonance imaging system provided with a multiple RF coil composed of plural element coils. As part of parallel imaging conditions, a desired imaging FOV and a reduction rate of data acquisition time for the parallel imaging are specified by an operator. An unfolding FOV to which an unfolding scale is assigned is specified. The unfolding scale is larger in value than the reduction rate, thus the unfolding FOV is larger in the size than the imaging FOV. Using an acquisition FOV specified based on the imaging FOV and the reduction rate, a scan for parallel imaging is performed and images are reconstructed corresponding to the respective element coils. The reconstructed images are unfolded into an unfolding-FOV image at the unfolding scale. An image having the imaging FOV is cut out, as a desired final image, from the unfolded image.