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 method for NMR measurements on borehole materials, e.g., sidewall cores, is based on performing a standard measurement in substantially homogeneous magnetic fields with a sensitivity volume covering an entire sample and a measurement on a fragment of the sample (local measurement), the fragment having a predetermined volume independent of the irregularities of the sample shape (e.g., irregular shaped edges). The fragment of the sample is selected using a switchable static magnetic field gradient or a localized radio-frequency magnetic field. The homogeneous and the local measurement data are processed jointly to obtain volume normalized NMR relaxation data (in porosity units), the processing also using a calibration sample data. A measurement apparatus with an automated sample transfer can be used to implement the method in order to perform high-throughput NMR relaxation measurements that do not require independent measurement of the sample volume.

Abstract: A multi-modality phantom is provided. The multi-modality phantom includes a container and an insert. The container defines an exterior that is separated from an interior space and designed to receive a tissue-mimicking medium for an ultrasound imaging process. The container further includes at least one access port formed in the container to perform the ultrasound imaging process of the interior space. The insert can be dimensioned to be selectively arranged within the interior space of the container. The insert includes imaging features arranged to simulate an environment and constructed to yield simultaneous imaging results when performing the ultrasound imaging process and at least one non-ultrasound imaging process.

Abstract: A method can include receiving measurements of a fluid mixture where the measurements are acquired by at least one downhole tool; performing a multiphysics inversion of the measurements to generate nuclear parameter values for the fluid mixture; performing a multivariate interpolation using the generated nuclear parameter values that accounts for intermolecular interactions in the fluid mixture; and determining a composition of the fluid mixture based on the multivariate interpolation.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to improve quality assurance when using MRI images for radiotherapy treatment planning. This object is achieved by a treatment plan evaluation tool A configured for calculating a quality indicator for a radiotherapy treatment plan. The radiotherapy treatment plan originates from a planning image, wherein the planning image is an MRI image acquired under a presence of a main magnetic field having a magnetic field inhomogeneity. The treatment plan evaluation tool is further configured to receive information about the magnetic field inhomogeneity and the treatment plan evaluation tool is further configured to calculate the quality indicator based on the information about the magnetic field homogeneity.

Abstract: A multi-modality fatty tissue mimicking material for phantoms for use with thermoacoustic imaging, ultrasound imaging and magnetic resonance imaging, which includes: an aqueous mixture of a 3% to 18% thickening agent, a 1% to 30% protein powder, a 0.1% to 2% ionic salt, a 30% to 85% water, and a 0% to 60% oil by weight, wherein the oil percentage corresponds to the fat percentage in tissue, further wherein the ionic salt percentage corresponds to an imaginary part of complex permittivity in tissue, and further wherein the water, oil and protein powder percentages correspond to the real part of complex permittivity in tissue.

Abstract: A method for measuring pH includes using amide protons as an endogenous contrast agent, measuring a chemical exchange saturation transfer effect ratio R of amide protons corresponding to a pH-known amide proton solution under different saturation powers, then establishing a function relation between pH and R according to different pH-known amide proton solutions and the corresponding measured R thereto, and finally calculating the desired pH according to experimentally measured Ri and the function relation. The method can eliminate the impact of concentration and does not require any estimation or measurement of the parameters such as the concentration of exchangeable protons, the longitudinal relaxation time of water, etc., and therefore can measure pH more accurately, conveniently and non-invasively.

Abstract: A medical testing system comprises a housing, at least one magnet assembly configured around a probe configured to accept a human finger, formed in the housing wherein the at least one magnet assembly creates a permanent magnetic field around the probe, an RF signal generator configured to create a temporary magnetic field perpendicular to the permanent magnetic field in the housing, and an NMR coil assembly wherein a change in the permanent magnetic field induces a voltage in the NMR coil assembly.

Abstract: An integrated quality assurance (QA phantom) for radiotherapy is provided that includes a cubic housing having a raised topology feature and laser alignment marks on an exterior surface of the cubic housing that is adjacent and perpendicular to the anterior surface, an extendable leg disposed on a edge of the housing, where the housing rests on a treatment couch surface when the leg is in the retracted state, and the housing rests on the treatment couch in a tilted position when the leg is in the deployed state, and a rotational stage disposed within the housing that includes at least one radiofrequency beacon, where the rotational stage includes a rotation actuator that is external to the cubic housing, where the invention enables verification of radiotherapy an optical surface monitoring system, a rotational verification of the radiotherapy optical surface monitoring system, and verification of a radiofrequency beacon tracking system.

Abstract: A magnetic image system for providing a visible image includes a magnetic substrate having a first and a second opposing surface and formed of material that is magnetized into a pattern of magnetized regions corresponding to the visible image, the magnetized regions forming a magnetic surface having a size and a shape in accordance with the visible image and a magnetic property corresponding to a visible image property, wherein the magnetic surface is rendered visible as the visible image using a magnetic imaging medium that interacts with the magnetic surface in accordance with the magnetic property.

Abstract: Methods to identify and quantify the emulsion properties in oil and gas producing wells at downhole condition or pipelines using NMR and to provide potential treatment options. The longitudinal (T1), transverse (T2) relaxation times and diffusion coefficient of a fluid are changed by the presence of a second dispersed fluid phase in the form of bubbles or droplets. Properties may be determined by comparing the measured T1 and T2 spectra and diffusion coefficient at downhole conditions with the bulk responses of the constituent fluids.

Abstract: A method for performing magnetic resonance imaging of an object is provided. The method includes acquiring MR signals from the object via an MRI system, and generating correct T2 values and incorrect spin densities by applying a fitting model to the MR signals. The method further includes generating one or more correction factors, and generating corrected spin densities based at least in part on the incorrect spin densities and the one or more correction factors. The one or more correction factors are based at least in part on the correct T2 values and a bandwidth of a fat suppression signal applied to the object.

Abstract: A system and method of acquiring an image at a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. Accordingly, an analog signal based on a pulse sequence and a first gain is obtained. The analog signal is converted into a digitized signal. A potential quantization error is detected in the digitized signal based on a boundary. When the detection is affirmative, a replacement analog signal based on the pulse sequence is received. At least one portion of the replacement analog signal can be based on an adjusted gain. The adjusted gain is a factor of the first gain. The replacement analog signal is digitized into a replacement digitized signal. At least one portion of the replacement digitized signal corresponding to the at least one portion of the replacement analog signal is adjusted based on a reversal of the factor.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the correction of image data dynamically acquired with a magnetic resonance imaging method, a reliable B0 field map is recorded as a basic reference field map. Image data (VB) with distorted coordinates are also acquired over a predefined recording time. In addition, a set of distorted, dynamically obtained B0 field maps is acquired during the recording time. Incorrect B0 field maps are identified by comparison of the dynamically obtained B0 field maps with the basic reference field map, and the set of distorted, dynamically obtained B0 field maps is corrected accordingly. The acquired image data with distorted coordinates are corrected with the use of the corrected set of distorted, dynamically obtained B0 field maps.

Abstract: The present invention provides techniques for non-invasive measurement of blood related parameters based on NMR (nuclei) relaxation techniques carried out using a relatively low constant magnetic field in the range of 0.15 to 0.5 Tesla. A plurality of electromagnetic excitation pulse sequences having relatively low radiofrequencies are applied over a living tissue placed in the magnetic field and blood related parameters of the examined subject are determined using a plurality of nuclear spin echo signals received from the tissue in response to the applied excitation sequences, thereby allowing to improve the accuracy of the obtained signals and substantially reducing the time duration of the process.

Abstract: Methods and systems for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra of samples having unresolved peaks are described. The methods and systems allow for the creation nuclear spin singlet states in nearly-equivalent spin pairs, for example, using continuous spin-locking with a nutation frequency matched to the coupling strength between spins. The invention relates generally to the field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can be used as a tool for determining the chemical structure and/or geometry of a molecule in a sample. In many samples, however, resonance frequencies of different nuclei fully or partially overlap, which makes chemical identification of molecule(s) in a sample difficult or impossible.

Abstract: In situ measuring devices, methods of making the same, and methods of using the same are provided herein. The in situ measuring devices can include a capillary tube having a reference material sealed inside the capillary tube, where the capillary tube is positioned inside of a solid state or MAS NMR rotor. A target sample can also be positioned in the interior of the solid state or MAS NMR rotor but is sequestered from the reference material by a capillary tube wall. The in situ measuring devices can be used in solid state MAS NMR spectroscopy to quantify one or more parameters of a target sample, such as the quantity of a sample, chemical identity of a sample, or temperature of a sample.

Abstract: A silicon metal-oxide semiconductor device transports a spin-polarized single electron. An array of silicon quantum dot electrodes is arranged atop a silicon dioxide layer of a silicon metal-oxide semiconductor. The array comprises at least a first electrode and a second electrode adjacent to the first electrode. A transport control logic for individually controls a voltage applied to the electrodes. The transport control logic is configured to gradually decrease a voltage at the first electrode while gradually increasing a voltage at the second electrode. Localization of the single electron is adiabatically transferred from the first electrode to the second electrode while maintaining a desired energy gap between a ground state and a first excited state of the single electron.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide for the minimization of the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic leakage electrical currents enabling true measurements of electric potentials and electric fields. In an embodiment, an ephemeral electric potential and electric field sensor system may have at least one electric field sensor and a rotator coupled to the electric field sensor and be configured to rotate the electric field sensor at a quasi-static frequency. In an embodiment, ephemeral electric potential and electric field measurements may be taken by rotating at least one electric field sensor at a quasi-static frequency, receiving electrical potential measurements from the electric field sensor when the electric field sensor is rotating at the quasi-static frequency, and generating and outputting images based at least in part on the received electrical potential measurements.

Abstract: A method of data acquisition at a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The system receives at least a portion of raw data for an image, and detects anomalies in the portion of raw data received. When anomalies are detected, the system can correct those anomalies dynamically, without waiting for a new scan to be ordered. The system can attempt to scan the offending portion of the raw data, either upon detection of the anomaly or at some point during the scan. The system can also correct anomalies using digital correction methods based on expected values. The anomalies can be detected based on variations from thresholds, masks and expected values all of which can be obtained using one of the ongoing scan, previously performed scans and apriori information relating to the type of scan being performed.

Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a shaft, an end effector extending distally from the shaft, and a housing extending proximally from the shaft. The housing includes a motor configured to generate at least one motion to effectuate the end effector, and a power source configured to supply power to the surgical instrument, wherein the power source includes a casing, a data storage unit, and a deactivation mechanism configured to interrupt access to data stored in the data storage unit. In addition, the power source includes a battery pack and a deactivation mechanism configured to deactivate the battery pack if the casing is breached.

Abstract: A method for producing an image of an object located in the field of view of a Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging system including determining a center of an echo, shifting the data elements of the raw matrix by whole positions to align the center of the echo, multiplying the shifted raw matrix by a low pass filter, Fourier transforming the filtered matrix, dividing each nonzero pixel of the low resolution complex image by its magnitude, calculating a blending function shifted by the determined fractional echo position, multiplying each data element of each row of the raw matrix by corresponding blending function coefficient values, performing a two-dimensional Fourier transform in row directions and column directions, multiplying the complex image by a complex conjugate of the phase map and extracting the real part of the complex numbers in the phase corrected image to provide the image of the object.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method (a) acquires k-space data for a patient ROI over a predetermined band of RF frequencies using RF excitation pulses having respectively corresponding RF frequencies incrementally offset from a nuclear magnetic resonant (NMR) Larmor frequency for free nuclei over a predetermined range of different offset frequencies in which target macromolecule responses are expected and to process such acquired data into spectral data for voxels in the ROI; (b) analyzes the acquired spectral data to provide spectral peak width data corresponding to tissue values in the ROI for macromolecules participating in magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) effects producing said spectral data; and (c) stores and/or displays data representative of tissue values of the ROI which values are different for different tissues.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method (a) acquires k-space data for a patient ROI over a predetermined band of RF frequencies using RF excitation pulses having respectively corresponding RF frequencies incrementally offset from a nuclear magnetic resonant (NMR) Larmor frequency for free nuclei thus causing chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effects and to process such acquired data into Z-spectra data for voxels in the ROI; (b) analyzes the acquired Z-spectra data to provide spectral peak width data corresponding to T2/T2* tissue values in the ROI for macromolecules participating in magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) effects producing said Z-spectra data; and (c) stores and/or displays data representative of T2/T2* tissue values of the ROI which values are different for different tissues.

Abstract: The embodiments relate to a method and device for determining plaque deposits in coronary arteries. According to the method, a coronary angiography radiography image of a subject is obtained using an imaging modality. The obtained radiography image is calibrated for further analysis of the radiography image. Image processing techniques such as thresholding and histogram equalization are applied on the radiography image to extract vessel tree structure for analysis. Further, an inner lumen width and an outer vessel width are computed based on the processed radiography image. Further, a level of plaque deposition is determined based on the inner lumen and outer vessel dimensions. Further, the result based on the analysis is displayed to the user. The result includes the level of plaque deposits within the lumen on the vascular structure and possible risks posed by the plaque deposits to a subject.

Abstract: An MR imaging system uses multiple RF coils, for reducing image acquisition time, suitable for chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging. Multiple RF (Radio Frequency) coils provide CEST imaging preparation in an anatomical volume by providing multiple interleaved RF pulses. The multiple interleaved RF pulses provide substantially increased RF pulse sequence duty cycle in the multiple RF coils relative to a duty cycle provided by a single coil of the multiple RF coils. The multiple RF coils subsequently provide RF excitation pulses in a reduced anatomical volume using k-space undersampling in an accelerated imaging method using the multiple RF coils and enable subsequent acquisition of associated RF echo data for deriving a CEST image.

Abstract: An evaluation aid which can be used as a phantom (imitation lesion) when a digital X-ray image is taken and then evaluation is carried out through the digital X-ray image. The evaluation aid can be used to easily evaluate image qualities of a digital X-ray image for object parts having different X-ray absorption ratios at once. The evaluation aid is adapted to be used for taking a digital X-ray image thereof through which evaluation is carried out, and contains a substrate (plate-like body) including a plurality of regions having different X-ray absorption ratios; and step members provided on the plate-like body so as to correspond to the plurality of regions, respectively. Each step member includes a plurality of subregions having different X-ray absorption ratios. Thicknesses and/or constituent materials of the plurality of regions of the substrate may be different from each other to establish regions having different X-ray absorption ratios.

Abstract: In a method for accelerated CEST imaging in magnetic resonance tomography, RF pulses for the saturation of the protons of the substance to be shown are emitted by several transmission coils, and shape of these RF pulses is calculated using an optimization method so that a weighted sum is minimized, the sum exhibiting at least two of the following norms: the norm of the magnetization of free water protons in each point in space, the norm of the deviation of the magnetization of the bound protons from an inverted magnetization in each point in space and the norm of the magnetization of protons with an inverted shift relative to the predefined frequency shift in each point in space. The shape of the RF pulses for subsequent excitation of the free water protons also can be calculated for the optimization method.

Abstract: A phantom for a medical imaging system with a matrix of spherical hollow elements is provided, with adjacent ones of the elements of a same row being interconnected by and in fluid communication through a hollow tube extending therebetween, with each element being filled with a contrasting solution. Also, a phantom is provided having a plurality of groups of interconnected hollow elements received within a sealed enclosure with the elements of a same one of the groups being in fluid communication with one another and the elements of different ones of the groups being sealed from one another, and the elements of at least one of the groups being filled with a fluid more contrasting than the fluid filling the elements of at least another one of the groups. A method of correcting patient images is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method which allows for an automatic substance identification on the basis of an NMR spectrum. In the scope of the method, determining a multitude of integral ratio values, in each case from at least two integral values of the NMR spectrum, takes place, wherein each integral ratio value specifies the ratio of the height and/or area of the underlying spectral values, and determining a multitude of distance values, in each case from at least two position values of the NMR spectrum, takes place, wherein each distance value specifies the spectral distance between the underlying spectral values. The integral ratio values and the distance values are then used for substance identification.

Abstract: A method of shimming a magnetic field, includes applying radio frequency (RF) signals to an object, using a transceiver coil, and calibrating phase offsets of magnetic resonance signals acquired from the object through a receiver coil. The method further includes generating RF signals to be applied through the transceiver coil based on magnetic resonance signals acquired from the object through the transceiver coil and the calibrated magnetic resonance signals.

Abstract: An adjustment method of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a cooling and excitation step in which work of transporting a superconducting magnet to a facility different from a facility where the superconducting magnet is to be installed, cooling a superconducting coil of the superconducting magnet with a refrigerant, and supplying a current from an external power supply for excitation is repeated until a predetermined rated current flows; a demagnetization and transportation step of demagnetizing the superconducting coil and transporting the superconducting magnet to the facility where the superconducting magnet is to be installed in a state where the superconducting coil is cooled by the refrigerant; and an installation step of installing the superconducting magnet in the facility where the superconducting magnet is to be installed and supplying a predetermined rated current from an external power supply to the superconducting coil in order to excite the superconducting coil.

Abstract: A physical phantom reference to control for variability of computed tomography measurement results duplicates the density curve of blood perfusion of contrast material in a healthy aorta or large artery to normalize observed changes in healthy arterial blood perfusion when calculating the reduction in tumor blood perfusion between two examination times. In one embodiment, a plurality of compartments with different concentrations of contrast material corresponding to a density curve of blood perfusion of a healthy tissue are positioned-in a screening field of a CT machine so the CT machine images the compartments when it linages the healthy tissue. In another embodiment, a pipe containing fluid receives an injection of contrast material from the injector when the injector injects the contrast material into the patient, the pipe having sections of varying diameter so the sections together correspond to a blood perfusion curve of the contrast material in a healthy tissue.

Abstract: In a method or system for magnetic resonance imaging based temperature monitoring for real-time feedback to a physician for a cryoablation therapy of a lesion which creates an ice ball of the lesion to induce cell death, the magnetic resonance imaging system, using proton resonance frequency imaging, obtains a real-time temperature image of the ice ball of the lesion undergoing the cryoablation therapy and the adjacent surrounding tissue. By use of an algorithm, correcting temperature errors at a border of the ice ball are corrected in the real-time image, the temperature error correction correcting susceptibility contrast errors caused by a distortion of the local magnetic field at the border of the ice ball.

Abstract: This application is related to a system and methods for sampling fluids and gases using nuclear magneto resonance (NMR) technology. Specifically the system is related to an improved metallic pipe design for use at oil and gas well has that includes integral coils for transmitting an NMR pulse sequence and detecting NMR signals and can be used as a component of an NMR instrument. The methods are related to obtaining and analyzing NMR spectra in stationary and flowing states.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method (a) acquires k-space data for a patient ROI over a predetermined band of RF frequencies using RF excitation pulses having respectively corresponding RF frequencies incrementally offset from a nuclear magnetic resonant (NMR) Larmor frequency for free nuclei thus causing chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) effects and to process such acquired data into Z-spectra data for voxels in the ROI; (b) analyzes the acquired Z-spectra data to provide spectral peak width data corresponding to T2/T2* tissue values in the ROI for macromolecules participating in magnetization transfer contrast (MTC) effects producing said Z-spectra data; and (c) stores and/or displays data representative of T2/T2* tissue values of the ROI which values are different for different tissues.

Abstract: A method for producing a biomarker indicative of a repetitive head injury in a subject using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. Two-dimensional spectroscopic data is acquired from a subject using an MRI system. From the two-dimensional spectroscopic data, a two-dimensional spectrum is produced. The two-dimensional spectrum contains spectral information indicated by a first spectral dimension and a second spectral dimension. Such a two-dimensional spectrum may include diagonal peaks and off-diagonal, or cross-peaks. In such an instance, each cross peak may indicate, for example, scalar coupling between the two protons it connects on the diagonal. However, depending on the type of method used, different types of coupling may also be present. Using the two-dimensional spectrum, a biomarker indicative of repetitive head injury in the subject is identified, and may be used to produce a report indicating a status or regression of a neurological dysfunction.

Abstract: The invention relates to new uses of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) crystallography methods to determine and/or characterize the three-dimensional structure of compounds of interest.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining a reaction signal for a selected location in an information processing system (2) in response to at least one input signal (XIn) over an application period T. The effect of an input signal (XIn) on the information processing system is determined by: a) applying input signal(s) (X) to the information processing system (2), b) detecting output signal(s) (Yout) associated with a selected location in the information processing system in response to the input signal(s) (XIn), c) forming a value set (XIn, YOut, Zt) for an output signal (YOut) at the selected location in response to an input signal (XIn) for a given time (Zt), and d) determining the reaction signal (YOutMax) for the selected location.

Abstract: Neurodegenerative diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, may be caused or aggravated by insufficient venous draining from the central nervous system. Functional MRI measures the surge of blood flow into localized regions of cerebral cortex in response to activation of those regions by performing visual, auditory or executive tasks. These fMRI measurements are based on blood-oxygen-level dependence. The resulting fMRI/BOLD data is converted to hemodynamic response data and analyzed to determine any abnormality in the hemodynamic response data. Vascular drainage insufficiency is identified in the presence of abnormal hemodynamic response data. Abnormal hemodynamic response data can be determined by a negative trough in a graph of the HDR data or by the duration, depth, or area of the negative trough.

Abstract: A method, system, computer-readable medium, use, and pulse sequence for magnetic resonance imaging or nuclear magnetic resonance is provided for determining the rate of molecular exchange between components with different diffusion characteristics. The present invention encodes the magnetic resonance signal for exchange utilizing judiciously designed protocols for varying the parameters of a pulse sequence comprising a pair of diffusion weighting blocks separated by a mixing time.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance method for using radio frequency pulses for spatially selective and frequency selective or multidimensionally spatially selective excitation of an ensemble of nuclear spins with an initial distribution of magnetization in a main magnetic field aligned along a z-axis, wherein a spin magnetization with a given target distribution of magnetization is generated, and for refocusing the spin magnetization, is characterized in that the radio frequency pulse is used as a sequence of sub-pulses of independent duration, courses of gradients and spatial and/or spectral resolution, comprising one or more large angle RF pulses with tip angles greater than or approximately equal to 15°, which generate a gross distribution of magnetization approximating the target distribution of magnetization or a desired modification of the distribution of magnetization with a mean deviation less than or approximately equal to 15°, wherein the actual effect of the LAPs on the distribution of spin magnetization before

Abstract: In some embodiments, a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) receiver using digital downconversion and subsampling tracks transmit and/or receive signal phases according to time(s) elapsed since reference times (e.g. reset times) corresponding to known phases. Carrier-frequency (fc) NMR signals are digitized directly, using a sampling frequency (fs) lower than fc. Digital downconversion and carrier phase correction are performed to yield NMR modulations of interest. A phase determination circuit may include an N-bit counter incremented at fs and an associated count register storing an indicator of a time elapsed since a carrier generator reset for each transient sampling period start, A real-time controller synchronously resets the counters and corresponding signal generators. A sin/cos lookup table maps counts to phase correction function values.

Abstract: A volumetric APT imaging sequence is provided that acquires multi-slice images immediately after a single long continuous wave (CW) RF irradiation, wherein the relaxation-induced loss of CEST contrast is compensated for during post-processing. Thus, a fast volumetric pH-weighted APT imaging technique is provided.

Abstract: In a method to determine a kidney function parameter of kidneys of an examination person with the aid of magnetic resonance tomography, at least one magnetic resonance measurement is implemented for an examination region of the examination person that comprises a urinary bladder of the examination person, to acquire magnetic resonance data from the examination region that include at least image data. The concentration of a urophanic substance in the urinary bladder of the examination person is automatically determined based on the acquired magnetic resonance data. A volume of the urinary bladder is automatically determined based on the acquired image data. A kidney function parameter of the kidneys of the examination person is automatically determined on the basis of the determined concentration of the urophanic substance in the urinary bladder and of the specific volume of the urinary bladder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a reliable and statistically significant method for predicting the likelihood of an onset of an inflammation associated organ failure from a biological sample of a mammalian subject in vitro, by means of a subject's quantitative metabolomics profile comprising a plurality of endogenous metabolites, and comparing it with a quantitative reference metabolomics profile of a plurality of endogenous organ failure predictive target metabolites in order to predict whether the subject is likely or unlikely to develop an organ failure. Furthermore, the invention relates to the usefulness of endogenous organ failure predictive target metabolites in such a method.

Abstract: An in vitro method of determining an analyte concentration of a sample includes placing the sample into a low-field, bench-top time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (TD-NMR) spectrometer. The NMR spectrometer is tuned to measure a selected type of atom. A magnetic field is applied to the sample using a fixed, permanent magnet. At least one 90 degree radio-frequency pulse is applied to the sample. The radio-frequency pulse is generally perpendicular to the magnetic field. The 90 degree radio-frequency pulse is removed from the sample so as to produce a decaying NMR signal. The decaying NMR signal is measured at a plurality of times while applying a plurality of 180 degree refocusing radio-frequency pulses to the sample. The analyte concentration is calculated from the plurality of measurements associated with the decaying NMR signal and a selected model.

Abstract: A method for removing one or more artifacts from a time series of magnetic resonance (MR) images is provided. In one embodiment of the invention, an MR time series of data sets is acquired while changing the k-space that is sampled at each time frame. By using the acquired data, information is produced for a plurality of MR images at different time points, wherein the images contain desired components and one or more artifacts. Changing the k-space locations that are sampled from time frame to time frame makes the artifacts behave in a signature way through time, so that they can be identified as being artifacts and be removed through temporal analysis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to determine the fractional amount of at least one constituent of a hydrocarbon mixture, comprising dissolving the hydrocarbon mixture in a substantially hydrogen free solvent to produce a diluted solution, the diluted solution having sufficient solvent to render a NMR property of the diluted solution to be predictably related to the constituent concentrations of the hydrocarbon mixture; making NMR measurements on the diluted solution; and determining the fractional amount of at least one constituent of the hydrocarbon mixture from the NMR measurements.

Abstract: The invention relates to the atomistic functional understanding of the M2 protein from the influenza A virus. This acid-activated selective proton channel has been the subject of numerous conductance, structural, and computational studies. Previously, little was known at the atomic level about the heart of the functional mechanism of this tetrameric protein, a tetrad of HxxxW residues. The structure of the M2 conductance domain in a lipid bilayer is disclosed and displays the defining features of the native protein that have not been attainable from structures solubilized by detergents. A detailed mechanism for acid activation and proton conductance, involving a strong hydrogen bond between two adjacent histidines and specific interactions with the tryptophan gate, is provided and elucidates many observations on the M2 proton conductance.