Abstract: To calculate a precise phase map even when there is a local phase disturbance and perform this phase correction, an image acquired by magnetic resonance imaging is subjected to lowpass filtering (702), pixel positions for which the ratio of a value after filtering to a value before filtering does not exceed a predetermined ratio are detected (704), a phase distribution excluding pixel data at these positions is calculated, and the phases at the excluded pixel positions are estimated from the phases of neighboring pixel positions to provide compensation so as to complete a phase map.

Abstract: This invention pertains to methods for the analysis of biological data, particularly spectra, for example, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and other types of spectra. More specifically, the present invention pertains to a method for processing a sample spectrum comprising: replacing each of one or more target regions in said sample spectrum with a corresponding replacement region of a master control spectrum to give a target-replaced sample spectrum, wherein said replacement region has been scaled so as to have the same fraction of the total integrated intensity in said target-replaced sample spectrum as it did in said master control spectrum.

Abstract: A post data-acquisition magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method is disclosed for generating water/fat separated MR images wherein the resultant contrast in water-only or fat-only images is made adjustable under operator control. Image data is first obtained using a single-scan three-point Dixon MRI scan sequence having a specific nuclear magnetic response (NMR) signal echo time, TE. The timing of read-out gradient pulses during the MRI imaging scan sequence is selected according to the chemical-shift difference between water and fat signals so that the water and fat NMR signals evolve between them an angle of &pgr; radians during an inter-echo time &Dgr;TE. Water/fat separated images of variable contrast are then produced by reprocessing the acquired image data using different operator selected values for the contrast echo time (newTE) when correcting for relaxation.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining multiple spectra from a plurality of samples through the use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A plurality of microcoils are coupled to and are in operable communication with an NMR spectrometer. The coils are operable in both a transmit mode and a receive mode to transmit RF energy to a sample being analyzed and to receive the return data for analysis by the NMR spectrometer. At least one switch is coupled to the plurality of coils and the NMR spectrometer. A controller for the NMR spectrometer is coupled to the switch and is used to control alternative activation of the coils for NMR data acquisition of multiple samples.

Abstract: An MRI system is provided with normal and quiet modes of operation. The quiet mode may be selected from an operator station, such as via a graphical user interface. When the quiet mode of operation is selected, configuration parameters are used for the particular pulse sequence to be executed in the examination. The configuration parameters for the quiet mode of operation may be derived from those of the normal mode of operation. The quiet mode of operation may, for example, employ gradient pulses having reduced amplitudes and slew rates as compared to those employed in the normal mode of operation. The reduced amplitudes and slew rates, along with changes in timing of the pulses and between pulses of the pulse sequence of the examination result in reduced acoustic noise for accommodating more sensitive patients.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance method is described for forming a fast dynamic image from a plurality of signals acquired by an array of multiple sensors. The k-space is segmented into regions of different type of acquisition. In the region of a first acquisition type a first partial image is reconstructed by data of normal magnetic resonance imaging with a full set of phase encoding steps or by data of fast dynamic imaging with a number of phase encoding steps with a low reduction factor with respect to the full set thereof, and in the region of a second acquisition type a second partial image is reconstructed by data of fast dynamic imaging with a full reduction factor. The first and the second partial images are subsequently combined so as to form the full image of the scanned object.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, a subject is disposed in an imaging region (10). A magnet assembly (16, 18) creates a main magnetic field (Bo) through the imaging region (10). A sequence of radio frequency pulses and gradient field manipulations excites and manipulates magnetic resonance within dipoles of the subject. The sequence comprises a 90° RF excitation pulse and a 180° refocusing pulse as is known in the art of standard spin echo imaging. The sequence includes gradient pulses that induce at least two gradient recalled RF echoes (98, 100) while suppressing spin echo signals. The sequence also includes diffusion sensitive gradients (76, 82) that sense the movement of water or other molecules during the imaging sequence. The gradient induced echoes (98, 100) are symmetrically disposed about a time (TE).

Abstract: A method and system are provided that can be used at any stage of a manufacturing process to determine physical properties such as crosslink density. The method and system require little or no sample manipulation. The method and system are independent of rubber particle size and matrix composition. In the method and system, physical properties of a material are determined by NMR measurement. A T1 (spin lattice relaxation time) is measured for a material, a T2 (spin-spin relaxation time) is measured for the material and a value T1/T2 is calculated that is representative of a physical property of material.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance signal is acquired from a JHH-coupled 1H within an object. After application of a wideband first radio-frequency magnetic pulse, a first frequency-selective radiation pulse is applied to a specific nucleus 1H coupled to a desired nucleus 1H through a homonuclear spin-spin coupling (JHH-coupling), thus multiple-quantum coherences between the nuclei 1H being generated. A second radio-frequency magnetic pulse is then applied. A second frequency-selective radiation pulse is then applied to the specific nucleus 1H to generate a single-quantum coherence of the desired nucleus 1H. Thus, a magnetic resonance signal can be acquired from the desired nucleus 1H. The acquisition of the signal is robust, adjustment in the phases of the radio-frequency magnetic pulses is not required, and an acquired spectrum is avoided from being visually complicated.

Abstract: An MRI system performs a pulse sequence to acquire image data from a subject. The RF power applied to the subject is monitored and the acquisition is altered if any one of three trip levels is exceeded. Each trip level is different and is associated with a different time interval over which applied RF power is measured.

Abstract: In order to provide a magnetic resonance signal receiving apparatus with simplified arrangement of a coil loop selecting means, an active disabling circuit by the diode and a passive disabling circuit by the inductor connected in parallel to the capacitor through a pair of inverted heading parallel diodes are provided to a plurality of unit coils forming a phased array, the active disabling circuit will be controlled by the bias driver unit.

Abstract: NMR spectroscopy data recovery methods and apparatus for improving the quality of an NMR spectrum are disclosed. The NMR spectrum is improved by acquiring more than the half spin-echo data signal and using an iterative numerical method to reconstruct the missing data points of the corresponding full symmetrical spin-echo data signal. The method includes filtering the initial data signal to extract a low-resolution phase term. The low-resolution phase term is used to form a phase-constrained initial data signal, which is Fourier-transformed to obtain a reconstructed data signal. The reconstructed data signal is modified to include the original spin-echo signal data. The formation of the reconstructed spin-echo data signal and subsequent modification is iterated until convergence is obtained. The reconstructed data signal is then Fourier-transformed to form a reconstructed NMR spectrum.

Abstract: Respective MR signals from a subject are received by at leasttwo MR antennas. The received MR signals have a phase angle relative to one another. The phase relations are determined from a correlation of the received MR signals. The MR signals are added as phase-corrected signals to form a sum signal. The sum signal is then used for further image reconstruction of the subject.

Abstract: A technique for computing a T2 relaxation time (RT) and for using the so computed T2 RT to provide an output which can aid in the detection of brain dysfunction including attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The technique includes the step of obtaining T*1 matched axial images through a predetermined number of axial planes in a subject and obtaining one or more spin echo, echoplanar image sets, with TE incremented by a predetermined value in each consecutive image set through the same axial planes. The images are used to generate a map of T2 for each of the T*1 matched axial images and regions of interest (ROI) are identified in the matched axial images. Median pixel intensity values in the ROI are then used to compute a T2 relaxation time.

Abstract: In a computer for evaluating signals from nuclear magnetic resonance tomography and a tomograph using such a computer, the neuronal activity measured during a nuclear magnetic resonance tomographic examination follows a protocol, which reproduces the temporal sequence of stimuli. During a correlation analysis, the sensitivity of known means to changes in the signal-response form normally decreases with each activation cycle. According to the invention, better evaluation results can be achieved in the correlation analysis by using a constant number of n data values in a correlation analysis employing a sliding-window technique. As the data measurement progresses, the oldest value is continuously disposed of and the most recent data value utilized in the calculation.

Abstract: A method, and related apparatus, for suppressing the magnetic resonance signal to an experimentally adjustable depth by applying a spatially inhomogeneous field between the slice-select pulse and the data acquisition. Eliminating the signal from near surface regions allows one to shrink the field of view of an image without introducing aliasing artifacts, thereby improving the image's resolution or decreasing imaging time. Experimental tests on a phantom and a human subject indicate that the depth of signal suppression may be continuously varied to depths of over 80 millimeters with modest requirements on power supplies, pulse sequences, and materials.

Abstract: A magnetic imaging device, such as an MR scanner, is used to provide a modified three-dimensional gradient echo sequence having a spatial-spectral excitation in which phase-encoding lines are interleaved for the excitation of water and of fat. The phase-encoding lines are spaced by an interval equal to half of the repetition time. The resulting data are sorted for the reconstruction of water-only and fat-only images, which are realigned and combined to form water-fat combined images free of chemical shift artifacts.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of diffusion spectrum magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to map complex fiber architectures in tissues. The new methods can be used to resolve intravoxel heterogeneity of diffusion in vivo with MRI of diffusion density spectra.

Abstract: A personal computer or “PC” based software control system for a magnetic resonance imaging or “MRI” scanner. The software control system manages various types of MRI scanners without modification of the software control system. The control system manages the scanning process through a device driver interface which abstracts the particulars of the specific hardware used to interface to the magnetic, radio frequency, image display, image acquisition, patient handling and scan control subsystems.

Abstract: In order to accurately measure a gradient magnetic field, a pre-encoding pulse Pk is applied, data S(k, 1)-S(k, T) are collected from an FID signal while applying an encoding pulse Ge having a gradient waveform to be measured, and the above steps are repeated K times with the magnitude of the pre-encoding pulse Pk varied; data D(1,1)-D(1, T−1), D(2, 1)-D(2, T−1), . . . , D(K, 1)-D(K, T−1) having a phase difference &Dgr;&phgr; as an angle are obtained from the collected data S(1,1)-S(1, T), S(2, 1)-S(2, T), . . . , S(K, 1)-S(K, T); data having corresponding magnitudes of the encoding pulse Ge are added to obtain added data d(1)-d(T−1); gradient magnetic field differences &Dgr;G(1)-&Dgr;G(T−1) are obtained from the added data d(1)-d(T−1); and the gradient magnetic field differences &Dgr;G(1)-&Dgr;G(T−1) are integrated to obtain a gradient magnetic field G(1)-G(T−1).

Abstract: In a spectroscopic imaging method for a magnetic resonance apparatus, an excitation radio-frequency pulse having a flip angle of approximately 90° is emitted, followed by transmission of a rephasing radio-frequency pulse having a flip angle of 180°, activation of a phase-coding gradient, and activation of a readout gradient and acquisition of a magnetic resonance signal. The following steps are then executed at least three times. A rephasing radio-frequency pulse having a flip angle of 180° and having a 90° phase offset in relation to a chronologically immediately preceding rephasing radio-frequency pulse is emitted, and the readout gradient is activated and a magnetic resonance signal is acquired.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging method. The method includes the execution of image pulse sequences for the measurement of magnetic resonance image signals and navigator signals. After the execution of the image pulse sequence, the navigator MR signal is checked so as to determine whether the navigator MR signal meets a predetermined quality criterion. If the navigator MR signal does not meet the quality criterion, the navigator MR signal and the magnetic resonance imaging signals corresponding to the navigator MR signal are measured again.

Abstract: An asymmetric spin-echo (ASE) sequence having a variable asymmetry (&Dgr;TE) with respect to the RF pulse is used for imaging paramagnetic, diamagnetic or ferromagnetic instruments within tissues during interventional MRI procedures. The degree of asymmetry introduced determines an apparent size of the imaged instrument. In one embodiment of the invention, the amount of asymmetry is varied as a function of the phase encoding gradient steps. In this manner, the sequence is made sensitive to local gradients in the magnetic field but left insensitive to large scale variations such as those introduced by main magnetic field inhomogeneities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for obtaining images by means of magnetic resonance (MR) of an object placed in a static magnetic field which method includes simultaneous measurement of a number sets of MR signals by application gradients and an array of receiver coils, reconstruction of a number of receiver coil images from the sets MR signals measured and reconstruction of a final image from a distant dependent sensitivity of the receiver coils and the first plurality of receiver coil images. In order to reduce the acquisition time the number of phase encoding steps corresponding to the phase-encoding gradient is reduced with a reduction factor compared to standard Fourier imaging, while a same field of view is maintained as in standard Fourier imaging. In this way fast cardiac imaging may be possible.

Abstract: The invention relates to an MR method in which a navigator pulse is generated so as to excite the nuclear magnetization in a spatially limited volume by means of at least one RF pulse and at least two gradient magnetic fields having gradients which extend differently in respect of time and space, after which at least one MR signal is received from the volume in conjunction with a further gradient magnetic field, so as to be evaluated. In order to enhance the navigator pulse, such a variation in time is imposed on the gradient magnetic fields that there are generated at least two MR signals which correspond to an excitation in the k space along mutually offset trajectories, and the MR signals are combined.

Abstract: A method for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of changes in neurotransmitter and neuroreceptor activity as a metabolic response to diagnostic challenge or therapeutic treatment in a patient with suspected or already diagnosed mental illnesses of psychiatric, neurodegnerative or neurological nature, by (a) administering to a patient a drug eliciting an MRI detectable hemodynamic response; (b) administering to the patient an MRI contrast agent with high magnetic susceptibility, and then (c) measuring, in a spatially and temporally resolved manner, relative Cerebral Blood Volume (rCBV) changes associated to neuronal activation using T2- or T2*-weighted MRI scans at the equilibrium distribution of said contrast agent.

Abstract: A method of spatially resolved magnetic resonance spectroscopy according to the principle of chemical shift imaging (=CSI) in which, through application of an excitation pulse, spins in a measuring volume are excited and a metabolite signal thereof is read out, wherein between the excitation pulse and the recording of the signal, spatial encoding of the signal is effected by means of a gradient pulse in at least one spatial direction, wherein said spatial encoding gradient is varied between each recording step, such that one obtains spatial allocation of the recorded signals in the partial volume of the measuring volume, is characterized in that a reference signal is recorded in addition to the signal of the recorded metabolites, which comprises the same spatial encoding as the metabolite signal, wherein the recording of the two signals is effected in a convoluted manner.

Abstract: An MRI system has two sets of gradient coils driven by two corresponding sets of gradient amplifiers. Logical gradient waveforms produced during a pulse sequence are rotated to produce corresponding physical gradient waveforms and these are distributed to drive both sets of coils simultaneously. Each distributed set of physical gradient waveforms is separately compensated for Eddy current errors, and a polarizing field Eddy current compensation signal is produced and used to modulate the RF reference frequency of the system transceiver.

Abstract: An MRI system performs a cardiac gated scan of a moving coronary artery using preparatory pulse sequences and two-dimensional EPI (echo planar imaging) pulse sequences. The preparatory pulse sequence saturates spin magnetization in regions surrounding a slice which contains the coronary artery at one point in time during each cardiac cycle. The EPI imaging pulse sequence is performed later in the cardiac cycle after the coronary artery has moved and a two-dimensional image is reconstructed by projecting NMR signals from a volume within which the coronary artery moves during the cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A petroleum well (20) for producing petroleum products that incorporates a system adapted to controllably measure a formation resistivity using induction chokes (91-95) to form electrically isolated piping structure sections that can be used as the formation contact electrodes for time-varying current, and methods of producing petroleum products while measuring formation resistivity, are provided by the present invention. The system comprises a first induction choke (91), a second induction choke (92), and a device (50). The first induction choke (91) is located about a piping structure (30) of the well (20). The second induction choke (92) is also located about the piping structure (30) of the well (20), but the first induction choke (91) is distally spaced from the second induction choke (92). The device (50) is located outside of the piping structure (30) and comprises two terminals (71, 72).

Abstract: An method and system are disclosed for NMR echo-train data acquisition and processing for enhanced vertical resolution for a given signal to noise ratio. In one aspect, the method is based on providing an estimate of non-formation signal components and removing the estimate from the NMR signals. Computation of the estimate is done from the data itself or using a direct measurement of non-formation signals. In another aspect, the functions of reducing coherent noise components is separated from the function of reducing the random noise components, to enhance the resolution of the NMR pulse echo data for a given signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the data. Combination processing is disclosed, which enables efficient filtering of the input NMR data for both relatively high and relatively low SNR of the formation data.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image data set is acquired with an MRI system and autocorrected to reduce artifacts caused by subject motion during image acquisition. Correction for motion along one or two axes is performed by selecting a 2D slice of data and autocorrecting it to produce phase corrections that are then made to the entire 3D image data set. This may be repeated by autocorrecting an additional 2D slice perpendicular to the first 2D slice to produce phase corrections for the 3D image data set for motion along the third axis.

Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating a value of a static or time varying magnetic field that is present. In a first embodiment, a layer of a magnetostrictive (MNS) material and a layer of a piezoresistive (PZR) material are combined and exposed to the unknown magnetic field, and a current source and charge-carrying line are connected between two spaced apart locations in the PZR layer. A meter measures a voltage difference or current between the two locations and estimates the value of the magnetic field. In a second embodiment, a layer of a magnetostrictive (MNS) material and a layer of a piezoelectric (PZT) material are combined and exposed to a combination of the unknown magnetic field and a selected time varying magnetic field. A meter measures a voltage change, current change or other electrical variable between two spaced apart locations at two or more selected times and estimates the value of the unknown magnetic field.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a metallic surface identifying sensor including: a magnetic pole portion for detection which shifts facing a surface of a magnetic body to be identified having an uneven shape wherein the distance from the surface to be identified changes along with the uneven shape while shifting; a reference magnetic pole portion which is placed across from a reference surface, wherein the distance from the reference surface to the magnetic pole portion is maintained approximately constant regardless of the shifting of the magnetic pole portion for detection in relation with the surface to be identified; magnetizing coils which are separately wound around the magnetic pole portion for detection and the reference magnetic pole portion to generate magnetic fluxes; and detecting coils which are separately wound around the magnetic pole portion for detection and the reference magnetic pole portion to detect the magnetic fluxes wherein the uneven shape of the surface to be identified of the met

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for detecting and measuring the amount of crude oil in underground rock formations. EPR measurements are used to calculate the amount of crude oil, and may be calibrated to determine the particular type of crude oil. These measurements may be used in conjunction with NMR measurements, to provide accurate estimations of pore size and permeability.

Abstract: In a position transducer having detection coils 11 and 21, auxiliary coils 12 and 22 driven in phase with the detection coils 11 and 21 are lap-wound on the ends of the latter, respectively, to substantially increase the winding density at the ends of the detection coils 11 and 21, thereby reducing the magnetic field non-linearity at the coil ends.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of studying a geological formation through which a cased borehole passes, in which current is injected into casing and current leakage is measured indicative of the resistivity of the formation, the method being characterized in that the resistivity is corrected by a factor which takes account of the thickness of the layer of cement and of its conductivity.

Abstract: In a method for imaging with nuclear magnetic resonance with a k-space trajectory proceeding on an irregular grid, magnetic resonance signals are read out under the influence of a magnetic gradient field. A direction of a gradient of the gradient field is modified such during the reception. The k-space trajectory proceeds along a curved path. The magnetic resonance signals are sampled with a variable sampling rate and are digitized. The sampling rate is varied such that an occupation density of k-space with samples is essentially uniform. Interpolation samples that are arranged on a rectangular grid in k-space are generated from the samples by interpolation. The interpolation samples are subjected to a Fourier transformation for generating image data.

Abstract: An electromagnetic wave absorber comprises: an electromagnetic wave reflector made of a metal plate; a tile-shaped first electromagnetic wave absorber section containing ferrite as a magnetic material and having surfaces one of which is adjacent to the wave reflector; and a second electromagnetic wave absorber section adjacent to the other surface of the first wave absorber section. The second wave absorber section includes a structure and a dielectric loss material. The structure includes a plurality of plate-shaped elements each of which is made of a magnetic loss material. These elements have surfaces that are located with specific spacing and orthogonal to the other surface of the first wave absorber section. The dielectric loss material is located at least part of the spaces between adjacent ones of the elements of the structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for enhancing a signal quality from a first atom of a pair of spin-spin coupled atoms, in a magnetic resonance imaging system. The method includes the steps of exciting the first atom of the pair of spin-spin coupled atoms within the magnetic resonance imaging system at a Larmor frequency of the first atom and exciting the second atom at the Larmor frequency of the second atom. The method further includes the step of detecting a signal from the first atom.

Abstract: In a method for operating a magnetic resonance device, a magnetic resonance signal is recorded over a span of time, and in order to produce a magnetic resonance spectrum, the magnetic resonance signal in the time domain is subjected to a Fourier transformation. The magnetic resonance signal is weighted with a bell-shaped window function before the Fourier transformation, thereby preventing broadening of resonance lines in the displayed frequency spectrum, so that non-dominant resonance lines, such as those associated with the metabolites, can be more readily analyzed.

Abstract: A technique is described for correction of phase errors in bipolar readout gradient examination sequences, such as EPI pulse sequences. The technique employs short reference pulse sequences associated with each readout pulse train. Reference data is collected for positive and negative lobes of the reference sequence. Each reference sequence is employed to estimate a phase error of an associated readout sequence. Data collected in the readout sequence is then corrected based upon the estimated errors. Phase errors resulting from changes in scan orientation are thereby corrected for each frame of k-space data without significantly increasing the data acquisition time.

Abstract: A method for interconnecting components within a data processing system is disclosed. A number of components is connected to an uni-directional bus. The uni-directional bus is arranged in a loop configuration. Each component has at least one node identification. Communications among these components are provided in the form of messages via a respective node identification. Each message includes a node identification field and a content field.

Abstract: An MRI image is corrected for motion artifacts using an iterative, autocorrection process in which corrections are tried and the quality of the resulting reconstructed image is measured. Different metrics for evaluating image quality are used during the autocorrection process to take advantage of their different attributes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing water-dominant and fat-dominant MR signal data for use in constructing separate images from single-scan single-point Dixon MRI sequences is disclosed. The effects of field inhomogeneities are removed by quantitating the signal phase by taking the argument of the MR signal multiplied by itself. A region-growing algorithm guided by a polynomial model is used to unwrap the phase which is then used to separately generate water-pixel data and fat-pixel data for producing separate images. The invention can be used for constructing images from both 2-D and 3-D spin-echo and/or field-echo acquisitions.

Abstract: For determining appropriately the direction of diffusive motion detecting gradient magnetic field to be applied for the measurement of the diffusion coefficient of a region of interest, a determining method produces three diffusion-weighted images by use of imaging pulse sequences which apply diffusive motion detecting gradient magnetic fields (MPG) along the x axis, y axis and z axis: (steps S1-S3). It composes an image from the diffusion-weighted images by allotting red color, green color and blue color to the images: (step S4). It sets a region of interest on the intensity-inverted image: (step S6). It determines the direction of diffusive motion detecting gradient magnetic field (MPG) to be applied for the measurement of the diffusion coefficient of the region of interest based on the hue of the region of interest on the intensity-inverted image: (step S7).

Abstract: A method for correcting and/or calibrating magnetic fields, particularly intended for magnets in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging equipment, involves the mathematical description of the field generated by a magnet structure with a harmonic polynomial expansion and the determination of the number, position and magnetization distribution parameters on a predefined distribution grid, related to the magnetic structure, by comparing the polynomial expansion coefficients obtained from a sampling measurement of the actual field with the coefficients of the field having the desired characteristics.

Abstract: A technique is described for programming multiple axes or channels of a system, such as an MRI system. Modular component time masks are defined including information for activity on at least one axis and a time boundary for execution of the activity. The modular components may be stored in a library, and assembled to define desired control sequences. Activity may include pulse sequences for coils in the imaging system. The modular components facilitate definition of complex multi-axis control sequences while respecting inherent physical constraints of the system. Time optimized control sequences may be developed from the modular components by reference to beginning and ending times of a series of components, or to anchor time points associated with the components.

Abstract: A method and a system for magnetic resonance imaging using echo planar method enable obtaining MRI images reduced in ghost artifacts. The magnetic resonance imaging system realizing the magnetic resonance imaging method includes a gradient coil for fast switching (inverting) a gradient magnetic field in a magnetostatic field applied to an object to be analyzed by a magnetostatic field generator, a receiver for receiving magnetic resonant signals from atomic nuclei of the object to be analyzed as echo signals necessary for filling a k-space, k-space data developer for developing the signals converted into a digital form over the a k-space as echo data, data collector for collecting echo data of the same phase encoding data in two frequency encoding directions for about half the k-space, and imager for making an image by classifying the echo data by frequency encoding direction, performing Fourier transformation separately to obtain images, and adding absolute number processed images to improve S/N.

Abstract: Two incomplete k-space data sets are acquired with an MRI system using two surface coils. The data from the two surface coils is combined in a Sense process to reduce aliasing artifacts in the reconstructed image. The incomplete k-space data is filled out using a modified Homodyne reconstruction method which preserves phase information for the Sense process.