Abstract: An image correction method includes detecting signals emitted from a tracer introduced into a target; intermittently extracting some of the detected signals according to a code string in which different codes are arranged; generating an image of the target using the extracted signals; and correcting the generated image based on at least one characteristic of the generated image.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for imaging activity of an organ of a subject for diagnosis and prognosis of pathology or injury to the organ, where unaffected portions of the organ are used as a reference for assessing activity of afflicted areas of the organ.

Abstract: A flexible guidewire comprising a hollow tube, having a proximal section and a distal section, the distal section having a distal tip, the outer diameter of the distal section gradually decreasing toward the distal tip, the outer diameter of the distal tip being larger than the smallest outer diameter of the distal section, the flexible guidewire further comprising a plug coupled with the distal tip of the hollow tube for creating a non-traumatic tip, and the flexible guidewire further comprising a tubular spring, being place around the distal section of the hollow tube for maintaining the outer diameter of the hollow tube over the length thereof and for supporting compressive loads.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging arrangement comprises a magnetic resonance examination (1) system to acquire magnetic resonance signals and an emission tomography system (2) to acquire nuclear decay signals. An analysis module (4) is provided to derive motion correction(s) from the magnetic resonance signals. A reconstruction module (5) reconstructs a motion corrected emission tomographic image from the nuclear decay signals on the basis of the motion correction. Also a therapeutic arrangement is disclosed with a diagnostic imaging arrangement and a therapy module, with a system controller is further coupled to the therapy module and has the function to control the therapy module on the basis of image information generated by the diagnostic imaging system.

Abstract: According to some aspects, the invention relates to methods and compositions for evaluation of hemodynamic responses (e.g., using molecular imaging) with high sensitivity.

Abstract: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a patient is assessed. A TBI diagnosis for the patient is determined based on features from MRI data, such as anatomical features, functional features, diffusion features, connectivity features from functional MRI, connectivity features from diffusion MRI, and/or network features from the connectivity features. The TBI diagnosis is determined using a trained classifier. The classifier synthesizes the features into a single number (e.g., a confidence in the prediction of the diagnosis) and indicates the features most responsible for the diagnosis. The disease trajectory for a given patient may be predicted using the trained classifier.

Abstract: A method, performed by a computer, of facilitating selection by a user of one path from a set of directed paths in an image, partly overlapping but not constituting a directed tree structure, each path beginning at a root and ending at an end point, the method comprising: a) receiving from the user an indication of a specified location in the image; b) identifying a specified path part that best matches the indication of the specified location; and c) suggesting primarily a single path chosen from among two or more paths in the set which include the specified path part, but do not all follow a same route before the specified path part, and at least one of which separates from another path somewhere along its length.

Abstract: A method generates a magnetic resonance (MR) spectrum by obtaining an MR echo signal from an object in response to a transmitted radio frequency (RF) signal that is emitted towards the object. The method extracts from the MR signal, a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of frequency ranges and adjusts a phase of at least one of the extracted plurality of signals in a time domain. A combination signal is generated by combining the plurality of signals including the at least one extracted phase adjusted signal and generates an MR spectrum of the object in response to the combination signal.

Abstract: A method for preventing cognitive decline, comprises the steps of identifying, in an individual, a first stage of cognitive decline corresponding to Subjective Cognitive Impairment and administering a predetermined treatment to the individual to inhibit a progression of the individual to a second predetermined stage of cognitive decline or to inhibit progression of cognitive decline within the first stage.

Abstract: A method and system for managing at least one animal is disclosed. The method can include imaging, such as ultrasound imaging, a lung of a live animal, such as a ruminant or bovine. The imaging can be performed to determine a degree of respiratory damage from past respiratory illness. After imaging, information regarding respiratory damage can be used to select at least one aspect of the treatment, care or disposition of the animal. For example, the information can be used to select the amount or type of feed provided to the animal at a feedlot. The information also can be used to select how long the animal should be housed at the feedlot prior to slaughter. If an animal is diagnosed with a respiratory illness, information about its degree of respiratory damage from past respiratory illness also can be used to select the appropriate medical treatment or lack of treatment.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance system is disclosed, with a tunnel for accommodating an object under investigation and at least one local coil array. In at least one embodiment, the local coil array is arranged in a fixed position within the tunnel and in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic resonance system, where the geometry of the local coil array, in particular its diameter, can be altered. In at least one embodiment, for the purpose of arranging the local coil array on the patient's body, at least a proportion of the coils of the local coil array is attached to a fixture the volume of which can be altered, either hydraulically or pneumatically. The fixture is subdivided into chambers, the volumes of which can be altered separately in order to realize a bending of the fixture.

Abstract: Systems and methods for characterizing bone structures are provided for characterizing bone structures. In the system and method, one or more 1H NMR or MRI signals associated with a bone structure are obtained. Thereafter one or more signal parameters are computed from the obtained signals, where each of the signal parameters comprising at least one of a relaxation rate constant or a corresponding signal amplitude associated with a component of the obtained signals defined by a T2 value or a range of T2 values. Finally, the mechanical properties or fracture risk for the bone structure are determined based on the computed signal parameters and stored correlation data.

Abstract: A method of providing medical imaging guidance information for use in operating a medical imaging apparatus detects motion of an examinee placed on a support table positioned for imaging by a medical imaging device. The method compares a level of the detected motion with a predetermined threshold value and adaptively selects and provides guidance information enabling reducing impairment of image quality due to examinee physical motion, in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A diagnostic imaging system, which can be a mobile or stationary surgical CT imaging system or an MRI system, comprises an internal airflow cooling system that includes an air intake opening and an air outtake opening that are positioned near the ground and direct air flow away from the sterile surgical field.

Abstract: In a method processor and magnetic resonance (MR) system to generate MR slice exposures of an examination subject, measurement data for a stack of measurement slices through the examination subject are initially acquired using a series of slice measurement sequences. The series of slice measurement sequences is designed to allow a separation of a first material from a second material that has a defined chemical shift relative to said first material, and the position of a measurement slice with measurement data for the first material is spatially shifted relative to the position of a measurement slice with measurement data for the second material.

Abstract: A system and method for creating at least one angiographic image using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes acquiring, with the MRI system and using parallel imaging techniques, a pre-contrast image data set and a post-contrast image data set of a portion of a subject having a vascular structure extending therethrough and subtracting the pre-contrast and the post-contrast image data set to generate a difference angiogram data set. The method includes reconstructing the difference angiogram data set into at least one aliased angiogram, creating a region of interest (ROI) mask from an image of the portion of the subject, and indicating a masking border surrounding the vascular structure and substantially excluding tissues surrounding the vascular structure. The method then includes de-aliasing the at least one aliased angiogram using the ROI mask to create an angiogram of the portion of the subject.

Abstract: A medical image display system according to an embodiment including a server that provides medical image display data and display/clinical applications and a terminal device that can access the server by way of a network, the system, configuring the medical image display data so that pieces of image display information of a plurality of types including medical image information and interface information for user operation are arranged in a multilayered manner; transmitting the pieces of image display information of a plurality of types to the terminal device from the server, assigning them to communication protocols of different types; synthetically combining and displaying the pieces of image display information of a plurality of types transmitted from the server with use of the terminal device; and generating operator information by utilizing the interface information for user operation displayed on the terminal device, and transmitting the operator information to the server by way of the network.

Abstract: Method and system for noncontact electrophysiologic imaging of the heart. The methods may employ the magnetization and its relaxation-based measurements, sensitive or specifically sensitized to the properties of cardiac electrical activity, to determine the spatio-temporal distribution of cardiac electromagnetic field and cardiac electrical potentials, and to display such spatio-temporal distribution (image) for assisting in the identification of the regions with abnormal cardiac electrical activity. In one embodiment, the system uses external magnets, gradient magnetic fields and radio-frequency waves, such as those commonly used for MRI, to generate the magnetic resonance. The system synchronizes scanning to the cardiac cycle using a measure of cardiac activity (e.g.

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

Abstract: Embodiments of a method, a system, and a non-transitory computer readable medium for use in interactive magnetic resonance imaging are presented. An initial region of interest of a subject is scanned to acquire imaging data using an initial imaging protocol. Anatomical labeling information corresponding to a plurality of regions corresponding to the subject may be determined based on the acquired data and/or previously available information. Particularly, determining the anatomical labeling information may include identifying one or more features of interest corresponding to the initial region of interest. Further, input from an operator corresponding to a desired imaging task may be received interactively. The imaging protocol may be updated in real-time by selectively configuring one or more imaging parameters that optimize implementation of the desired imaging task based on the determined anatomical labeling information.

Abstract: The disclosure describes cable management systems that provide adjustable lengths of cables that connect to various electronic medical or surgical tools. The systems can reduce the lengths of loose or hanging cables and define routes that preventing cross-over, looping and/or bunching of loose lengths of long cables.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance methods comprise tractographically establishing a path along a structure in a specimen and finding a distribution of structure radii or cross-sectional areas along the path. Based on the distribution and the path, end-to-end functional characteristics of the structure are estimated. For example, nerve transit times or distributions of transit times can be estimated for a plurality of nervous system locations such as Brodmann areas. Comparison of estimated transit times or distributions thereof between reference values or other values from the same structure can be used to assess specimen health.

Abstract: Volume changes in a brain, brain ventricle, or hippocampus are quantitatively extracted from a comparison of 3D before and after images using an algorithm that distorts a triangulated surface of the before image to produce the surface of the after image and calculates the volume change from the area change.

Abstract: A velocity-image creating unit creates a velocity image that indicates a distribution of velocity components with respect to each of a plurality of images obtained by repeating a plurality of number of times Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) that is capable of obtaining velocity components of a Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) flowing inside a subject. A velocity-variance image creating unit calculates variance of velocity components along the time sequence by same position on velocity images by using a plurality of created velocity images. A superimposed-image processing unit then superimposes the distribution of the variance of the velocity components according to the velocity-variance image on an average absolute-value image, and an image display unit displays a superimposed image.

Abstract: A velocity-image creating unit creates a velocity image that indicates a distribution of velocity components with respect to each of a plurality of images obtained by repeating a plurality of number of times Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) that is capable of obtaining velocity components of a Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) flowing inside a subject. A velocity-variance image creating unit calculates variance of velocity components along the time sequence by same position on velocity images by using a plurality of created velocity images. A superimposed-image processing unit then superimposes the distribution of the variance of the velocity components according to the velocity-variance image on an average absolute-value image, and an image display unit displays a superimposed image.

Abstract: Methods for identifying networks correlating with placebo effects, progression of neurological disease symptoms, progression of pre-phenoconversion states of neurological diseases, and efficacious/non-efficacious candidate treatments for neurological diseases are provided.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods of identifying bipolar disorder in a person. One such method includes acquiring 31P spectroscopic imaging data from a region of interest in a brain of the person and subsequently analyzing the 31P spectroscopic imaging data to obtain a signal intensity and a concentration for one or more phosphorus metabolites. A reduced concentration the one or more phosphorus metabolites, such as inorganic phosphate, in the brain can indicate bipolar disorder in the person. Frontal lobe inorganic phosphate concentration in medication-free adolescents can indicate bipolar depression.

Abstract: Gradient coil assemblies for horizontal magnetic resonance imaging systems (MRIs) and methods of their manufacture. Some embodiments may be used with open MRIs and can be used with an instrument placed in the gap of the MRI. In general, concentrations of conductors or radially oriented conductors may be moved away from the gap of the MRI so as to reduce eddy currents that may be induced in any instrument placed within the gap. Systems for directly cooling primary gradient and shield coils may be utilized and various coil supporting structures may be used to assist in coil alignment or to facilitate use of an instrument in the MRI gap.

Abstract: In order to increase the speed at which a user of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system may electrically or optically connect and physically attach a spine coil unit to the MRI system, the spine coil unit includes a connector extending away from a side of a spine coil housing. The spine coil unit is positioned on a patient table of the MRI system and moved along the patient table of the MRI system adjacent to or in physical contact with a corresponding MRI system-side connector. A lever rotatably attached to the spine coil housing may be rotated into a corresponding recess in the MRI system to physically attach and electrically or optically connect the connector of the spine coil housing and/or to positionally fix the spine coil housing relative to the MRI system-side connector.

Abstract: Functional MRI (fMRI) methods are presented for utilizing a magnetic resonance tomograph to map connectivity between brain areas in the resting state in real-time without the use of regression of confounding signal changes. They encompass: (a) iterative computation of the sliding window correlation between the signal time courses in a seed region and each voxel of an fMRI image series, (b) Fisher Z-transformation of each correlation map, (c) computation of a running mean and a running standard deviation of the Z-maps across a second sliding window to produce a series of meta mean maps and a series of meta standard deviation maps, and (d) thresholding of the meta maps. This methodology can be combined with regression of confounding signals within the sliding window. It is also applicable to task-based real-time fMRI, if the location of at least one task-activated voxel is known.

Abstract: Provided are an ultra-low-field nuclear magnetic resonance device and an ultra-low-field nuclear magnetic resonance measuring method. The method includes applying a first measurement bias magnetic field corresponding to an excitation frequency of a coherent biomagnetic field generated in association with the electrophysiological activity of human body organs, applying a second measurement bias magnetic field having the same direction as the first measurement bias magnetic field and having a different magnitude than the first measurement bias magnetic field, and measuring a magnetic resonance signal generated in the human body by using magnetic field measuring means.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a device and a method for data postprocessing of K-space data acquired using a magnetic resonance tomography device. Each part of a K-space matrix is generated with one recording using a magnetic resonance tomography device in a plurality of recordings with the aid of a plurality of transmitting transmit channels of the magnetic resonance tomography device using excitation signals of one amplitude and phase. A field generated in total by the plurality of transmitting transmit channels is determined through addition of the spatial distribution of field distribution datasets representing a field generated by at least one transmit channel of the plurality of channels. A spatially dependent phase correction of the data is performed for data acquired in one recording using phases resulting from the added field distribution datasets.

Abstract: A method for determining an estimate of fat within a volume of a subject comprising the steps of: a) determining a parameter ? from the signal intensities of at least three echo signals emitted from a region of the volume of a subject imaged by a magnetic resonance image scanner in response to an applied RF pulse, wherein the three echo signals are taken at a first opposing-phase echo time, a second opposing-phase echo time and an in-phase echo time; and b) determining a fat volume fraction, f, from the parameter ?.

Abstract: A medical imaging device with a detector unit and an acquisition unit for an examination object, wherein the acquisition unit is at least partially surrounded by the detector unit, and at least one disinfection unit for the disinfection of surfaces of the medical imaging device, wherein the disinfection unit has at least one UV-unit and the acquisition unit is arranged at least partially within the radiation range of the UV-unit is provided.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for performing diagnostics and/or therapy and related kit, system, computer program, methods and computer readable mediums. The device of this disclosure has the advantages that the device does not need access to the pericardium and that the whole system including kit and device can be removed after diagnostics/therapy. A device for performing diagnostics and/or therapy of an organ in the thoracic cavity, comprising an organ support (10), which organ support (10) is devised to be arranged exterior to an organ, and comprises: a flexible structure (14), such as a fabric, net, coil, bag or mesh, which is configured to cover a region of the organ, the region comprising at least the surface at an apex of the organ; at least one actuator (16), such as a motor, for actuating a movement of the flexible structure (14) for the therapy, and optionally at least one transducer (18), is provided.

Abstract: A substrate configured for placement on an internal organ or internal tissue is provided. In certain embodiments, the substrate conforms to and moves with the internal organ or internal tissue. Three or more sensor elements are integrated on the substrate. In one implementation, the substrate and associated sensor elements provide dynamic referencing of the internal organ or internal tissue after registration of the sensor data with images and/or volumetric representations of the internal organ or internal tissue.

Abstract: An MRI-compatible catheter includes an elongated flexible shaft having opposite distal and proximal end portions. A handle is attached to the proximal end portion and includes an actuator in communication with the shaft distal end portion that is configured to articulate the shaft distal end portion. The distal end portion of the shaft may include an ablation tip and includes at least one RF tracking coil positioned adjacent the ablation tip that is electrically connected to an MRI scanner. The at least one RF tracking coil is electrically connected to a circuit that reduces coupling when the at least one RF tracking coil is exposed to an MRI environment. Each RF tracking coil is a 1-10 turn solenoid coil, and has a length along the longitudinal direction of the catheter of between about 0.25 mm and about 4 mm.

Abstract: Magnetic susceptibility is the physical property for T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (T2*MRI). The invention relates to methods for reconstructing an internal distribution (3D map) of magnetic susceptibility values, ? (x,y,z), of an object, from 3D T2*MRI phase images, by using Computed Inverse Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CIMRI) tomography. The CIMRI technique solves the inverse problem of the 3D convolution by executing a 3D Total Variation (TV) regularized iterative convolution scheme, using a split Bregman iteration algorithm. The reconstruction of ? (x,y,z) can be designed for low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass features by using a convolution kernel that is modified from the standard dipole kernel. Multiple reconstructions can be implemented in parallel, and averaging the reconstructions can suppress noise.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for performing multi-parametric diagnosis for liver disease. The present disclosure provides systems and methods that include: positioning a subject, for example a patient, in association with a medical imaging device, preferably a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner; using the medical imaging device to measure the subject's liver for extracellular fluid; measuring the liver for iron content, in particular for iron overload; determining whether iron overload may be indicated or present from the measurement for iron content, and if indicated correcting the measurement for extra cellular fluid; measuring the liver for hepatic lipid content (HLC); and determining from said measurements the presence or absence of liver disease.

Abstract: A method for improved, automated analysis of a data set improves the reliability of the data set by comparing the data set with a model of similar data. The method may be used in applications such as medical imaging, clinical trial participant selection, marketing, security, traffic control, and other applications.

Abstract: The invention features a method including: (i) providing spectrally resolved information about light coming from different spatial locations in a sample comprising deep tissue in response to an illumination of the sample, wherein the light includes contributions from different components in the sample; (ii) decomposing the spectrally resolved information for each of at least some of the different spatial locations into contributions from spectral estimates associated with at least some of the components in the sample; and (iii) constructing a deep tissue image of the sample based on the decomposition to preferentially show a selected one of the components.

Abstract: An angiography system for angiographic examination of a patient is provided. The system has an x-ray emitter and an x-ray image detector attached to the ends of a C-arm, a patient support couch, a system control unit, an image system and a monitor. The system control unit generates a mask image that detects a reference image, effects a registration of the reference image to the C-arm, whereby if necessary a segmentation of the examination object is implemented in the reference image, contrasts image regions lying inside of the segmentation in order to generate a mask image, and subtracts the mask image from fluoroscopy live images acquired by the angiography system without contrast agent in order to form a roadmap image. The image system effects a reproduction of the roadmap images on the monitor.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing parallel magnetic resonance images includes providing a set of acquired k-space MR image data y, and finding a target MR image x that minimizes ½?Fv?y?22+??z?1 where v=Sx and z=Wx where S is a diagonal matrix containing sensitivity maps of coil elements in an MR receiver array, F is an FFT matrix, W is a redundant Haar wavelet matrix, and ??0 is a regularization parameter, by updating x k + 1 = ( ? 1 ? I + ? 3 ? S H ? S ) - 1 ? [ ? 1 ? W H ? ( z k - b z k ) + ? 3 ? S H ? ( v k - b v k ) ] , ? z k + 1 = soft ? ( Wx k + 1 + b z k , 1 ? 1 ) ? ? where soft ? ( x , T ) = { x + T if ? ? x ? - T , 0 if ? ? ? x ? ? T , x - T if ? ? x ? T , ? ? and ? ? v k + 1 = ( F H ? F + ? 3 ? I ) - 1 ? [ F H ? y + ? 3 ? ( Sx k + 1 + b v k ) ] , where k is an iteration counter,

Abstract: After selecting two or more image series for comparison, images of the image series are interleaved so that they are alternatively displayed in a comparison pane on a display device. In one embodiment, after one or more image series are selected for comparison, an interleaved image series is created containing each of the images of the one or more selected image series, or, alternatively, the interleaved image series comprises links to the images arranged in the interleaved pattern. If differences exist in the images of the multiple image series, these differences may be more easily detectable as the display device cycles between the images. Comparison of images in an interleaved image series may be more advantageous if the images of each selected image series are of a common anatomical area, common image size, and the images are in the same order.

Abstract: Cardiac information of a patient is displayed by obtaining a plurality of MRI cine loops of the heart of the patient at a plurality of heart rates, the plurality of cine loops including both wall motion cine loops and at least one perfusion cine loops and simultaneously displaying both the wall motion cine loops and the at least one perfusion cine loop.

Abstract: In a method and a device MR images having various contrasts are scanned and then values for some or all of the parameters T1, T2 and PD related to the scanned MR images are determined. Based on the scanned MR images and the determined parameter values an initial conventional MR contrast image with some default scanner settings is generated, or alternatively, a stronger non-physical MR contrast image. The initial MR contrast image can then be manipulated by a user in response to movement of a user-controlled marker on a screen showing the contrast image such that a contrast optimized image can be obtained for a particular diagnosis in a very short time. Furthermore a quantitative image can be generated representing the amount of a single tissue type.

Abstract: In a method and magnetic resonance device for graphically assisting the navigation of an instrument (in particular a medical instrument such as a needle and/or a guide sleeve guiding a needle) within a procedure region of a target subject (in particular a patient), coordinates of a target position and/or target region to be addressed that are obtained from a high-contrast image data set acquired with the magnetic resonance device. Low-contrast image data showing the instrument are acquired continuously and/or intermittently during the navigation and/or the position and orientation of the instrument is determined (in particular measured) with a position determination device. The low-contrast image later are brought into registration with the magnetic resonance device continuously and/or intermittently during the navigation.

Abstract: An image recording device is disclosed for the simultaneous recording of magnetic resonance image data and nuclear medical image data, in particular PET image data. In at least one embodiment, the image recording device includes a nuclear medical detector arrangement integrated into a magnetic resonance device, wherein a fluorescence detector arrangement including an optical system and designed for fluorescence imaging is also integrated into the magnetic resonance device.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel approach for effective ex vivo and in vivo imaging of blood and establishes the feasibility of blood as an effective agent for CEST to generate sufficient CEST contrast relative to surrounding tissue.

Abstract: System and method for diagnosing brain conditions including evaluating fiber pathways of white matter tracts using a diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) process, tracking the propagation of waves traveling at specific angles to the fiber pathways by performing a 3D magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) process at the same spatial resolution and voxel position as the DTI, analyzing the viscoelastic properties using an inversion having at least nine elastic coefficients, determining the curvature along the pathways, differentiating the spatial-spectral filter twice with respect to arc length along the pathways, and diagnosing a brain condition based on the viscoelastic properties.