Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a gradient coil for applying a gradient pulse, a transmitting coil for transmitting an RF pulse, and a coil control device for controlling the gradient coil and the transmitting coil in such a manner that a pulse sequence for (A) making an absolute value of longitudinal magnetization of a first background tissue and an absolute value of longitudinal magnetization of a second background tissue longer in T1 value than the first background tissue smaller than an absolute value of longitudinal magnetization of body fluid of a subject, (B) acquiring magnetic resonance signals from the subject, and (C) flipping transverse magnetization of the second background tissue to longitudinal magnetization is repeatedly executed.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance system is provided. The magnetic resonance system includes a unit configured to acquire magnetic resonance signals from a region including liquid in a subject using a first sequence having a flow compensation gradient field for changing a phase of a spin according to a flow rate, and acquire magnetic resonance signals from the region using a second sequence free of the flow compensation gradient field. The magnetic resonance system further includes a biological signal generating unit configured to generate biological signals of the subject, based on the magnetic resonance signals acquired by the first sequence and the magnetic resonance signals acquired by the second sequence.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for implementing an imaging examination method. In at least one embodiment, the method includes creating an overview data record containing angiography data relating to a patient; simulating flow conditions in vessels of the patient; determining a strain on the vascular walls with the aid of the simulation; identifying vascular regions, in which the strain on the vascular wall exceeds a threshold value and implementing an imaging examination in at least one of the identified vascular regions.

Abstract: In a magnetic resonance angiography method with flow-compensated and flow-sensitive imaging and a magnetic resonance apparatus for implementing such a method, a first MR data set of the examination region is acquired with an imaging sequence in which vessels in the examination region are shown with high signal intensity, a second MR data set of the examination region with an imaging sequence in which the vessels in the examination region are shown with low signal intensity, and the angiographic magnetic resonance image is calculated in a processor by taking the difference of the first and second data set. The first data set is acquired with an imaging sequence with reduced flow sensitivity and the second data set is acquired with an imaging sequence with an increased flow sensitivity compared to the initial imaging sequence.

Abstract: A method for spatially resolved detection and display of movement processes in an examination subject by means of magnetic resonance tomography includes the steps of imposing a magnetization pattern on at least a portion of a fluid medium located in the intestine of the examination subject, acquiring at least one image data set or a portion of an image data set that images the region of the examination subject on which the magnetization pattern was imposed, determining at least one item of movement information from the at least one image data set or portion of an image data set, by an analysis of the magnetization pattern in a processor, and presenting the at least one item of movement information through presentation device in communication with the processor.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for the creation of an MR image of a vascular structure of an examination region, the spins in the examination region are saturated by the irradiation of at least one RF saturation signal, which delivers a lower signal intensity as spins in a subsequent MR signal recording for the creation of the MR angiographic image, which flow through at least one blood vessel into the examination region, and are not saturated by the RF saturation pulse. Raw data space of the MR angiographic image is read out with a non-Cartesian trajectory in the MR signal acquisition for the creation of the MR angiographic image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating MRI images the lungs and/or airways of a subject using a medical grade gas mixture comprises between about 20-79% inert perfluorinated gas and at least about 20.5% oxygen gas. The images are generated using acquired 19F magnetic resonance image (MRI) signal data associated with the perfluorinated gas and oxygen mixture.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging condition setting unit, a scan performing unit and a blood flow image generating unit. The imaging condition setting unit sets a sequence accompanying application of a motion probing gradient pulse as an imaging condition. The scan performing unit performs an imaging scan according to the sequence. The blood flow image generating unit generates a blood flow image based on data acquired by the imaging scan.

Abstract: Exemplary method and apparatus can be provided for generating information regarding at least one tissue. Using such exemplary method and apparatus, it is possible to generate a plurality of inversion recovery (IR) radio frequency (RF) pulses that are configured to establish an identifier of an element associated with at least one portion of the tissue(s). It is also possible to determine an inversion time associated with at least one of the RF pulses. Further, it is possible to generate, e.g., with a computing arrangement, the information regarding the tissue(s) based on the inversion time.

Abstract: The technology herein provides a dark blood delayed enhancement technique that improves the visualization of subendocardial infarcts that may otherwise be disguised by the bright blood pool. The timed combination of a slice-selective and a non-selective preparation improves the infarct/blood contrast by decoupling their relaxation curves thereby nulling both the blood and the non-infarcted myocardium. This causes the infarct to be imaged bright and the blood and non-infarct to both be imaged dark. The slice-selective preparation occurs early enough in the cardiac cycle so that fresh blood can enter the imaged slice.

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 for diagnosing pulmonary hypertension from phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) images includes providing a time series of one or more magnetic resonance (MR) flow images of a patient's mediastinum during one or more cardiac cycles, segmenting the pulmonary artery within each image of the times series of images, identifying the anterior wall and pulmonary valve within the segmented pulmonary artery, analyzing blood flow during a diastolic phase of the one or more cardiac cycles to determine a relative duration of blood flow, tstreamlines, during the diastolic phase, analyzing blood flow during a latter portion of a systolic phase and a subsequent diastolic phase of the one or more cardiac cycles to detect the presence and duration tvortex of a vortex, and diagnosing the presence of pulmonary hypertension from tstreamlines and tvortex.

Abstract: Techniques, systems computer program products are disclosed for mapping of vascular perfusion territories by applying a train of pseudo-continuous radio frequency tagging pulses to modulate a first magnetization of one or more blood vessels that supply blood to one or more vascular perfusion territories, applying an encoding scheme using unipolar transverse gradient pulses to modulate a second magnetization of blood vessels of the vascular perfusion territories, obtaining efficiency for each blood vessel based on the applied encoding scheme and separating the vascular perfusion territories by using the obtained tagging efficiency in a decoding process.

Abstract: A blood flow dynamic analysis apparatus for analyzing the dynamic state of a blood flow of a subject using data about a plurality of frame images acquired from the subject with a contrast agent injected therein, includes a map creation device for creating maps each indicative of a characteristic amount related to the dynamic state of the contrast agent or the blood flow, based on the data about the frame images, an unaffected side detection device for detecting an unaffected side of the subject from within each of the maps, and a display condition determination device for determining a display condition used when each of the maps is displayed, based on pixel values of pixels existing in the unaffected side in the map.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a structural information acquisition unit, an abnormal part detection unit, an imaging region setting unit and an imaging unit. The structural information acquisition unit is configured to acquire anatomical structural information based on first image data of an object. The abnormal part detection unit is configured to detect an abnormal region based on the structural information. The imaging region setting unit is configured to indicate an imaging region according to a detection result of the abnormal region. The imaging unit is configured to acquire second image data of the object by imaging of an imaging region set based on the imaging region according to the detection result of the abnormal region.

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: An on/off fertility regulator device in the form of a male vas deferens or female fallopian tube bypass mounted device incorporating an open/close valve actuator. A separate handheld controller is positioned above the skin and in proximity to the previously implanted regulating device. Wireless energy transfer receiver circuitry is built into the device and, upon receiving a electric generated signal the inductive circuit printed coil activates the actuator in order to actuate any of a clamp, ball, globe or flow interrupter associated with a bypass connection tube associated with each of the pair of vas deferens. As a result, passage of semen from the seminal vesticle (or alternatively eggs through the fallopian tube) can be instantly interrupted or permitted in on/off fashion as a viable alternative to the user undergoing an irreversible vasectomy operation.

Abstract: In a method and a device for automatic determination of perfusion by using a magnetic resonance system, multiple first MR data sets are thereby acquired from a volume element over time with a perfusion-sensitive imaging sequence, and multiple second MR data sets of the same volume element are acquired over time with a control imaging sequence, in particular a perfusion-insensitive imaging sequence. These first MR data sets and the second MR data sets are subjected to a statistical time series analysis in order to determine the perfusion in the volume element.

Abstract: A method for correcting image artifacts during the acquisition of magnetic resonance imaging data includes the following steps. At least one part of the linear, location-dependent and spatially constant interference fields arising at the measurement location is determined in a time interval between an excitation point in time and a MR data acquisition point in time.

Abstract: In a method for planning of an angiography measurement of a body region in a magnetic resonance system, the body region being larger than the maximum field of view of the magnetic resonance system, and wherein the MR system has a control unit for controlling the workflow of the angiographic measurement, an upper boundary and a lower boundary of the body region are established. The control unit divides the body region into sub-measurement regions and sub-measurements dependent on the established boundaries. The sub-measurement regions and sub-measurements are measured in succession. The arrival of an injected test bolus of a contrast agent into the various sub-measurement regions is detected using MR measurements.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for brain perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique with the removal of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pixels. This invention utilizes a CSF/brain-contrast-enhanced image, wherein the CSF/brain-contrast-enhanced image is defined as the signal difference between CSF and brain matter divided by a standard deviation of air background random noise is larger than 3, acquired from the subject's brain, and applies a segmentation technique to remove the CSF pixels. After removing the CSF pixels on parametric images, the extent of brain tissue with delayed perfusion can be better identified. By using a good region of interest enclosing the correct delayed-perfusion region, the measurement on the tissue volume and perfusion parameters would be more accurate than the area contaminated by CSF pixels.

Abstract: Techniques, systems and computer program products are disclosed for mapping of vascular perfusion territories by placing one or more blood vessels of the vascular perfusion territories in a tag condition and others in a control condition by applying a train of pseudo-continuous radio frequency tagging pulses. In addition, an encoding scheme is applied to fully invert or relax the blood vessels of the vascular perfusion territories. Also, a tagging efficiency is measured for each blood vessel based on the applied encoding scheme. Further, the vascular perfusion territories are separated by using the measured tagging efficiency in a decoding process.

Abstract: A system for detecting and measuring increased global or local intracranial pressure includes various devices for performing controlled occlusion of jugular cranial blood outflow and generating occlusion data related to said controlled occlusion, a cranial blood outflow pressure measurement device and a processor for processing jugular cranial blood outflow occlusion data and cranial blood outflow data to identify and/or measure a functional relationship between the jugular controlled occlusion and the jugular cranial blood outflow pressure. A device communicates the functional relationship a display device and/or a patient monitoring system. The processor also detects a state of equilibrium between the jugular cranial blood outflow pressure and the jugular occlusion pressure at occlusion.

Abstract: Techniques exist for measuring local blood velocity of flow rate waveforms in, for example, mammalian vascular segments. A method and system for deriving information on disease in vascular segments, for example mean pressure, drop in mean pressure and/or hydraulic resistance, from such measured waveforms is described. The waveforms can, for example, be measured non-invasively using Doppler ultrasound or magnetic resonance techniques. Form factors (Vff, Pff) for the velocity waveform and the centreal arterial pressure are determined. Stenosis may be detected by detecting changes e.g in Vff/Pff.

Abstract: Velocity of MR-imaged fluid flows is measured. Data representing a measure of distance traveled by flowing fluid appearing in at least two MR images of a subject's tissue taken at different respective imaging times is generated. Data representing at least one fluid velocity measurement of the flowing fluid is generated by calculating at least one instance of distance traveled by the fluid divided by elapsed time during travel based on different respective imaging times. Data representing at least one fluid velocity measurement is then output to at least one of: (a) a display screen, (b) a non-transitory data storage medium, and (c) a remotely located site.

Abstract: A first plurality of MR signals from a patient's tissue at respectively corresponding successive first time increments extending over a first time interval including a substantial majority of a subject's cardiac cycle is acquired and analyzed to define a second time interval, shorter than the first time interval, during the cardiac cycle whereat there is a relatively steep rise in signal magnitudes as a function of time (e.g., corresponding with systole and diastole events of the cardiac cycle). A second plurality of MR signals is then acquired from tissue of the patient at respectively corresponding successive second time increments during the second time interval, the second time increments being substantially shorter than said first time increments. Image data representing at least one contrast-free image of flowing fluid vessels is generated based on the second plurality of MR signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods which generate a sequence of images using turbo spin echo magnetic resonance imaging which are retrospectively correlated with periodic motion occurring within a subject being imaged are described. In one embodiment, k-space measurements (or the measurements from which images are formed) are captured during, and correlated with, different phases in a cardiac cycle of the subject. With this sequence, the images that are produced are able to show, and/or compensate for, motion correlated with the cardiac cycle of the subject.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting the effects of concussion are disclosed. In various embodiments, fMRI or other live analysis technique captures data regarding the subject's brain activity while he or she is performing a task that exercises one or more particular functional centers. In some embodiments, post-collision activity is compared to baseline data, and the diagnosis operates as a function of the comparison. in other embodiments, post-collision activity is analyzed, such as by partitioning the activity data into regions of interest and calculating activity for one particular region in comparison with certain other, perhaps adjacent, regions.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of at least a portion of an anatomical structure of the patient. The portion of the anatomical structure may include at least a portion of the patient's aorta and at least a portion of a plurality of coronary arteries emanating from the portion of the aorta. The at least one computer system may also be configured to create a three-dimensional model representing the portion of the anatomical structure based on the patient-specific data, create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic within the portion of the anatomical structure, and determine a fractional flow reserve within the portion of the anatomical structure based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.

Abstract: A method for determining an arteriovascular condition of a subject having an arterial blood flow is shown. The method involves determining a temporal progression of an instantaneous blood flow condition of the arterial blood flow as well as deriving a slew rate of the temporal progression during an increase of the temporal progression. In addition, an arteriovascular condition indicator device is shown, which comprises: an input for receiving an input signal representing an instantaneous arterial blood flow condition of a subject and a slew rate monitor connected to the input. A corresponding control device for providing an activation signal is also shown. The control device comprises a maximum detector connected to the slew rate monitor. A method for stimulation of arteriogenesis is also shown, wherein a temporal progression of an instantaneous blood flow condition is monitored, a slew rate of the temporal progression is derived, and the maximum of the slew rate is determined.

Abstract: An MRI apparatus for imaging a bodily fluid flowing inside a subject includes a gradient coil which applies gradient pulses to the subject, a transmission coil which transmits RF pulses to the subject, and a control part which controls the gradient coil and the transmission coil. The control part controls the gradient coil and the transmission coil in order to: saturate longitudinal magnetization of the bodily fluid in a field of saturation positioned on an upstream flow of the bodily fluid during a saturation period, invert the direction of longitudinal magnetization of the bodily fluid in an imaging field of view positioned on an downstream flow of the bodily fluid during an inversion period following the saturation period, and acquire MR signals from the bodily fluid in the imaging field of view during a data acquisition period following the inversion period.

Abstract: Magnetic resonance images (MRI) are generated by acquiring a plurality of N>2 image data sets for an imaged patient volume using respectively corresponding different data acquisition imaging parameters. At least one hybrid image data set X is generated for the imaged patient volume based on a combination of at least a subset of the plurality of image data sets. If desired, a further subtraction image (e.g., MRA) data set is generated based on a difference between the at least one hybrid image data set and another image data set, and the subtraction image data set, which may, depending upon implementation, optimize flowing fluids such as blood within arteries or veins, CSF, etc within the imaged patent volume, is output for storage or display as an MR image of the imaged patient volume.

Abstract: A method for imaging a brain of a subject includes providing a cognitive task for the subject or measuring resting state blood flow without a cognitive task, applying a saturation pulse sequence to saturate a slice within an imaging volume in the subject, and applying an imaging pulse sequence to acquire data from the imaging volume. A saturated image is acquired shortly after termination of the saturation pulse sequence and a non-saturation image is acquired after spins flowing through the saturated slice have recovered. The saturation image and the non-saturation image are subtracted to generate a blood velocity or perfusion enhanced difference image indicating portions of the brain active during the cognitive task. When measuring resting state blood flow without a cognitive task, the method includes acquiring a calibration scan and performing a quantitative evaluation of the blood velocity perpendicular to the saturated slice.

Abstract: A method for calculating quantitative perfusion measurements using an MRI system includes a pulse sequence that acquires perfusion weighted images and additionally measures T1 values before and after the administration of a contrast agent. T1 values are measured by rapidly sampling a longitudinal relaxation curve and employed to determine the blood volume in tissue. A correction factor for the effect of water diffusion between blood vessels and the extravascular space is determined.

Abstract: The technology herein provides a dark blood delayed enhancement technique that improves the visualization of subendocardial infarcts that may otherwise be disguised by the bright blood pool. The timed combination of a slice-selective and a non-selective preparation improves the infarct/blood contrast by decoupling their relaxation curves thereby nulling both the blood and the non-infarcted myocardium. This causes the infarct to be imaged bright and the blood and non-infarct to both be imaged dark. The slice-selective preparation occurs early enough in the cardiac cycle so that fresh blood can enter the imaged slice.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit which applies a labeling pulse to invert a spin included in a labeling region within part of a imaging region and then collects a echo signal from a time point when an inversion time has passed from the application of the labeling pulse, and a control unit, the control unit controlling the imaging unit so that the echo signal in the imaging region is collected a plurality of times with variations in the inversion time, the control unit also controlling the imaging unit so that a time ranging from a reference time point within a biological signal obtained from a subject to the application of the labeling pulse is a time determined in accordance with the inversion time.

Abstract: A method for determining the spatial distribution of magnetic resonance signals from an imaging area, wherein nuclear spins are excited in a spatially encoded fashion through multi-dimensional RF pulses, is characterized in that in a definition step, a resolution grid with resolution grid cells is predetermined, and in accordance with a predetermined phase encoding scheme, an excitation pattern is defined for each phase encoding step, in which the amplitudes within the imaging area are set in accordance with a predetermined distribution identically for each phase encoding step. In a preparatory step, the amplitude and phase behavior of the RF pulses to be irradiated is calculated in accordance with a predetermined k-space trajectory for each defined complex excitation pattern.

Abstract: Systems and methods for blood flow and perfusion measurement using complex amplitude modulation of MRI pulses are presented. In exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, inflowing arterial spins can be modulated using a complex modulation function having certain mathematical properties in the frequency domain, such as, for example, a pseudo-random sequence. In exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter the mathematical properties of such complex modulation functions can be used to measure individual transit times by deconvolving them from a series of acquired images. In exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter images can be acquired at the same rapid rate as arterial modulation, and transit time distribution in the imaged tissue can be determined as part of a single integrated acquisition.

Abstract: Exemplary method, systems and arrangements can be provided for creating a high-resolution magnetic resonance image (“MRI”) or obtaining other information of a target. For example, radio-frequency (“RF”) pulses can be transmitted toward the target by a RF transmitter of a MRI apparatus. In response, multiple echoes corresponding to each pulse may be received from the target. Data from each of the echoes can be assigned to a single line of k-space of a distinct image, and stored in memory of the apparatus. An image of the target, velocity data and/or acceleration data associated with a target can be generated as a function of the data. In one exemplary embodiment, the data from different echoes can be assigned to the same k-space line and to different cardiac phases. The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can be utilized for the heart or for any other anatomical organ or region of interest.

Abstract: A tomography device (3) producing magnetic resonance (MR) images of a part of the body of a living organism (1) disposed in a measurement volume of the tomography device (3), with a first measurement unit (4a) for acquiring a spatially resolved temporal series of MR images of the part of the body under examination, wherein the temporal series of MR images represents the passage of a contrast agent injected into the blood stream of the living organism through an organ located in the part of the body under examination, is characterized in that at least one further measurement unit (4b) is provided that comprises a local receiver coil that measures, close to at least one artery that supplies the part of the body (2) of the living organism disposed in the tomography device, the concentration of contrast agent with temporal resolution and concurrently with measurement of the temporal series of MR images determined by the first measurement unit.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for examination and evaluation of a blood flow in a pulmonary artery of a patient, measurement data are recorded, from which at least a part of the blood flow in the pulmonary artery is able to be re-constructed at least two-dimensionally in a plane defined by a longitudinal axis of the pulmonary artery and by an anterior-posterior direction, including at least at several diastolic points in time in the course of a heart cycle, after a closure of the pulmonary valve. The number of diastolic points for which an asymmetry in relation to the longitudinal axis of the pulmonary artery in the anterior-posterior direction exists is determined. A measure is then determined that characterizes how long, after the closure of the pulmonary valve, the aforementioned asymmetry exists.

Abstract: A system for Non-Contrast Agent enhanced MR imaging, includes an MR image acquisition device that acquires first and second datasets representing first and second image slabs individually comprising multiple image slices acquired at fast and slow blood flow portions of a heart cycle and oriented substantially perpendicular in at least one axis to direction of vasculature blood flow, in response to a heart cycle synchronization signal. An image data processor processes imaging datasets representing the first and second image slabs to provide first and second volume datasets representing a 3D volume imaged at the fast blood flow portion and the slow blood flow portion respectively and for providing a difference dataset representing an image difference between the first and second volume datasets and enhancing arterial blood flow. A display processor provides data representing an image showing the enhanced arterial blood flow.

Abstract: Arterial spin labeling MRI is used to provide a patient specific correction factor to correct a image provided by a non-ASL imaging modality (e.g., DSC MRI). More specifically, a first blood flow image is taken using the non-ASL imaging modality, and a corresponding second blood flow image is taken with ASL. Some or all of the voxels in the first image are selected according to a predetermined selection method. A correction factor (CF) is computed to be the ratio of second image BF to first image BF averaged over the selected voxels. Thus, CF is the average of ASL/non-ASL blood flow over the selected voxels. This correction factor is applied to all voxels of an image equally, but can differ from patient to patient. This correction can be applied to one or more non-ASL blood flow images.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus having control unit for fetching a plurality of image data and obtaining an image by a calculation. The control unit performs an unwrap processing to a plurality of regions for removing a main value of a phase rotation amount so as to obtain a distribution diagram of a phase rotation amount caused by magnetostatic unevenness, obtains a plurality of evaluation values based on the phase value between a plurality of regions, selects a desired evaluation value based on the phase value from the plurality of evaluation values, and adjusts the phase values between the regions in accordance with the desired evaluation value.

Abstract: A method of assessing fluid flow in a body is provided which includes phase contrast velocity encoded MRI scanning the body to obtain the velocity of fluids flowing in each of a plurality of volume elements (voxels) in three orthogonal directions; determining whether the flow in each voxel (1) is significant typically by checking if it has a value exceeding a threshold value selected from either or both of a noise level value and a minimum expected constant flow or flow-time profile; comparing each voxel with significant flow to each adjacent voxels (4, 6, 6a, 8, 8a) in the same and adjacent parallel plains; registering a connection where an adjacent voxel has significant flow; and clustering and depicting connected voxels visually by computing isosurfaces.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for presenting anatomical and blood flow information contained in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dataset. A three-dimensional (3D) representation of blood flow is generated which varies with time, referred to herein as a four-dimensional (4D) presentation or display. The system allows the visualization of the dynamics of blood flow and the visualization of anatomical information via the fusion of different types of MRI data sets.

Abstract: A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus executes a pulse sequence for generating a phase shift of each spin, corresponding to a flow rate of the spin to thereby acquire magnetic resonance signals from a subject and determines a position of each blood vessel of the subject, based on each of the magnetic resonance signals. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a blood vessel position specifying device for specifying a position of each blood vessel, based on a change in signal intensity of the magnetic resonance signal with time and based on a change in the flow rate of the spin with time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method, in particular to a MRI method enabling early detection of myocardial ischemia and to compounds for use as MR contrast agents in the method.

Abstract: Methods and systems for obtaining intravascular magnetic resonance images of blood flow are disclosed. In preferred forms, a train of radio frequency (RF) pulses is produced by an intravascularly introduced RF transmitter positioned in proximate location to the blood flow so as to create a continuous stream of coherently excited protons of the blood flow. The coherently excited protons of the blood flow are sampled as the protons freely precess while flowing through a region of three dimensional space unaffected by the ongoing intravascular RF excitation. An image of the sampled coherently excited protons may then be constructed.

Abstract: An ECG-prep scan is used to set an optimum time phase in both systole and diastole of the heart. At each of the different time phases, an imaging scan is started to acquire a plurality of sets of echo data. An artery/vein visually separated blood flow image is produced from the echo data. The imaging scan uses a half-Fourier technique, for example. This provides high-quality blood flow images with shorter scan time, without injecting a contrast medium. Additionally, with a readout gradient pulse applied substantially parallel with a direction of slowly flowing blood, a scan is performed in synchronism with an optimally determined cardiac time phase. The readout gradient pulse has a dephasing pulse for enhancing differences in a flow void effect depending on blood flow velocities. This enables slow-speed flows, such as blood flows in the inferior limb, to be depicted without fail.