Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080197847 | Detuning of an Rf Shielded Mri Scan Room - The present invention relates to a system and method magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Furthermore the invention relates to the use of a material and to a computer program. In order to provide a technique which allows to prevent standing waves in an RF cage ( | 08-21-2008 |
20080197848 | Rf Volume Coil With Selectable Field of View - A radio frequency coil for magnetic resonance imaging or spectroscopy includes a plurality of generally parallel conductive members ( | 08-21-2008 |
20080197849 | Magnetic Resonance System Having a Base Body and a Patient Bed and Inductive or Capacitive Signal Transmission - A magnetic resonance system has a base body embodying a magnet system that generates magnetic fields in an excitation region on the base body, a patient bed that is movable in a travel direction through a travel region relative to the base body, the patient bed receiving an examination subject thereon to move the examination subject through the examination region, a local coil that is operable in combination with the magnet system to generate magnetic resonance signals in the examination subject and to detect the magnetic resonance signals resulting therefrom, and an evaluation device that evaluates the magnetic resonance signals detected by the local coil. A base body coupling element, at a predetermined base body location, is connected to the evaluation device. A patient bed coupling element, located at a predetermined patient bed location, is connected to the local coil. The base body and patient bed coupling elements feed the magnetic resonance signals to the evaluation device when, and as long as, the patient bed has moved by a predetermined segment of the travel region. | 08-21-2008 |
20080204021 | Flexible and Wearable Radio Frequency Coil Garments for Magnetic Resonance Imaging - A radio frequency apparatus for at least one of (i) receiving and (ii) exciting a magnetic resonance signal includes an item of clothing ( | 08-28-2008 |
20080204022 | Biological detector and method - A biological detector includes a conduit for receiving a fluid containing one or more magnetic nanoparticle-labeled, biological objects to be detected and one or more permanent magnets or electromagnet for establishing a low magnetic field in which the conduit is disposed. A microcoil is disposed proximate the conduit for energization at a frequency that permits detection by NMR spectroscopy of whether the one or more magnetically-labeled biological objects is/are present in the fluid. | 08-28-2008 |
20080204023 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS FOR SCANNING THE SPINE - The present invention discloses a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for scanning a spine, comprising a body coil for emitting signals, a patient table within the body coil and a spine coil for receiving signals, wherein said spine coil is fixed within said body coil and disposed under said patient table. Said patient table is movable within said body coil by slide rails fitted at the two sides thereof, so as to reduce the length of said spine coil. The cross section of said patient table is in an arched shape, and the cross section of said spine coil is in an arched shape which matches that of said patient table. By using the apparatus of the present invention, since the spine coil is disposed underneath the board of the patient table, the design and production of the board of the patient table are simplified, the number of radio frequency choke coils and radio frequency element units is reduced and so are the costs; also, the space for the patient is increased, so the patient's comfort is improved; and furthermore, the repeated plugging and unplugging of the spine coil, as in the prior art, are avoided so as to reduce the probability of damaging the coil. | 08-28-2008 |
20080204024 | METHOD OF REDUCING EDDY CURRENTS CAUSED BY A GRADIENT MAGNETIC FIELD IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM - A method for reducing eddy currents caused by the gradient magnetic field in a magnetic resonance system employs an anti-eddy current device formed by a number of laminated metallic plates, and includes the steps of calculating the distribution of the main magnetic field of the magnetic resonance system in the anti-eddy current device, calculating the distribution of the main magnetic field and the gradient magnetic field in the anti-eddy current device, subtracting the calculated distribution of the main magnetic field in the anti-eddy current device from the calculated distribution of the main magnetic field and the gradient magnetic field in the anti-eddy current device, to obtain the distribution of the gradient magnetic field in the anti-eddy current device, and adjusting the setting of the metallic plates of the anti-eddy current device based on the distribution of the gradient magnetic field in the anti-eddy current device, so as to reduce the eddy current. The adjustment in the metallic plates of the anti-eddy current device should be such that the gradient magnetic field is parallel to or substantially parallel to the plane of the metallic plates. The metallic plates can be further divided into a number of areas, or the laminating direction of the metallic plates in different areas can be adjusted according to the specific distribution of the gradient magnetic field to obtain the optimum effect of eddy current reduction. | 08-28-2008 |
20080211501 | Method and Curcuit Arrangement For Operating Multi-Channel Transmit/Receive Antenna Devices - Methods and circuit arrangements for operating multi-channel transmit/receive antenna devices or arrangements especially for use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems are disclosed, by which a fully independent control of complete multi-channel RF transmit and receive chains can be conducted in a flexible way and new options like RF shimming, transmit sensitivity encoding (TransmitSENSE), RF encoding, determination of S- or Z-matrix prior to spin echo measurements, calibration, SAR (specific absorption rate) reduction etc. can be utilized or improved. | 09-04-2008 |
20080211502 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC COIL SELECTION IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS - In a method for coil selection of a magnetic resonance apparatus, a determination of coil positions of the multiple coil devices of the magnetic resonance apparatus is made and a determination is also made of a number of coil groups, wherein a coil group is composed of at least one coil device. One or more coil groups is associated with positions of the support device, and the coil group that is associated with a position of the support device includes the coil devices that are suitable for use in that associated position of the support device. A control of one of the multiple coil groups dependent on the position of the support device. | 09-04-2008 |
20080211503 | METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR POSITION DETERMINATION OF ACQUISITION DEVICES FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM - In a method and a corresponding control device for automatic position determination in at least one spatial direction of at least two acquisition devices, wherein more acquisition devices than acquisition channels are present, a position measurement for one of the acquisition devices is implemented with an acquisition channel in a first step and a position measurement for another of the acquisition devices with the same acquisition channel is implemented in a second step. The position of the respective acquisition devices is determined based on these position measurements. | 09-04-2008 |
20080224701 | Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and radio freqeuncy coil unit - A radio frequency coil unit includes a plurality of surface coils and a distributing/combining unit. The plurality of surface coils are arranged in a body-axis direction. The distributing/combining unit distributes and combines reception signals output from the plurality of surface coils to generate a new reception signal. | 09-18-2008 |
20080231277 | NMR spectrometer - The present invention provides a highly-sensitive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer which achieves a high Q factor using a superconductor, and concurrently which is provided with a probe antenna maintaining the magnetic homogeneity of the static magnetic field in a sample space. An antenna coil is fabricated by using a wire having a superconducting layer formed on the surface of a metal wire. | 09-25-2008 |
20080231278 | RADIO-FREQUENCY COIL AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A radio-frequency coil has a first element and a second element both being adjacently arranged so as to nip a division/join portion. The first element has a first main loop portion provided along an arrangement plain surface and a first sub-loop portion provided along a surface substantially perpendicular to the arrangement plain surface. The second element has a second main loop portion provided along the arrangement plain surface and a second sub-loop portion provided facing the first sub-loop. The first sub-loop portion and the second sub-loop portion generate an induced electromotive force such that, among magnetic fields generated when a current flows in one coil, a summation of the magnetic fields, which interlink with the other coil, becomes zero. | 09-25-2008 |
20080231279 | RF COIL AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - An RF coil includes: a first loop coil element including a first plane closed by a first coil line; and a second loop coil element including a second plane closed by a second coil line, in which part of said first plane and part of said second plane face each other, wherein: said first loop coil element and said second loop coil element so move while maintaining the facing state as to vary the square measure of the facing area in which said first coil plane and said second coil plane face each other; said first loop coil element includes: a first spreading part having a first coil line so disposed that the distance of opposing by said first coil line parallel to a first moving direction, widens in said first moving direction, in a direction normal to said first moving direction in which the movement so takes place that the square measure of said facing area increases relative to said second loop coil element in a direction parallel to said first plane; and a first coil crossing part in which a first coil line is so disposed as to cross a second spreading part, in an arrangement in which said first loop coil element and said second loop coil element are electromagnetically decoupled and the square measure of said facing area is at the minimum thereof; said second loop coil element includes: a second spreading part having a second coil line so disposed that the distance of opposing by said second coil line parallel to a second moving direction, widens in said second moving direction, in a direction normal to said second moving direction in which the movement so takes place that the square measure of said facing area increases relative to said first loop coil element in a direction parallel to said second plane. | 09-25-2008 |
20080231280 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS, METHOD AND AUXILLIARY COIL ELEMENT FOR MANIPULATION OF THE B1 FIELD - In a method and arrangement for local manipulation of a B | 09-25-2008 |
20080238424 | Compact and Flexible Radio Frequency Coil Arrays - A radio frequency coils array includes a plurality of conductive RF loops ( | 10-02-2008 |
20080246478 | MRI APPARATUS AND AN MRI BED APPARATUS - The test body is placed on the top board. The support section has a support post, a hinge section and a receiving member. The hinge section is linked to the edge of the shorter direction of said top board at one edge of the support post and performs a hinge movement in said shorter direction. The receiving member holds said test body and supports RF coils, when it is positioned on the other edge of the support post and said support post is caused to stand up by the hinge movement. The support section is positioned on both edges of said shorter direction of said top board. | 10-09-2008 |
20080246479 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE LOCAL COIL, PATIENT BED, AND IMAGING APPARATUS, WITH VIBRATION DAMPING - A local coil arrangement for magnetic resonance imaging has a number of supporting connection devices for placement of the local coil arrangement on a patient bed, with each supporting connection device embodying a vibration damping device. | 10-09-2008 |
20080246480 | Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, shield coil, manufacturing method of shield coil, and driving method of magnetic resonance imaging apparatus - A passive type shield coil, disposed to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, for shielding of a magnetic flux of a gradient magnetic field at an inner circumference side generated by a gradient coil for generating the gradient magnetic field, and set at an outer circumference side of the gradient coil, has a coil body formed of a portion including a superconducting material and a portion including a non-superconducting material. | 10-09-2008 |
20080252293 | DETECTION OF RESONANT TAGS BY ULTRA-WIDEBAND (UWB) RADAR - A detection system having a receiver for detecting a material having a magnetic resonance response to illumination by pulses of ultra-wideband (UWB) electromagnetic radiation is disclosed. The receiver comprises a detector for detecting the pulses after they have interacted with the material, and a discriminator arranged to identify in the detected pulses the magnetic resonance response of the material. By scanning an item tagged with a tag having a material having a magnetic resonant response, by illuminating the item with UWB pulses and identifying in detected pulses the magnetic resonance response of the material, items can be located, imaged, or activated. The magnetic resonance response of the tag can cause activation of the tag. The tag can have a magnetic resonance response arranged to provide an identifiable magnetic resonance signature such that different tags can be identified and distinguished by their signatures. | 10-16-2008 |
20080252294 | Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer - It is an object of the invention to provide, in a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer wherein the direction of the static magnetic field is the horizontal direction, a nuclear magnetic resonance probe coil having a highly uniform magnetic field, which can measure at high sensitivity. The present invention, by selecting the design and shapes of the materials forming the probe coil with a view to suppressing disorder in the magnetic field distribution, and using superconducting thin film coils formed on hollow circular substrates to form a receiver coil and coil support materials having curved surfaces, provides a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer of high sensitivity that can improve uniformity of a magnetic field. | 10-16-2008 |
20080258728 | Active Decoupling of Transmitters in Mri - A magnetic resonance imaging system includes a coupling compensation processor ( | 10-23-2008 |
20080265887 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING GAMMA RAYS IN A PET/MRI SCANNER - A gamma ray detector ring for a combined positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is integrated into a radio frequency (RF) coil assembly such that the detector ring is integrated with a RF shield. Each gamma ray detector in the detector ring includes a scintillator component that emits light when a gamma ray is detected and a photodetector component designed to be sensitive to the frequency of light produced by the scintillator. A RF shield may be integrated into a detector ring such that the RF shield is positioned between the scintillator and photodetector components of each detector, thereby saving valuable radial space within the imaging system. Multiple such detector rings may be located adjacent to one another to increase axial coverage and enable three-dimensional PET imaging techniques. | 10-30-2008 |
20080265888 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS WITH A SUPERCONDUCTING BASIC FIELD MAGNET WITH AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE COATING ON THE OUTER VACUUM CHAMBER - In an arrangement with a basic field magnet and with a gradient coil of a magnetic resonance apparatus, the basic field magnet includes superconducting coils that are arranged in a reservoir with liquid helium for cooling. The helium reservoir is surrounded by a further reservoir, designated as an outer vacuum chamber. A vacuum exists between the outer vacuum chamber and the helium reservoir. A cryoshield is arranged between the outer vacuum chamber and the helium reservoir. The gradient coil is arranged in the inner chamber of the basic field magnet. The outer vacuum chamber has an additional coating with a high electrical conductivity. | 10-30-2008 |
20080265889 | Multiple-Channel Transmit Magnetic Resonance - In a transmit apparatus, a multi-channel radio frequency transmitter ( | 10-30-2008 |
20080265890 | Simultaneous Mr-Excitation of Multiple Nuclei with a Single Rf Amplifier - A medical imaging system ( | 10-30-2008 |
20080265891 | BODY COIL FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - To reduce high SAR values in the field of magnetic resonance imaging, and particularly with a body coil for an MRI apparatus, at least a bracket is added between the supporting tube of a body coil and the connecting copper sheet in order to raise the connecting copper sheet and the capacitors away from the human body. In addition to effectively solving the problem of a high SAR value, at the same time no significant loss of the imaging performance occurs. Moreover, the structure is simple, so the costs of modification or production are low. | 10-30-2008 |
20080272784 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging Device and Method for Operating a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Device - The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device and to a method for operating it. The basic components of an MRI device are the main magnet system ( | 11-06-2008 |
20080272785 | Phased Array Coil for MRI - A method and apparatus for ameliorating high-field image distortion in magnetic resonance imaging of tissue. Two separate scans of a target region are taken with different phase and amplitude values for each scan. The phase and amplitude values of each scan are selected to be complimentary so as to provide scans that have improved SNR when averaged using, for example, sum-of-squares averaging. | 11-06-2008 |
20080278166 | Superconducting Loop, Saddle and Birdcage Mri Coils - New MRI coil and resonators are disclosed based solely on superconducting inductive element and built-in capacitive elements as well as hybrid superconducting-metal inductive and capacitive elements having superior SNR. Single and multiple small animal MRI imaging units are also disclosed including one or more resonators of this invention surrounding one or more small animal cavities. Methods for making and using the MRI coils and/or arrays are also disclosed. | 11-13-2008 |
20080278167 | RF COIL FOR IMAGING SYSTEM - An RF coil suitable for use in imaging systems is provided which coil has a dielectric filled cavity formed by a surrounding conducting enclosure, the conducting enclosure preferably being patterned to form continuous electrical paths around the cavity, each of which paths may be tuned to a selected resonant frequency. The patterning breaks up any currents inducted in the coil and shortens path lengths to permit higher frequency, and thus higher field strength operation. The invention also includes improved mechanisms for tuning the resonant frequency of the paths, for selectively detuning the paths, for applying signal to the coil, for shortening the length of the coil and for controlling the field profile of the coil and the delivery of field to the object to the image. | 11-13-2008 |
20080284435 | Magnetic Resonance Coil Element With Embedded Electronics Module - A magnetic resonance imaging system includes main magnet ( | 11-20-2008 |
20080284436 | Imaging Region-Specific Radio Frequency Coils for Mri - A radio frequency coil includes a non-cylindrical conformal surface ( | 11-20-2008 |
20080284437 | Phantom for Diffusion Tensor Imaging - A phantom for Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to measure the main physical quantities of diffusion tensors, such as diffusion anisotrophy, a diffusion principal axis and a route of the diffusion principal axis, and to evaluate the accuracy of DTI are provided. The phantom for diffusion tensor imaging includes: an outer container providing a space; materials for diffusion measurement located in the space of the outer container and formed of bunches of microtubes; and materials for fixing located in the space of the outer container to fix the materials for diffusion measurement to a specific location. | 11-20-2008 |
20080284438 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a bed, a static field magnet, a gradient coil, a liner and a heat transfer material. The bed includes a table-top capable of placing thereon an object. The static field magnet generates a static magnetic field. The gradient coil, formed inside the static field magnet, generates gradient magnetic fields. The liner, provided inside the gradient coil, forms a bore in which the table-top is advanced or retreated. Further, the heat transfer material is attached to the liner. | 11-20-2008 |
20080290869 | Apparatus and Method for Performing In-Vitro Dnp-Nmr Measurements - Apparatus for performing in-vitro DNP-NMR measurements on a sample comprises magnetic field generating apparatus ( | 11-27-2008 |
20080290870 | TRANSMIT-MODE PHASED ARRAY COILS FOR REDUCED SAR AND ARTIFACT ISSUES - Systems and methods for the selection of and application of RF power to a plurality of transmit and/or transmit/receive coil elements to decrease patient SAR and to limit the potential for artifact problems. Without any change to the hardware or software of an MR scanner, the present local coil system provides system logic and coil design flexibility such that only transmit coil elements that are required for a particular portion of an MR scan will be utilized at that time. The local coil system may include any combination of transmit-only, receive-only and transmit/receive coil elements as part of the coil system (array of coil elements). The logic controller of the local coil system gathers input data from the MR scanner, from the attached coil elements and optionally from one or more sensors attached to the coil system itself. | 11-27-2008 |
20080297154 | MAGNETIC FIELD COIL AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - Provided is an RF coil which can highly efficiently and uniformly irradiate a RF magnetic field having two or more magnetic resonance frequencies close to each other, and receive magnetic resonance signals of two or more magnetic resonance frequencies close to each other with high sensitivity and uniform sensitivity profile in an MRI apparatus. Two or more frequencies to which the coil is tuned are adjusted so as to be between resonance frequencies of series resonant circuits constituting the RF coil. | 12-04-2008 |
20080297155 | ARRANGEMENT TO CONTROL ANTENNA ELEMENTS - An arrangement to control an antenna arrangement in a magnetic resonance examination representatively has a device for signal splitting. This device has an input and a first input and a second output. A radio-frequency transmission signal is supplied at the input. The device for signal splitting has phase-shaping components with which the transmission signal supplied via the input is divided into a first transmission signal for the first output and a second transmission signal for the second output. A phase difference between the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal can be adjusted by the phase-shaping components. An antenna arrangement is provided that has a first and second connections and that is fashioned to radiate a circularly-polarized transmission signal as soon as the two transmission signals with a phase difference of | 12-04-2008 |
20080297156 | NMR Probe - An NMR probe permits measurements to be made with its inner coil without replacing the probe. The NMR probe has three coils disposed to surround a sample tube. An inner coil can resonate with the HF and LF. An intermediate coil can resonate with the HF and LF, and produces an RF magnetic field perpendicular to the RF field produced by the inner coil. An outermost coil can resonate at least at a lock frequency. The outermost coil produces an RF magnetic field which is perpendicular to the RF field produced by the intermediate coil but which is coincident in direction with the RF field produced by the inner coil. | 12-04-2008 |
20080309340 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - A magnetic resonance imaging system is provided, which can provide the homogeneous magnetic field to obtain a head anatomic image with a high resolution and high SNR by coaxially disposing a receive-only phased array antenna inside a transmit-only antenna with a predetermined gap, and thereby a detailed and accurate image of a man's head can be obtained. In the present invention, the system comprises: a transmit-only antenna comprising at least two saddle quadrature antennas connected with each other to form a ring shape, one of the connections being a joint and the remaining connections being formed in an overlapping fashion; and a receive-only phased array antenna comprising a plurality of receive-only antennas connected with each other to form a ring shape, one of the connections being a joint and the remaining connections being formed in an overlapping fashion, wherein an inner diameter of the receive-only phased array antenna is shorter than that of the transmit-only antenna, and the receive-only phased array antenna is coaxially disposed inside the transmit-only antenna with a predetermined gap. | 12-18-2008 |
20080309341 | Arrangement For Receiving and/or Transmitting Rf Signals Especially in a Mri System - An arrangement for receiving and/or transmitting RF signals and for feeding the same in a digital format between at least one RF antenna, coil and/or sensor unit (A, B) and a signal processing unit ( | 12-18-2008 |
20080309342 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE LOCAL COIL ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING AN OVERLOAD OCCURRENCE - A local coil arrangement for magnetic resonance applications has an acquisition coil for acquisition of a magnetic resonance signal excited in an examination subject by means of a transmission coil; and a transponder. The transponder is coupled to the acquisition coil such that it can be fed with electrical energy via the acquisition coil The transponder is fashioned to send a transponder signal on a transponder frequency when and as soon as an excitation signal induced in the acquisition coil by means of the transmission coil exceeds a threshold. When the control device receives the transponder signal, it adjusts the further operation of the transmission antenna or operates it only with reduced power. | 12-18-2008 |
20080315878 | Actively Shielded Gradient Coil System Comprising Additional Additional Eddy Current Shield System - The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The basic components of a MRI system are the main magnet system, the gradient system, the RF system and the signal processing system. The gradient system comprises normally three orthogonal primary coils and three orthogonal shield coils. The shield coils of the gradient system are usually designed to minimize the generation of eddy currents within the main magnet system. However, such a gradient system designed to minimize the generation of eddy currents is not optimal with respect to mechanical vibrations inside the gradient system. It is also possible to design the shield coils of the gradient system in a way to minimize mechanical vibrations inside the gradient system. However, such a gradient system is not optimal with respect to the minimization of eddy currents. The present invention provides a magnetic resonance imaging system, comprising at least: a main magnet system; a gradient system, said gradient system comprising primary coil-like elements and shield coil-like elements, said shield coil-like elements being designed to provide Lorentz force compensation for the primary coil-like elements thereby minimizing, preferably eliminating, mechanical vibrations inside the gradient system; and an eddy current shield system positioned between said main magnet system and said gradient system, said eddy current shield system being mechanically decoupled from the main magnet system and/or the gradient system. | 12-25-2008 |
20080315879 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC NOISE DETECTION IN AN MR IMAGING SCANNER ENVIRONMENT - A system for detecting electromagnetic noise in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner environment includes an antenna configured to detect electromagnetic noise. The antenna includes a first conducting loop and a second conducting loop oriented perpendicularly to the first conducting loop. The system also includes a noise correction system coupled to the antenna and configured to receive noise signals from the antenna. | 12-25-2008 |
20080315880 | Coil apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus using the same - There is provided an RF coil capable of resonating or tuning two frequencies, having uniform spatial sensitivity and having a small spatially occupied volume, especially an RF coil suitable for a high magnetic field MRI apparatus. A coil apparatus is made up of a plurality of linear conductors | 12-25-2008 |
20080315881 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONDUCTING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE EXAMINATION - A magnetic resonance apparatus has a basic field magnet that generates a basic magnetic field with a homogeneity region of the basic magnetic field in which the basic magnetic field is homogeneous and with a maximum real measurement volume contained in the homogeneity region. The apparatus has a movable patient bed and a control unit that controls the movable patient bed. The maximum measurement volume thereby exhibits a cylindrical shape. A virtual total measurement volume that is greater than the maximum real cylindrical measurement volume can be generated by the control unit together with the movable patient bed. | 12-25-2008 |
20090009169 | Low Local Sar Birdcage Radio Frequency Coil - A radio frequency coil ( | 01-08-2009 |
20090009170 | HIGH-MAGNETIC FIELD MRI SYSTEM WITHIN A HOUSING AND A METHOD OF OPERATING AN MRI SYSTEM WITHIN A HOUSING - An MRI system is housed within a housing that is provided with a set of deployable barriers that are attachable to the housing. The magnet in the MRI system may be operated at a first magnetic field intensity, such that the magnetic field outside of the housing remains below a safety limit when the barriers are not deployed. The magnet in the MRI system may be operated at a second magnetic field intensity, higher than the first, when the barriers are deployed, such that the magnetic field outside of the barriers remains below the safety limit. | 01-08-2009 |
20090015259 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MOUNTING INSTRUMENTS ON NMR SYSTEMS - According to one aspect, a suspended mounting bridge is used to attach a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrument assembly including shim coils and/or an NMR probe to an NMR magnet cryostat. The mounting bridge is suspended across a central region of an end cover (e.g. bottom plate) of the cryostat. Consequently, flexing of the end cover center in response to changes in environmental pressure does not cause displacement of the shim coils and/or RF coils relative to the NMR magnet center. The mounting bridge may be attached to a peripheral region of the end cover (e.g. along its perimeter), and/or to a cryostat side wall. The mounting bridge may be shaped as a quasi-rectangular strip or may include multiple spokes. | 01-15-2009 |
20090021255 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CRYOGENICALLY COOLING A COIL ON A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - A magnetic resonance imaging system ( | 01-22-2009 |
20090021256 | High frequency coil and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus - To provide an RF coil of an MRI apparatus and improve the irradiation efficiency and the reception sensitivity of a circular polarized magnetic field with a simple structure. | 01-22-2009 |
20090021257 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS, SETTING SUPPORTING APPARATUS, AND SETTING SUPPORTING METHOD - Support information including at least a setting image showing a present configuration of placing a patient on a bed and a present configuration of placing an RF coil for the patient is displayed. As necessary, the support information is displayed while including the position of a virtual magnetic field center corresponding to the position of a magnetic field center in the case of moving the bed into a gantry. The displayed support information is stored at a predetermined timing and can be read arbitrarily. By observing the displayed support information, the operator can promptly and easily determine whether the placement configuration of the patient and that of the RF coil at present are proper or not, and can accurately correct the placement configuration of the patient or the RF coil. | 01-22-2009 |
20090021258 | Method for determining local deviations of a main magnetic field of a magnetic resonance device - The invention relates to a method for the determination of local deviations of a main magnetic field of a magnetic resonance device from a setpoint value, comprising: loading of a first image data record of an examination region recorded by means of the magnetic resonance device with a first frequency encoding gradient; loading of a second image data record of the same examination region recorded by means of the magnetic resonance device with a second frequency encoding gradient, with the first and the second frequency encoding gradient being different; reception of a transformation displacement field as the end result of a recording of the first and the second image data record; calculation of local deviations of the main magnetic field from a setpoint value on the basis of the calculated transformation displacement field; and display or storage of the calculated local deviations of the main magnetic field. | 01-22-2009 |
20090021259 | LOW TEMPERATURE SUSCEPTIBILITY COMPENSATION - The NMR device with a magnet utilizes a composition exhibiting a desired value of magnetic susceptibility, wherein the composition comprises a metal ion selected from the group consisting of Gd | 01-22-2009 |
20090027053 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE EXAMINATION PLATFORM WITH INDEPENDENTLY MOVEABLE BED AND ANTENNA DEVICE - An examination platform for a magnetic resonance apparatus has a patient bed for supporting a patient, a local antenna device for acquisition of magnetic resonance signals, and a drive device arranged at the patient bed. The drive device is coupled with the local antenna device. The local antenna device thus can be moved parallel to the longitudinal axis of the patient bed independently of a movement of the patient bed. A magnetic resonance apparatus and a method for acquisition of image data of a patient employ such an examination platform. | 01-29-2009 |
20090027054 | RADIO-FREQUENCY ACQUISITION DEVICE FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY APPARATUS - A radio-frequency acquisition device for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus has at least one reception antenna for acquisition of magnetic resonance signals and with an amplifier device to amplify acquired magnetic resonance signals. The amplifier device has an input transistor and a transformation device to transform the source impedance of the acquisition antenna into a source impedance adapted to the input transistor, and wherein the transformation device can be switched between at least two transformation ratios. | 01-29-2009 |
20090033329 | Self-calibrating nuclear magnetic resonance gyro - The method and apparatus in one embodiment may have: a gyro housing containing a bias field; a bias field that generates a stable axial magnetic field; Xenon or other gas contained within at least a portion of the axial magnetic field, Xenon or other gas nuclear spins precessing at a constant angular rate with respect to the gyro housing in response to the axial magnetic field; wherein reversing a polarity of the bias field reverses a polarity of the magnetic field and a polarity of the precession of the Xenon or other gas nuclear spin, and wherein a reversing of the polarity of the gyro scalefactor thereby results without reversing a polarity of the gyro bias. | 02-05-2009 |
20090033330 | SUPERCONDUCTOR WITH ENHANCED HIGH MAGNETIC FIELD PROPERTIES, MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF, AND MRI APPARATUS COMPRISING THE SAME - A superconductor exemplarily described herein includes a superconducting material containing magnetic impurities and non-magnetic disorders formed in the superconducting material. The superconductor described herein is suitable for use in magnet applications and power transmission. | 02-05-2009 |
20090039886 | Apparatus and method for tracking movement of a target - The present invention discloses an apparatus and method to track the movement of a target. One embodiment tracks the movement of the patient during medical imaging scanning using optical technology. Optical systems record the position and movement of the target and provide inputs to a processor. The processor is capable of performing mathematical analysis of the movement of the target to determine the positional shift of the patient. Weighted averages, phase correlation, Fourier-Mellin algorithms, and cross-correlation of data related to X-Y translation are used to calculate movement of the target subject. Feedback related to the movement is provided to the medical imaging scanning machine which allows for adjustments in focusing coils for real time tracking of the patient's movements during the procedure. As a result, the medical image scanning procedure becomes more accurate as it is adjusted for the patient's movements. | 02-12-2009 |
20090039887 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A apparatus includes a bore tube inside which an imaging space is formed to place a subject, a static field generating section which is placed outside the tube and generates a static field in the imaging space, a gradient field generating section which is placed between the tube and the static field generating section and generates a gradient field to superimpose on the static field, cover which is mounted to side end of the static field generating section and forms a vacuum space in a surrounding of the gradient filed generating section around together with the tube and the static field generating section, wherein the cover are fixed by fixation parts thereof to the static field generating section and a load of an air pressure to be applied on the covers at a different part from the fixation part is received by the static field generating section. | 02-12-2009 |
20090045812 | Method of Operation for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Suite - A method of operation for a magnetic resonance imaging suite. A power supply of magnetic resonance injector system receives electrical power from an AC power outlet, both of which are located outside of a shielded room of the magnetic resonance imaging suite. Electrical power from the power supply of the magnetic resonance injector system is conveyed (via an appropriate power connection) into the shielded room of the magnetic resonance imaging suite and to a component (e.g., a power head) of the magnetic resonance injector system located inside the shielded room. While this electrical power is being conveyed, radio frequency energy emitted from the power connection is being filtered. | 02-19-2009 |
20090051361 | DNP APPARATUS - A coolant sub-assembly is provided for use in a DNP apparatus. The sub-assembly comprises a plurality of concentric jackets surrounding an inner bore tube having first and second opposed ends. The jackets are adapted to inhibit heat flow to the inner bore tube, a DNP working region being defined within the inner bore tube where a DNP process will be performed on a sample in the DNP working region. A coolant supply path extends adjacent an outer surface of the inner bore tube at the DNP working region in order to cool said outer surface, whereby a sample holder assembly can be inserted through the first end of the inner bore tube to bring a sample holder into the DNP working region and can be moved through the second end of the inner bore tube. An auxiliary coolant supply path supplies coolant to a sample, located in use in the sample holder at the DNP working region, through at least one aperture in the inner bore tube wall at the DNP working region. One or both ends of the inner bore tube opens into a coolant waste path for conveying coolant away from the inner bore tube, and wherein the coolant, auxiliary coolant, and waste paths are coupled to pumping means in use to cause coolant to pass along the coolant, auxiliary coolant and waste paths. | 02-26-2009 |
20090051362 | Antenna unit for a PET/MRI scanner - An antenna unit for a PET/MRI scanner is disclosed, including a supporting tube in which at least one antenna for MR signals is arranged. In at least one embodiment, the supporting tube has at least one permeable section and one impermeable section, the permeable section of which has a greater permeability to PET quanta than the impermeable section. The antenna unit further includes a screen for radio-frequency signals which is arranged outside of the supporting tube and surrounds the latter. In at least one embodiment, an intermediate layer is arranged between the supporting tube and the screen and, in the region of the permeable section of the supporting tube, is composed of, at least in part, a material which has a permeability to PET quanta comparable to the permeable section. | 02-26-2009 |
20090066331 | Probe, system and method suitable for unilateral nuclear magnetic resonance - A probe suitable for use in unilateral nuclear magnetic resonance imaging and adapted to be embedded in a sample to be analysed, the probe comprising; a static magnetic field generator; a radiofrequency magnetic field generator adjacent to the static magnetic field generator; a circuit controlling the frequency response of the radiofrequency magnetic field generator, adjacent to the static magnetic field generator; an input cable coupled to the frequency control circuit and the frequency control circuit coupled to the radiofrequency magnetic field generator. | 03-12-2009 |
20090066332 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND GRADIENT MAGNETIC FIELD COIL - An MRI apparatus excellent in magnetic field generation efficiency is provided. According to this invention, a main coil ( | 03-12-2009 |
20090072828 | LOW FIELD SQUID MRI DEVICES, COMPONENTS AND METHODS - Low field SQUID MRI devices, components and methods are disclosed. They include a portable low field (SQUID)-based MRI instrument and a portable low field SQUID-based MRI system to be operated under a bed where a subject is adapted to be located. Also disclosed is a method of distributing wires on an image encoding coil system adapted to be used with an NMR or MRI device for analyzing a sample or subject and a second order superconducting gradiometer adapted to be used with a low field SQUID-based MRI device as a sensing component for an MRI signal related to a subject or sample. | 03-19-2009 |
20090079430 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS GANTRY AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance apparatus gantry includes a cylindrical static magnet housing which accommodates a static field magnet and in which an opening portion is formed, a cylindrical gradient magnet housing which accommodates a gradient coil, is placed in the opening portion, and is shorter in length in an axial direction than the static magnet housing, and a support unit which supports the gradient magnet housing on the static magnet housing, and includes a first support member mounted on the static magnet housing, a second support member mounted on the gradient magnet housing and supported by the first support member, and an adjustment unit which is placed inside the static magnet housing in the axial direction and adjusts a relative positional relationship between the static magnet housing and the gradient magnet housing by changing the relative positional relationship between the first support member and the second support member. | 03-26-2009 |
20090079431 | EXTERNAL MRI IMAGING COIL ASSEMBLIES AND MRI-GUIDED INTERVENTIONAL SYSTEMS UTILIZING SAME - An MRI imaging coil assembly includes a primary external MRI imaging coil and a secondary external MRI imaging coil positioned proximate to the primary MRI imaging coil. The primary imaging coil has a plurality of spaced-apart RF coils and is configured to surround at least a portion of a patient. The secondary imaging coil has at least one RF coil and cooperates with the primary imaging coil to provide MRI signals to an MRI scanner. The secondary imaging coil can be movably positioned relative to the primary imaging coil. The secondary imaging coil can be movably secured to the primary imaging coil or to a patient support surface. | 03-26-2009 |
20090085567 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS WITH SHIM ARRANGEMENT - A magnetic resonance apparatus has an examination region to accommodate a patient to be examined, and a body coil that circumferentially encompasses the examination region and is designed for magnetic resonance examination of the patient. A gradient coil circumferentially encompasses the examination region and the body coil and is designed to detect the position of magnetic resonance measurement values. A basic field magnet is designed to form a basic magnetic field in the examination region for a patient examination to be conducted. The basic field magnet at least partially encompasses the examination region, the body coil and the gradient coil. A shim device is used that is designed to influence the basic magnetic field. Components of the shim device and components of the body coil are associated to exhibit a common distance relative to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the examination region and thus encompass the examination region. | 04-02-2009 |
20090096451 | Nmr Machine Comprising Solenoid Gradient Coils which are Incorporated into Tubes - The nuclear magnetic resonance machine comprises a device ( | 04-16-2009 |
20090096452 | HELIUM COMPRESSOR WITH CONTROL FOR REDUCED POWER CONSUMPTION - A magnetic resonance imaging system has a superconducting magnet housed within a cryostat, a cryogenic refrigerator that cools within the cryostat, a helium compressor that supplies compressed helium to the cryogenic refrigerator and to receive a return flow of compressed helium from the refrigerator, and a magnet supervisory system controlling operation of the magnet resonance imaging system. An apparatus is provided for controlling the speed and/or timing of operation of the helium compressor in accordance with predefined algorithms in response to system state data. | 04-16-2009 |
20090102481 | COMPLEX THRESHOLD METHOD FOR REDUCING NOISE IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES - A method of removing noise while preserving signal in nuclear magnetic resonance images combines steps of performing a magnitude threshold filter and performing a phase threshold filter on the image data. Preferably, a magnitude and phase connectivity algorithm is applied to pixels that fail to meet either the magnitude or phase thresholds. | 04-23-2009 |
20090102482 | NMR probehead with a plurality of resonator systems for simultaneous measurement of a plurality of samples in a coupled mode - A nuclear magnetic resonance(=NMR) probehead, comprising N basic elements ( | 04-23-2009 |
20090102483 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE WITH TIME SEQUENTIAL SPIN EXCITATION - In a magnetic resonance scanner, a main magnet ( | 04-23-2009 |
20090115417 | Three dimensional RF coil structures for field profiling - In one illustrative embodiment, a radio frequency (RF) coil is disclosed. The RF coil may include a plurality of transmission line elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of transmission line elements may have at least one dimension different than a dimension of another one of the plurality of transmission line elements. In some cases, each of the transmission line elements may include a signal line conductor and a ground plane conductor separated by a dielectric. | 05-07-2009 |
20090115418 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE COIL COMPOSED OF RELATIVELY MOVABLE CONSTITUENT ELEMENTS - A magnetic resonance coil has an antenna portion for accommodating a body part to be examined, the antenna portion is formed by a number of constituent units connected in series, the positions between various constituent units are relatively movable. By moving the positions between the constituent units, a portion of the area between at least two constituent units overlaps. By increasing or reducing the number of the constituent units, or by adjusting the overlapped area between the constituent units, one pair or a number of pairs of the constituent units are made to overlap completely, so as to achieve the adjustment of the size of the antenna portion to accommodate a body part to be examined, and to make said antenna portion as close as possible to the body part to be examined, so as to obtain a signal with a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio, and to obtain a relatively high imaging quality. | 05-07-2009 |
20090121715 | VERTICAL FIELD MRI SHOULDER COIL - The present invention relates to a design of a radiofrequency (RF) receive coil (also commonly referred to as an imaging coil) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a vertical field MRI system of a patient's shoulder region. The design described herein generally includes a solenoid element that wraps around the patient's shoulder, at least two loop elements that encompass the superior section of the patient's shoulder, and at least two saddle elements, wherein one saddle element encompasses the posterior section of the patient's shoulder and one saddle element encompasses the anterior section of the patient's shoulder. It is foreseen that further embodiments of the shoulder coil design may include additional elements. | 05-14-2009 |
20090121716 | NMR resonator configured as an insulated foil, conductively coated on both sides - A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) resonator ( | 05-14-2009 |
20090128149 | LOCAL COIL ARRANGEMENT WITH MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM WITH SUCH A LOCAL COIL ARRANGEMENT - A local coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance apparatus has a support structure with an antenna arrangement and a sensor arrangement embedded in the support structure. The antenna arrangement has a number of magnetic resonance antennas. A magnetic resonance excitation signal can respectively be emitted by means of each magnetic resonance antenna and/or a magnetic resonance signal can respectively be received by means of each magnetic resonance antenna. The sensor arrangement has a number of magnetic field sensors and an evaluation circuit. The magnetic field sensors detect how large a static magnetic field is to which the local coil arrangement is exposed and output a corresponding output signal and supply a corresponding output signal to the evaluation circuit. The evaluation circuit determines a logical presence signal and outputs it. The value of the logical presence signal depends on whether a field strength of the static magnetic field is greater than a minimum field strength. | 05-21-2009 |
20090128150 | SILENT AND THIN RF BODY COIL - An imaging subject ( | 05-21-2009 |
20090134873 | RF COIL ASSEMBLY FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - There is provided an RF (radio frequency) coil assembly of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, which comprises a birdcage transmit-only coil using inhomogeneous modes. Further, a multi-channel receive-only phased array coil is provided. In one embodiment, the multi-channel receive-only phased array coil may include a plurality of ring-shaped receive-only coils, wherein the receive-only coils are connected to each other in a pseudo-chain-link configuration to form a ring shape. The multi-channel receive-only phased array coil may be located inside said transmit-only coil and spaced a predetermined distance apart therefrom. In accordance with the embodiments, emphasis images of the peripheral part of a human brain with high resolution and high signal to noise ratio may be obtained. | 05-28-2009 |
20090134874 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance apparatus includes a static field magnet, a gradient field coil, a cover which forms, inside the static field magnet and the gradient field coil, an internal space in which a bed top and a subject placed on the bed top are to be inserted, a radio frequency coil unit which includes a cylindrical base portion and first electronic elements and second electronic elements and is placed in the internal space, a first flow path which is formed between the base portion and the cover to cool the first electronic elements, a second flow path which is formed between the base portion and the cover and communicates with the first flow path to cool the second electronic elements, and a cooling unit which cools the radio frequency coil unit by generating a cooling gas flow flowing from the first flow path to the second flow path. | 05-28-2009 |
20090134875 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM AND RF COIL - When an RF coil in a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a plurality of conductive members and circuit elements connected to the conductive members, at least part of each of the conductive members is formed to a thickness so as to dissipate heat generated from the circuit elements. Moreover, the magnetic resonance imaging system is configured to include a cooling unit that circulates cooling air over the surfaces of the circuit elements provided in the RF coil. | 05-28-2009 |
20090134876 | Multi-frequency excitation coils for MRI - Devices, systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an RF coil for use in multi-nuclear excitation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The RF coil includes a set of two or more L-C coils. Members of the set of two or more L-C coils have individual resonance frequencies. An RF amplifier is placed near the RF coil. The RF amplifier is controllable to selectively produce the individual resonance frequency of a member of the set of two or more L-C coils based, at least in part, on a digital input provided to the RF amplifier. | 05-28-2009 |
20090140739 | ULTRA WIDE BAND WIRELESS RADIO TRANSMISSION IN MRI SYSTEMS INVOLVING CHANNEL ESTIMATION - At least one radio frequency coil ( | 06-04-2009 |
20090140740 | RECEIVER COIL ARRAY FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A receiver coil array for a magnetic resonance imaging system has an inductive coupling coil incorporated in the middle coil unit of the receiver coil array as its secondary coil, which serves to regulate the frequency and impedance of the middle coil unit. The secondary coil has an output regulation circuit which can output the magnetic resonance signals received by the middle coil unit to increase the number of the coil units in the receiver coil array that receive and output resonance signals while further regulating the frequency and impedance of the middle coil unit. Since this receiver coil array achieves regulation of the frequency and impedance of the middle coil unit and increases the number of the coil units in the receiver coil array that receive and output the resonance signals, it can improve the quality of the signals received by the receiver coil array. Moreover, the design is simple and is easy to achieve. | 06-04-2009 |
20090146660 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM WITH POWER LOSS-OPTIMIZED OPERATION - A magnetic resonance system has multiple individual transmission antennas each charged with a transmission current to emit an individual excitation field in an examination volume to excite magnetic resonances in a subject in the examination volume, with a total excitation field being a superimposition of the individual excitation fields. A determination device is provided with a spatial distribution of an absorption rate of the examination subject and determines a combination of amplitudes and phase positions for the transmission currents relative to one another such that a locally absorbed power at a first point of the examination subject relative to a locally absorbed power at a second point of the examination subject satisfies a relative condition. The determination device communicates the combination of amplitudes and phase positions that it has determined to a control device. The control device charges the transmission antennas with transmission currents whose phase positions correspond with the phase positions communicated by the determination device and whose amplitudes are scaled with a uniform scaling factor for all transmission currents relative to the amplitudes communicated by the determination device. | 06-11-2009 |
20090153140 | NMR SOLENOIDAL COIL FOR RF FIELD HOMOGENEITY - An NMR signal acquisition device that can increase the magnetic field homogeneity in a high frequency magnetic field by one of the following. (a) Current paths each having a different inductance are provided to adjust the diversion ratio of the current, (b) A current path branch point is provided in an intermediate part of the winding of a solenoidal coil so that there are more current paths in the intermediate part of the winding than in the current paths connected to the feeding points at both ends, (c) The radiuses of current paths are adjusted, (d) Winding pitches in the axis direction are adjusted, (e) Current path widths are adjusted, and (f) The solenoidal coil has both positive direction current paths and negative direction current paths. | 06-18-2009 |
20090160442 | DOUBLE RESONANT TRANSMIT RECEIVE SOLENOID COIL FOR MRI - A magnetic resonance system ( | 06-25-2009 |
20090160443 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS - An electronics device for a magnetic resonance apparatus has a housing in which one or more electronic components to be cooled are accommodated, with a flat cold distributor provided in the housing that can be supplied with an externally fed coolant, and that is associated with a blower to circulate the air inside the housing. | 06-25-2009 |
20090174406 | NMR Probe - An NMR probe is provided that prevents homogeneity of the static magnetic field from being reduced in a sensitive area of an RF coil used for measuring an NMR signal. The RF coil is wound around a bobbin, and mounted on the NMR probe. In the NMR probe, a substance having a magnetic susceptibility of the same polarity as that of the RF coil is disposed on a surface of the bobbin which is not contacted by the RF coil. Alternatively, the bobbin is formed with grooves, and the RF coil is wound around the grooves. The bulk susceptibility of the bobbin or RF coil winding is adjusted such that the difference between the product of the depth of the groove and bulk susceptibility of the bobbin and the product of winding thickness and bulk susceptibility of the RF coil winding is 5 percent or less. | 07-09-2009 |
20090174407 | CRYOGENIC COOLING OF MRI/NMR COILS USING INTEGRATED MICROFLUIDIC CHANNELS - The present invention includes an assembly with a magnet for magnetic resonance having a substrate with an imaging surface and an opening within the substrate adjacent the imaging surface. The present invention enhances the sensitivity and reduces the acquisition time of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy by cooling the coil using microfluidic channels through which a cryogenic fluid is pumped. Various embodiments have been detailed for clinical imaging or detection in which the integrated coil/microfluidic cryo-cooling system is outside the patient body or in vivo imaging or detection in which the integrated coil/microfluidic cryo-cooling system is inside the patient. | 07-09-2009 |
20090174408 | RECEIVING DEVICE FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - A receiving device for an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) system has multiple receiving coils. In the same imaging acceleration direction, a junction region is formed between adjacent receiving coils. An additional receiving coil is arranged on the junction region. The additional receiving coil covers at least partially a line of strong phase variation in sensitivity at the boundary of said junction region. This receiving device alleviates the problem of poor sensitivity to MRI signals in the junction region in the imaging acceleration direction, so as to improve the imaging quality in the junction region, and thus improving the overall imaging quality. | 07-09-2009 |
20090184713 | Tomography System with Cooled Electrically Conductive Conduits - In a tomography system having a superconducting magnet and gradient coils, a cooling arrangement for cooling the gradient coils includes a cooling circuit which itself comprises an outward branch carrying cooling fluid to the gradient coils and a return branch carrying cooling fluid away from the gradient coils. At least part of each of the outward and return branches is formed of an electrically conductive conduit. The conduits provide electrical connections from a power supply to the superconducting magnet. In one embodiment, a first end of the bore of the first electrically conductive conduit is fluidly coupled to the bore of the outward branch; and a first end of the bore of the second electrically conductive conduit is fluidly coupled to the bore of the return branch. An electrically isolating bridging conduit is fluidly coupled between second ends of the first and second electrically conductive conduits. | 07-23-2009 |
20090184714 | HOUSING FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SCANNER AND A SCANNER - Pumping out of a vacuum vessel and housing of a scanner is facilitated by providing a hole through a radiation shield. To reduce radiation of heat via this hole to an inner coolant containing vessel a closure member is provided. This is held in spaced apart relationship during pump down by clips. The closure member is provided with a ferrous constituent or member which is then attracted inwards during initialization of the superconducting. This draws the closure member into engagement with the shield to close the hole and to prevent radiation thereby. The clips are profiled to maintain the abutment of the closure member over the hole. | 07-23-2009 |
20090189607 | GRADIENT COIL, MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND GRADIENT COIL MANUFACTURING METHOD - Provided is a gradient coil capable of suppressing generation of an unnecessary magnetic field component while ensuring the readiness of conducting wire winding work. The gradient coil includes a cylindrical bobbin round which the conducting wire is wound; and a winding part formed by winding the conducting wire round the bobbin by a plurality of turns, wherein the winding part has a first winding part in which the conducting wire is wound round the bobbin orthogonal to the axis of the bobbin in a circumferential direction of the bobbin and a second winding part in which the conducting wire is spirally wound round the bobbin, skewing relative to the axis of the bobbin in the circumferential direction of the bobbin. | 07-30-2009 |
20090195248 | TABLE-TOP MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS WITH PERMANENT MAGNET - A table-top MRI system with substantially reduced capital requirements enables various applications to be used on education and research institution and various laboratory use for MRI applications. A magnetic structure is disclosed with two rectangular permanent magnets, four right triangular permanent magnets, and four right trapezoidal permanent magnets. The MRI system further comprises an RF assembly distinguished by its tuning system. | 08-06-2009 |
20090195249 | MAGNETIC SHIELDING FOR A PET DETECTOR SYSTEM - A positron emission tomography (PET) detector ring comprising: a radiation detector ring comprising scintillators ( | 08-06-2009 |
20090219024 | Magnetic resonance system having a superconducting whole-body receiving arrangement - A data acquisition unit of a magnetic resonance system has an examination region therein, relative to which an examination subject is conveyed by a patient bed. The data acquisition unit has a built-in radio-frequency transmission arrangement, that radiates radio-frequency energy into the examination subject, and a built-in reception arrangement that receives radio-frequency magnetic resonance signals emitted from the examination subject as a result of excitation by the radiated radio-frequency energy. The reception arrangement operates as a resistive arrangement when the radio-frequency energy is being radiated by the transmission arrangement, and operates as a superconducting arrangement when the magnetic resonance signals are being received thereby. | 09-03-2009 |
20090230963 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE RESONATOR ASSEMBLY - A resonator assembly for executing measurements on a sample within a constant magnetic field B | 09-17-2009 |
20090230964 | ARRANGEMENT TO CORRECT EDDY CURRENTS IN A GRADIENT COIL - In an arrangement to correct eddy currents in a gradient coil of a magnetic resonance apparatus, the gradient coil having a primary gradient sub-coil and a secondary gradient sub-coil connected in series with the primary gradient sub-coil, the secondary gradient sub-coil is coupled with the primary gradient sub-coil such that the same magnitude gradient current flows through both (but in different directions) in order to compensate for magnetic field distortions of the primary gradient sub-coil. The primary gradient sub-coil has a first impedance while the secondary gradient sub-coil has a second impedance. A tuning impedance is connected in parallel with at least one of the two impedances. | 09-17-2009 |
20090243611 | RADIO FREQUENCY COIL WITH TRANSMISSION LINE END-RINGS - A radio frequency coil for transmitting or receiving signals at a magnetic resonance frequency includes an arrangement of substantially parallel rungs ( | 10-01-2009 |
20090251144 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging system ( | 10-08-2009 |
20090251145 | HIGH FREQUENCY MAGNETIC FIELD COIL AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS WITH THE SAME - An RF coil for MR Imaging that can change a resonance frequency easily and instantaneously in response to a nuclide to be imaged without exchange and adjustment and that also causes only small lowering of sensitivity. The RF coil has a sub coil for changing a resonance frequency of the transmitting/receiving RF coil for transmitting and receiving an MR signal between itself and a nuclide that is an object to be imaged. The sub coil is equipped with a switch, and at the time of switching-on, shifts the resonance frequency of the RF coil by changing an inductance value of the RF coil in a noncontact manner using inductance coupling. | 10-08-2009 |
20090256571 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS WITH RF AMPLIFIER(S) DISPOSED WITHIN THE SPACED DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY GRADIENT COIL WINDINGS - An arrangement for controlling an antenna arrangement in a magnetic resonance device has an antenna arrangement that surrounds an examination region and that has at least one antenna element for emitting an amplified transmit signal. At least one amplifier is provided, at the input of which a high-frequency transmit signal is connected, which is present on the output side of the amplifier as an amplified transmit signal. The amplifier is connected to a feed point of the antenna arrangement on the output side, in order to emit the amplified transmit signal. Coil windings of a primary gradient coil are also provided, which at least partially include the antenna arrangement and the examination region. Coil windings of a secondary gradient coil at least partially include the coil windings of the primary gradient coil, the antenna arrangement (and the examination region). The coil windings of the secondary gradient coil and the coil windings of the primary gradient coil are at a distance from one another, in which the at least one amplifier is arranged. | 10-15-2009 |
20090256572 | Tuning Low-Inductance Coils at Low Frequencies - A method and apparatus for tuning and matching extremely small sample coils with very low inductance for use in magnetic resonance experiments conducted at low frequencies. A circuit is disclosed that is appropriate for performing measurements in fields where magnetic resonance is beneficially utilized. The circuit has a microcoil, an adjustable tuning capacitance, and added inductance in the form of a tuning inductor. The microcoil is an electrical coil having an inductance of about 25 nanohenries (nH) or less. Because additional inductance is purposefully added, the capacitance required for resonance and apparatus function is proportionally and helpfully reduced. The apparatus and method permit the resonant circuit and the magnet to be made extremely small, which is crucial for new applications in portable magnetic resonance imaging, for example. | 10-15-2009 |
20090261828 | COIL ASSEMBLY AND MULTIPLE COIL ARRANGEMENT FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A coil assembly for magnetic resonance imaging comprises a sheet ( | 10-22-2009 |
20090261829 | NMR Probe - An NMR probe is offered which enables a | 10-22-2009 |
20090261830 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SCANNER - A processor is provided in a MRI scanner which senses pressure within a cryogen vessel and the ambient environmental pressure outside of the scanner. It controls a pressure controller means in the cryogen to in turn control the pressure to ensure that it is set to provide as large a buffer as possible before a pressure relief valve is opened. This ensures that cryogen is not lost unnecessarily. | 10-22-2009 |
20090261831 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE GRADIENT COIL FORMED BY TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF CONDUCTORS - A gradient coil of a magnetic resonance apparatus has a first conductor structure and a second conductor structure connected with one another so that windings of the gradient coil are formed. The first conductor structure is formed exclusively of planar, electrically conductive elements that are insulated from one another. The second conductor structure is formed exclusively of conductive wires insulated from one another. | 10-22-2009 |
20090267605 | ARRANGEMENT TO CONNECT GRADIENT CURRENT FEED LINES IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS - An arrangement for connection of gradient current feed lines in a magnetic resonance apparatus has an electrically insulating connection plate with at least one connection device. The connection device is fashioned to electrically connect a first gradient current feed line with a second gradient current feed line and is associated with a gradient coil that forms a gradient field via a supplied gradient current for a spatial direction. The supply ensues via the two gradient current feed lines connected with one another. A base plate that is fashioned for fastening the connection plate to a magnet housing of the magnetic resonance apparatus. An electrically insulating layer to damp vibrations of the connection plate is arranged between the base plate and the connection plate. | 10-29-2009 |
20090267606 | BIRDCAGE-LIKE TRANSMITTING ANTENNA FOR MRI - A transmission antenna for magnetic resonance applications has a birdcage-like structure that includes antenna rods proceeding between first and second terminating elements respectively located at opposite ends of the antenna rods. A detuning circuit is located at the second terminating element. Either the second terminating element is formed as a completely continuous short circuit ring and the detuning circuit is arranged between the ends of the antenna rods and the second terminating element, or the second terminating element has a number of ferrule segments, between which the detuning circuit is arranged. The second terminating element has a larger cross-section than a the first terminating element. | 10-29-2009 |
20090273347 | TILED RECEIVER COIL ARRAY WITH IMPROVED SPATIAL COVERAGE - A phased array for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging apparatus is disclosed that includes a plurality of receiver coils arranged to form a staggered hexagonal coil array, with the staggered hexagonal coil array being rectangular in shape. Included in the plurality of receiver coils are a plurality of standard coils and a plurality of filler coils differing in shape from the standard coils. The shape of the filler coils is such that no more than negligible mutual inductance between the filler coils and all adjacent overlapping standard coils is present. | 11-05-2009 |
20090273348 | CHAMBER APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF - A chamber apparatus comprises a chamber housing for maintaining a vacuum. The housing has a bore tube bounded by a substantially cylindrical wall formed at least in part from a coil suspended in a substantially non-metallic material. | 11-05-2009 |
20090295389 | MAGNETIC FIELD PROBE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - A magnetic field probe comprises a sample ( | 12-03-2009 |
20090295390 | LOW FIELD ELECTRON PARAMAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING WITH SQUID DETECTION - In one embodiment, a flux transformer with a gradiometer pickup coil is magnetically coupled to a SQUID, and a SQUID array amplifier comprising a plurality of SQUIDs, connected in series, is magnetically coupled to the output of the SQUID. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 12-03-2009 |
20090302845 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FIELD QUALITY TESTING OF A MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANTENNA - In a method and device for field quality testing of a magnetic resonance antenna arrangement of a magnetic resonance system composed of multiple antenna elements, a test signal is fed into the respective antenna elements by a transmission antenna and the test signal, or a noise signal that occurs with no signal fed to the respective antenna elements, is determined at a receiver unit for each of at least some of the individual antenna elements. The noise received noise signals and/or test signals are analyzed with regard to specific characteristic data and a quality state of the magnetic resonance antenna arrangement is determined based thereon. | 12-10-2009 |
20090309597 | Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles Based on Iron Oxides with Modified Surface, Method of Their Preparation and Application - The subject of the invention is superparamagnetic nanoparticle probes based on iron oxides, to advantage magnetite or maghemite, with modified surface, coated with mono-, di- or polysaccharides from the group including D-arabinose, D-glucose, D-galactose, D-mannose, lactose, maltose, dextrans and dextrins, or with amino acids or poly(amino acid)s from the group including alanine, glycine, glutamine, asparagine, histidine, arginine, L-lysine, aspartic and glutamic acid or with synthetic polymers based on (meth)acrylic acid and their derivatives selected from the group containing poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide), poly(N,N-dimethylmethacrylamide), poly(N,N-diethylacrylamide), poly(N,N-diethylmethacrylamide), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide), poly(N-isopropylmethacrylamide), which form a colloid consisting of particles with narrow distribution with polydispersity index smaller than 1.3, the average size of which amounts to 0.5-30 nm, to advantage 1-10 nm, the iron content is 70-99.9 wt. %, to advantage 90 wt. %, the modification agent content 0.1-30 wt. %, to advantage 10 wt. %. | 12-17-2009 |
20090315562 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING HIGH FIELD SHADING IN MR IMAGING - A system for receiving MR data that includes an RF coil array for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging apparatus. The RF coil array includes a plurality of non-concentric receiver coils arrayed along a first direction. A receiver coil at a first end of the RF coil array has a perimeter width greater than a perimeter width of a receiver coil at a second end of the RF coil array that is opposite from the first end along the first direction. | 12-24-2009 |
20090322332 | NMR probe superconductive transmit/receive switches - A NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) transmit/receive switch according to some embodiments of a nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus includes receive-path and/or transmit-path superconductors, which are selectively quenched to switch the connection of an NMR radio-frequency coil between transmit and receive circuits. In the transmit state, the transmit-path superconductor is in a superconducting state while the receive-path superconductor is quenched, to isolate a receive-path amplifier from the relatively higher powers of the NMR pulses applied to the sample by the transmit circuit. In the receive state, the receive-path superconductor is in a superconducting state while the transmit-path superconductor is quenched. A DC power source is used to supply supercritical current to the superconductors to quench the superconductors. | 12-31-2009 |
20090322333 | Cooled NMR Probe Head And NMR Analyzer - An object of the present invention is to provide a cooled NMR probe including an antenna coil and capable of decreasing an operation temperature of the antenna coil by effectively cooling the antenna coil, thereby increasing detection sensitivity of an NMR signal. To attain this, a probe head according to the present invention includes a coil support member which supports the antenna coil, and a cooling member arranged around at least a portion of the coil support member, the cooling member providing a cooling space between the cooling member and the coil support member, the cooling space allowing a refrigerant to circulate therethrough. The cooling member is coupled to the coil support member such that the refrigerant flowing in the cooling space directly contacts an outer peripheral surface of the coil support member. | 12-31-2009 |
20090322334 | KNEE COIL FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A knee coil for magnetic resonance imaging has a first, a second and a third array of coil units, the first, second and third array of coil units forming a cylindrical shape, and being adjacent to each other in the direction perpendicular to the bottom of the cylindrical shape. Each of the first array of coil units and the third array of coil units is composed of two saddle coil units, and the second array of coil units is composed of six coil units, which are successively adjacent to each other in the direction of circumference of the cylinder side face. With a simple design and at a low cost, this knee coil ensures good capacity of parallel acquisition in all directions in the course of scanning while reducing the number of channels. | 12-31-2009 |
20090322335 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, MAGNETIC RESONANCE DIAGNOSTIC MAIN UNIT AND COIL UNIT - An magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus which includes a main unit and a coil unit, the magnetic resonance diagnostic apparatus including a sampling clock generating unit which generates a sampling clock signal, a sampling clock transmitting unit wirelessly transmits the sampling clock signal, a sampling clock receiving unit which receives the transmitted sampling clock signal, a receiving coil which outputs an electrical magnetic resonance signal in response to a magnetic resonance signal emitted from a subject as electromagnetic radiation, a digitization unit which digitizes, synchronously with the received sampling clock signal, the outputted magnetic resonance signal, a resonance signal transmitting unit which wirelessly transmits the digitized magnetic resonance signal, a resonance signal receiving unit which receives the transmitted magnetic resonance signal, and a reconstruction unit which processes, synchronously with the generated sampling clock signal, the received magnetic resonance signal and thereby reconstructs an image of the subject. | 12-31-2009 |
20100001729 | Open Yoke Magnet Assembly - An open yoke MRI apparatus has a set of permanent magnets arranged at the inner surfaces of the yoke and spaced apart from one another. A set of annular permanent magnets is included in each magnet arrangement, including a set with trapezoidal cross-sections to provide a more uniform field and to allow greater access to a patient placed within the magnetic field. | 01-07-2010 |
20100007347 | SPLIT GRADIENT COIL FOR MRI - An MR system comprising an improved gradient coil that does not compromise patient comfort is disclosed herein. The MR system is either a bore-type or a gap-type system and comprises a main magnet ( | 01-14-2010 |
20100013482 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE PHANTOM SYSTEMS AND METHODS - According to one aspect, a magnetic resonance (NMR or MRI) phantom includes a spherical or quasi-spherical casing enclosing an internal chamber, and an internal phantom structure situated within the internal chamber. The casing includes alignment features allowing the sequential alignment/orientation of the phantom along three orthogonal axes. In some embodiments, the casing is shaped as a quasi-spherical intercyl having an outer surface defined by the intersection of three orthogonal cylinders. In some embodiments, the casing may be shaped as a sphere having orthogonal registration holes or channels sized to accommodate a corresponding protrusion or ridge in a phantom holder; the casing may also include protrusions or ridges sized to fit into a matching hole or channel defined in a holder. One or more internal phantom plates may include air bubble transfer apertures allowing air bubbles to flow between opposite sides of a plate as a liquid-filled phantom is rotated. | 01-21-2010 |
20100013483 | Tunable Radio-Frequency Coil - A radio frequency (RF) coil comprising a plurality of electrically uninterrupted conductive legs, each leg having a first end and a second end, and at least one continuous conductor electrically connected to the first ends of the legs. Frequency tuning of the coil is achieved by translating, along the legs, an electrically continuous tuning band that includes a capacitor closed about the axis of the coil in proximity to the conductive legs. Maintaining electrical symmetry of the coil results in tuning ranges of at least 30 percent of the nominal value of the resonant frequency. | 01-21-2010 |
20100013484 | TRANSMISSION LINE FOR USE IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM - An electrically conductive transmission cable for supplying a DC signal safely to an electrical device in the presence of radio-frequency (RF) fields in a magnetic resonance (MR) is disclosed herein. The transmission cable comprises a transmission line (STL) comprising at least a first segment (S | 01-21-2010 |
20100019767 | RF COIL ASSEMBLY FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - An RF (radio frequency) coil assembly of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, which has a spiral-shaped coil and a plurality of sections. In one embodiment, an RF coil of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system has a plurality of ring-shaped end-rings arranged vertically and a plurality of rods. Each of the rods are connected to the plurality of end-rings. Adjacent end-rings of the plurality of end-rings forms respective coil sections and each of the coil sections has switching blocks located between adjacent rods of the plurality of rods. The switching blocks are operable to control the continuity status of the plurality of rods in the respective coil section. | 01-28-2010 |
20100026301 | Detector arrangement - A detector arrangement with a plurality of detector units is disclosed, to each of which a data processing unit is assigned. An embodiment of the detector arrangement includes a cooling system with cooling units which are thermoconductively connected to the detector units and data processing units for cooling. The cooling units are connected to a distribution unit by which a coolant may be supplied to the cooling units in parallel. | 02-04-2010 |
20100026302 | NMR CryoMAS probe for high-field wide-bore magnets - All critical circuit components, including the sample coils, are located along with the spinner assembly in a region that may be evacuated to high vacuum for thermal insulation and high-voltage operation. A hermetically sealed spinner assembly simultaneously satisfies the requirements of hermeticity, low total emissivity, rf compatibility, spinning performance, magnetic compatibility, and high filling factor by utilizing metal construction except for the central region near the rf sample coils. Hence, it is possible to maintain high vacuum in the region external to the MAS spinner assembly even over a broad range of bearing and drive gas temperatures. A bundle of optical fibers is provided for tachometry for spin rates up to 60 kHz. The use of alumina disc capacitors allows the noise contributions from the most critical capacitors to be reduced to a minor fraction of the total and simplifies high voltage operation. | 02-04-2010 |
20100026303 | DOUBLY RESONANT HIGH FIELD RADIO FREQUENCY SURFACE COILS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE - A radio frequency coil comprises an annular conductor or parallel annular conductors ( | 02-04-2010 |
20100033184 | NMR SPIRAL RF PROBE COIL PAIR WITH LOW EXTERNAL ELECTRIC FIELD - RF electric fields produced by electric potential differences in NMR probe coil windings may penetrate the NMR sample and sample tube causing sensitivity loss and noise in NMR spectroscopy. Counter-wound spiral coils placed on the opposite surfaces of a planar substrate or on two adjacent planar substrates produce electric potentials that minimize the electric field over the sample region, thereby increasing the sensitivity of the NMR probe. Alternatively counter-wound spiral coils placed adjacent to each other on the outer surface of two concentric cylindrical surfaces that surround the NMR sample minimize the electric field over the sample region. The electric potential of the spiral coils is reduced by adjusting a length of at least one coil. | 02-11-2010 |
20100033185 | RF COIL AND APPARATUS TO REDUCE ACOUSTIC NOISE IN AN MRI SYSTEM - A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a first end ring section containing a plurality of openings and a second end ring section containing a plurality of openings. A plurality of rungs is disposed between the first end ring section and the second end ring section. Each rung has a first end connected to the first end ring section and a second end connected to the second end ring section. Each rung can also include a plurality of openings. The openings in the end rings and rungs reduces eddy currents and improves RF performance of the RF coil. | 02-11-2010 |
20100033186 | SPLIT GRADIENT COIL AND PET/MTI HYBRID SYSTEM USING THE SAME - A generally cylindrical set of coil windings ( | 02-11-2010 |
20100039111 | RF COIL FOR USE IN AN MR IMAGING SYSTEM - An RF coil is proposed for use as an RF antenna for a MR imaging system, for transmitting RF excitation signals and for receiving MR relaxation signals, The RF coil of the invention includes an array of patches ( | 02-18-2010 |
20100039112 | CIRCULATOR - A circulator suitable for use in an external field, particularly of a magnetic resonance apparatus, has a planar ferrite structure. Instead of a permanent magnet, a field conducting device is provided that is designed to strengthen or weaken an external field, and/or at least one electromagnet is provided for generating an operating field. The operating field proceeds perpendicularly through the ferrite structure. | 02-18-2010 |
20100045293 | SUPERCONDUCTIVE MAGNETIC DEVICE, MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC FIELD INHOMOGENEITY COMPENSATION METHOD - The magnetic field homogeneity adjusting device ( | 02-25-2010 |
20100052682 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS, AND LOCAL COIL AND LOCAL COIL POSITIONING DEVICE THEREFOR - A magnetic resonance apparatus has a magnet unit at least partially surrounding an examination region, a local coil, and a local coil positioning device. The local coil positioning device includes a transmission device arranged at the local coil to transmit signals and at least one signal reception device arranged at a fixed position relative to the examination region to detect the signals sent by the signal transmission device. A corresponding local coil positioning device comprising a signal transmission device to transmit signals and at least one signal reception device to detect signals sent by the signal transmission device. A local coil for an examination in a magnetic resonance apparatus has a signal transmission device, advantageously an ultrasound signal transmission device. The position of the local coil can be automatically determined by the signal transmission device and the at least one signal reception device without an intervention by a person overseeing the magnetic resonance apparatus being necessary. A positioning of the local coil can thus be conducted particularly quickly and without the risk of an incorrect positioning. The examination duration is reduced, the comfort of the patient is increased and a better utilization of the magnetic resonance apparatus is enabled. | 03-04-2010 |
20100060281 | Hybrid MRI and method - An MRI includes a cylindrical housing having a long axis in which a patient is positioned essentially in parallel with the long axis of the cylindrical housing. The MRI includes an electromagnetic receiver coil system positioned about a cylindrical housing and aligned with the long axis of the cylindrical housing. The MRI includes an electromagnetic imaging gradients coil system positioned about the cylindrical housing and aligned with the long axis of the cylindrical housing. The MRI includes a main magnet having its north pole and south pole positioned about the housing, which produces a magnetic field through the housing perpendicular to the long axis of the cylindrical housing. A method for examining a patient. | 03-11-2010 |
20100060282 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL ASYMMETRIC TRANSVERSE GRADIENT COILS - A transverse magnetic field gradient coil includes a set of primary coil loops ( | 03-11-2010 |
20100060283 | DETUNING A RADIO-FREQUENCY COIL - For detuning of radio-frequency coils (in magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, for example), a conducting element ( | 03-11-2010 |
20100060284 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - According to a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) apparatus, each of buttons provided in a plurality of sections included in a receiving coil receives from an operator a selecting operation of selecting a section in which the button itself is provided. A control unit of a computer system moves a table on which a subject is placed such that the center of the section selected by receiving the selecting operation via the button is positioned at the center of a magnetic field. | 03-11-2010 |
20100066367 | Integrated Superconductor MRI Imaging System - The present invention relates to an integrated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) RF apparatus and method of constructing the same. One Embodiment of the present invention provides an MRI apparatus comprising an examination region, a patient support, at least one vacuum thermal isolation housing, a main magnet system for generating a main magnetic field in the examination region, and a cryogenic system. The vacuum thermal isolation housing comprises a hermetically sealed high vacuum jacket that encloses a low vacuum space hosting at least one superconductor RF coil and a heat sink assembly therein. The RF coil is in thermal contact with the heat sink assembly that is coupled to the cryogenic system through a heat pipe to achieve and maintain a desired low temperature at the superconductor RF coil. | 03-18-2010 |
20100066368 | Dedicated Superconductor MRI Imaging System - The present invention relates to dedicated superconductor magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) RF apparatus and method of constructing the same. One Embodiment of the present invention provides an MRI breast imaging apparatus comprising an examination region, a patient support, at least one vacuum thermal isolation housing, a main magnet system, and a cryogenic system. The vacuum thermal isolation housing comprises a low vacuum space between at least one inner and an outer high vacuum enclosure. The low vacuum space hosts at least one superconductor RF coil and a heat sink assembly therein. The RF coil is in thermal contact with the heat sink assembly that is coupled to the cryogenic system through a heat pipe to achieve and maintain a desired low temperature at the superconductor RF coil. The system provides a local examination region substantially surrounded by the superconductor RF coil. | 03-18-2010 |
20100066369 | Full-Body Antenna For A Magnetic Resonance System Comprising Hollow Rods - A whole-body antenna for a magnetic resonance apparatus has an antenna structure composed of a number of antenna rods extending in a rod direction between first and second ends of the antenna structure. The antenna rods are distributed around a central axis of the antenna structure, forming an examination region for an examination subject in a magnetic resonance examination. The antenna rods are coupled to each other at their first ends by a ferrule. Each of the rods is a hollow rod, and each rod is connected at its second end to ground via a hollow ring. Conductors are routed in the interior of the hollow rods, and can be routed through the hollow ring to the exterior of the antenna structure. | 03-18-2010 |
20100066370 | Method and Apparatus for Tuning and Matching MRI/NMR Probe - A method and apparatus for tuning the frequency and matching the impedance of an RF coil, or probe, used for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are provided. In NMR/MRI, the RF coils used to acquire the data are tuned and impedance matched for enhanced performance. An embodiment of the subject invention allows for enhanced frequency and impedance adjustments to be made remotely when, for example, space for accessing the mechanical matching components is limited or not available. Applications in which embodiments of the invention can be beneficial include, but are not limited to, medical systems, very high field research magnets and research or commercial MRI/NMR systems. | 03-18-2010 |
20100066371 | INTRABODY MRI STACKED FLAT LOOP ANTENNAS AND RELATED SYSTEMS - Elongate intrabody MRI-antenna probes include opposing distal and proximal portions. The distal portion includes at least one multi-turn conductor arranged as a stack of substantially flat loops, each with a substantially rectangular elongate shape. A flat loop can reside on each of a plurality of adjacent vertically stacked substantially planar layers, the flat loops cooperate to define a MRI receive antenna. | 03-18-2010 |
20100066372 | ELECTRO-CONDUCTIVE PET PHANTOM FOR MR/PET QUALITY CONTROL MEASUREMENT - A phantom for use in quality control measurement of a fully integrated magnetic resonance/PET scanner is disclosed. The phantom features radiation activity distributed throughout an electrically conductive binder. Suitably, the binder is elastomeric and includes carbon fibers distributed throughout it to set the conductivity of the phantom to a desired level. The phantom is applicable to various multimodality integrated medical imaging systems such as MR/SPECT and MR/CT in addition to MR/PET. | 03-18-2010 |
20100066373 | Local coil facility for magnetic resonance tomography apparatus - A local coil facility is disclosed for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus for examining an examination object. In at least one embodiment, the local coil facility includes at least one electronic processing system, a high frequency antenna, and an antenna housing to cover the high-frequency antenna and the at least one electronic processing system, the antenna housing having at least one wall close to the object and at least one wall away from the object. To reduce or even minimize the attenuation of PET radiation in a combined MR/PET device and thus in particular to ensure a better signal to noise ratio for the PET measurement, it is proposed according to at least one embodiment of the invention that the surfaces of the wall away from the object are essentially tangential to the examination object. | 03-18-2010 |
20100073000 | RADIO FREQUENCY COIL APPARATUS AND METHODS - Radio frequency (RF) coil configurations and methods are disclosed. Non-magnetic elements may be used in combination with an RF coil. The non-magnetic elements may be metal. The non-magnetic metal elements may be designed and configured to facilitate tuning of an RF coil, and to modify a magnetic field produced by an RF coil. The non-magnetic metal elements may also be used in connection with a RF receiver coil to control the region from which the receiver coil detects signals. The configurations and methods described may be used in various RF applications, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). | 03-25-2010 |
20100079143 | DEMOUNTABLE CRYOGENIC NMR CONNECTION ASSEMBLY SYSTEMS AND METHODS - In some embodiments, a NMR spectrometer includes a NMR probe circuit component (e.g. RF coil insert, capacitor, inductor) in thermal and electrical contact with a cryogenically-cooled NMR probe support through a collet assembly. The collet assembly includes a collet assembly body connected to the probe support, a collet inserted into the collet assembly body, a pin connected to the probe circuit component, and a nut threaded over a back of the collet to secure the pin to the collet. The collet assembly body is connected to the probe circuit component and the pin is connected to the probe support. A heat exchanger may be in thermal contact with the probe support. The collet assembly provides a demountable, compact, reliable, low-resistance, and strong thermal and electrical connection particularly suited for use in NMR probes, which are commonly subject to stringent spatial and other NMR-compatibility design constraints. | 04-01-2010 |
20100085053 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND GRADIENT COIL COOLING CONTROL METHOD - A feedforward control unit predicts the maximum value of the temperature of a gradient coil based on a power duty and a scan time of a pulse sequence, and a present temperature of the gradient coil. When the maximum value exceeds a predetermined upper limit, the feedforward control unit then instructs a temperature adjusting unit to start a water circulation in a chiller at the start of a prescan, and the temperature adjusting unit starts the water circulation based on the instruction. | 04-08-2010 |
20100102817 | HYBRID BIRDCAGE-TEM RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) COIL FOR MULTINUCLEAR MRI/MRS - A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a plurality of rungs disposed around a volume and a first end ring connected to a first end of the plurality of rungs. The first end ring has a first plurality of birdcage mode tuning capacitors and a first plurality of RF traps. The RF coil also includes a second end ring connected to a second end of the plurality of rungs. The second end ring has a second plurality of birdcage mode tuning capacitors and a second plurality of RF traps. An RF shield is disposed around the plurality of rungs, the first end ring and the second end ring. The RF coil also includes a plurality of transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode tuning capacitors, where each TEM mode tuning capacitor coupled to one of the plurality of rungs. An RF trap is connected to each of the plurality of TEM mode tuning capacitors. | 04-29-2010 |
20100102818 | MULTI-PURPOSE VALVE FOR CRYOGEN GAS EGRESS - A valve for controlling cryogen egress from a cryogen vessel has a housing having a low pressure side and a high pressure side with a fluid path defined between. A valve element is interposed between the low pressure side and the high pressure side of the housing. A mechanism is provided for holding the valve element against a valve seat. The mechanism has a cam shaft that is rotatable to displace the valve element from its seat to open the fluid path. | 04-29-2010 |
20100109666 | NMR-MAS probehead with integral transport conduit for an MAS-rotor - A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) magic angle spinning (MAS) probe head ( | 05-06-2010 |
20100109667 | TRANSVERSE ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIO-FREQUENCY COIL - A transverse-electromagnetic (TEM) radio-frequency(RF) coil array ( | 05-06-2010 |
20100109668 | Medical Examination or Treatment Facility, in Particular a Magnetic Resonance Facility - A medical examination or treatment facility is proposed. The medical examination or treatment facility, which is a magnetic resonance facility in particular, comprises a main unit and a support structure that can be fastened to the main unit, the support structure being a profile frame structure. Because of their particular form profile frames allow a wide range of components to be fastened without major outlay. They are simple, stable and flexible to use and allow a significant cost reduction compared with conventional steel structures. The profiles in the profile frames allow changes to be made easily to the arrangement of fastened parts at any time by moving fastening units in the profile frames. | 05-06-2010 |
20100109669 | LOW FIELD SQUID MRI DEVICES, COMPONENTS AND METHODS - Low field SQUID MRI devices, components and methods are disclosed. They include a portable low field (SQUID)-based MRI instrument and a portable low field SQUID-based MRI system to be operated under a bed where a subject is adapted to be located. Also disclosed is a method of distributing wires on an image encoding coil system adapted to be used with an NMR or MRI device for analyzing a sample or subject and a second order superconducting gradiometer adapted to be used with a low field SQUID-based MRI device as a sensing component for an MRI signal related to a subject or sample. | 05-06-2010 |
20100117648 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE COMPRISING AN ASYMMETRICAL CYLINDRICAL GRADIENT COIL AND AT LEAST ONE ASYMMETRICAL SHIM-COIL - A magnetic resonance apparatus has a cylindrical gradient coil with an x-gradient coil and a y-gradient coil that are asymmetrical relative to the z-direction of a coordinate system, the z-direction extending along a longitudinal direction of a patient receptacle. Shim coils are provided that generate magnetic fields to homogenize the basic magnetic field, produced by a cylindrical basic field magnet, in an examination volume in the patient receptacle. At least some of the shim coils are asymmetrical relative to the z-direction to minimize coupling induction between the asymmetrical x-gradient coil and y-gradient coil and the asymmetrical shim coils. | 05-13-2010 |
20100117649 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - An apparatus including a probe unit and a control/imaging unit, the probe unit including a converter converting a sampled magnetic-resonance signal into a digital signal, a first transmitter converting the digital signal into a first-radio signal, a first receiver receiving a second-radio signal, and performing detection on the second-radio signal to obtain a first-received signal, and a clock-regeneration unit regenerating a clock component from the first-received signal to generate a regenerated-clock signal, the control/imaging unit including a second-receiver receiving the first-radio signal to obtain a second-received signal, a data processor performing data processing on the second-received signal in synchronism with a reference-clock signal to obtain a video signal, and a second transmitter including a modulator modulating a carrier wave using the reference-clock signal, the second transmitter converting the reference-clock signal into the second-radio signal and transmitting the second-radio signal through the second-wireless channel. | 05-13-2010 |
20100127707 | WEARABLE MAGNETIC RESONATOR FOR MRI RESOLUTION IMPROVEMENT, AND APPLICATION DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices detect a magnetic field having a particular frequency induced by hydrogen nuclei included in a human body and convert the detected magnetic field into two- or three-dimensional images, thereby visualizing the internal structure of the human body without causing any harm to the human body. The higher the resolution of an MRI technique, the more accurate a diagnosis can be obtained. Thus, various methods are introduced to improve resolutions. For example, a wearable magnetic resonator and an application device including the wearable magnetic resonator are provided. The wearable magnetic resonator is flexible and used to improve MRI resolution by amplifying MR signals while being attached to a human body to amplify MR signals when MRI is performed. The wearable magnetic resonator includes the following: a dielectric thin film that is flexible; and a conductor thin film that is disposed to have a split ring resonator (SRR) structure on the dielectric thin film and is flexible, wherein the wearable magnetic resonator includes an inductance component and a capacitance component, and the wearable magnetic resonator amplifies a magnetic field by resonating at a predetermined frequency, thereby improving a MRI resolution. | 05-27-2010 |
20100134108 | METHOD TO DESIGN A GRADIENT COIL, METHOD TO MANUFACTURE A GRADIENT COIL, GRADIENT COIL, MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS AND COMBINED PET-MR SYSTEM - In a method for designing a gradient coil composed of multiple sub-coils, parameters representing the structure of the gradient coil are varied, and the variation that produces an optimized electrical field generated by the gradient coil is determined. The final design of the gradient coil embodies those parameters that produced the optimal electrical field. In a method for manufacturing a gradient coil, the gradient coil is manufactured according to the final design. A gradient coil manufactured according to the invention has a gradient conductor configuration that optimizes the electrical field generated by the gradient coil. A magnetic resonance apparatus, and a combined positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance apparatus, embodies such a gradient coil. | 06-03-2010 |
20100134109 | HIGH FREQUENCY COIL UNIT AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - A radio frequency coil unit includes a chassis which has a tubiform inner cylinder, a plurality of flanges arranged apart from each other, each of the plurality of flanges provided in a state of protruding outwards from the inner cylinder while in contact with a whole outer circumference surface of the inner cylinder, and a tubiform external cylinder in which each of the plurality of flanges is provided in a state of contacting an inner surface thereof, wherein the chassis forms a flow path of cooling air as a space surrounded by the inner cylinder, the plurality of flanges and the external cylinder, and a radio frequency coil which is mounted on the inner cylinder or the external cylinder to be positioned in the space surrounded by the inner cylinder, the plurality flanges and the external cylinder. | 06-03-2010 |
20100141258 | RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) COIL AND APPARATUS - A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a plurality of rungs. Each rung includes a plurality of wires positioned parallel to one another. Each wire has a circular cross section and an insulating material disposed around an outside surface of the wire. Using wires with a circular cross-section reduces the eddy currents produced on a rung. As a result, the amount of eddy current produced heating, vibration and acoustic noise is reduced. The plurality of wires also enables a more uniform current distribution along the width of each rung that in turn produces a more uniform excitation field (B | 06-10-2010 |
20100141259 | METHOD AND RF TRANSMITTER ARRANGEMENT FOR GENERATING RF FIELDS - A multi-channel RF transmitter arrangement comprising a plurality of RF transmitter elements (e) like RF antennas, antenna elements, coils or coil elements, for generating an RF field, especially for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for exciting nuclear magnetic resonances (NMR), and a method for generating such an RF field is disclosed. The RF transmitter elements (e) are segmented in a plurality of segments (s | 06-10-2010 |
20100148777 | MAGNET ARRAY - A magnet array is disclosed which is suitable for inter alia producing a remote field for use in unilateral magnetic resonance. In the “Magnet Array”, two separated magnets, which are magnetized along a substantially same collinear magnetization direction, produce a field with a local maximum centered above and between them. The field produced by the two separated magnets is substantially parallel to the collinear magnetization direction of the two separated magnets. A third magnet is centered between the two separated magnets. The third magnet has a magnetization direction which is substantially parallel to the collinear magnetization direction of the two separated magnets. The third magnet produces a field which is substantially parallel to the collinear magnetization direction of the two separated magnets, and adds to the increasing field below the local maximum point produced by the two separated magnets. The field of the third magnet, which decays with distance, adds to the increasing field below the local maximum point. The position of the third magnet is selected in order to generate a total field which has at least one of its first and second spatial derivatives with respect to the distance above the magnet array substantially equal to zero. | 06-17-2010 |
20100148778 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE ACQUISITION SYSTEM, RECEIVER ANTENNA MODULE, TRANSMISSION SIGNAL RECEPTION MODULE, MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD TO TRANSFER MR RESPONSE SIGNALS - A magnetic resonance receiver system has an antenna arrangement with a number of receiver antenna elements to receive MR response signals. The magnetic resonance system has a combination network arrangement with a number of combination networks in order to combine the MR response signals received by various receiver antenna elements, to form modes, a frequency multiplexer arrangement downstream of the combination network that superimposes at least some of the modes in a common transmission signal, and a transmission line arrangement with a number of transmission lines in order to respectively transfer the transmission signals to an input channel of a first channel switching matrix. This input channel is associated with the transmission line. Downstream of the first channel switching matrix is a frequency demultiplexer arrangement that filters the modes superimposed in a transmission signal out of the transmission signal. Downstream of the frequency demultiplexer arrangement is a second channel switching matrix that connects the modes at specific inputs of an MR signal processing device. | 06-17-2010 |
20100156419 | MAGNETIC SENSING METHOD, ATOMIC MAGNETOMETER AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic sensing method comprises irradiating a pump light having a circularly polarized component and a probe light having a linearly polarized component onto a group of atoms contained in a cell so as to make the lights produce an intersection region and detecting a change of rotation angle of a plane of polarization of the probe light before and after passing the cell. The pump light and the probe light are irradiated in a state where a magnetic field of the direction in which the pump light strikes the intersection region is provided with a gradient. | 06-24-2010 |
20100156420 | LOCAL COIL ARRANGEMENT FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPLICATIONS AND PATIENT BED FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM, WITH INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL INTERFACES - A local coil arrangement for magnetic resonance applications has a mechanically dimensionally stable bearing element. A patient bed for a magnetic resonance system has a support surface to support a patient. In operation, the supporting element rests on the patient bed. In this state, it transfers the weight of the local coil arrangement to the patient bed. The local coil arrangement has at least one local coil to excite and/or to receive magnetic resonance signals. Furthermore, it has a multipole, prefabricated electrical interface via which the local coil can be electrically contacted. The electrical interface is arranged so as to be dimensionally stable at the bearing element. Positioning aids for the positioning of the local coil arrangement are arranged on the support surface. In the region of the positioning aids, a multipole, prefabricated electrical counter-interface is arranged so as to be mechanically dimensionally stable. By a corresponding positioning of the supporting element on the support surface of the patient bed, the weight of the local coil arrangement is transferred to the patient bed and the electrical interface is mechanically and electrically plugged into the electrical counter-interface. | 06-24-2010 |
20100156421 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING A POSITION OF A LOCAL COIL IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS - A device for determining the position of at least one local coil arranged or to be arranged on a patient bed of a magnetic resonance device has at least one optical coil marker arranged on the local coil, at least one optical sensor device to detect the coil marker, the field of view of the sensor device at least partially covering the patient bed in at least a recumbent position, and a computer that determines the coil position and/or coil orientation on the patient bed from measurement data of the sensor device. The computer can form a part of a control unit of the magnetic resonance device. | 06-24-2010 |
20100164497 | PRE-ADJUSTABLE SMD COILS FOR HIGH CURRENTS - In a device and method to install a coil in a circuit, the coil is installed on a substrate and the inductance value of the coil installed on the substrate is adjusted with a test circuit board. The substrate is then installed in the circuit. This enables an efficient installation of the coil. | 07-01-2010 |
20100171499 | RF BASED SPATIALLY SELECTIVE EXCITATION IN MRI - Herein a method for slice selection is provided in an MRI process, the method involves controlling a transmit array by adding low flip angle RF pulses interspersed between refocusing pulses that are used to move a k-space weighting function with respect to one or more B 1 fields used to deposit energy according to a desired k-space weighting function. The low flip angle pulses deposit energy so that an envelope traced by the low flip angle pulses in the k-space weighting function is related to a desired spatially excited region of the sample volume, for example by a Fourier transform, if the phase encoding directions are linear axes that coordinatize the sample volume, and the B 1 fields have linear phase gradients. | 07-08-2010 |
20100171500 | DEDICATED SYSTEM FOR MSK JOINT IMAGING - A system and method are presented that facilitate imaging of the joints of the upper and lower extremities including, for example, the hip and shoulder as well as sections of the spine, among others. One embodiment of the invention includes a short bore cylindrical magnet with an imaging volume smaller than that of a comparable whole body system, an articulated table that allows placement of the joint to be imaged in the center of the magnet homogeneous volume while maintaining a high degree of patient comfort and openness. The gradient and RF coils may be positioned above and below the patient instead of 360 degrees surrounding the patient. A smaller RF and gradient coil is made feasible because of the reduced imaging volume. | 07-08-2010 |
20100176811 | OPEN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - In an MRI apparatus having an open structure, vibration caused by eddy current is reduced with keeping the magnetic field shielding capability of a high frequency shield disposed between a gradient magnetic field coil and a high frequency coil. The high frequency shield comprises two conductive sheets | 07-15-2010 |
20100188086 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANTENNA - A magnetic resonance antenna has capacitive and inductive oscillating circuit antenna elements at least one radio-frequency switching element with which at least one of the oscillating circuit antenna elements that determine the resonant frequency of the magnetic resonance antenna, can be switched at radio frequency between a permeable state and an impermeable state to change the resonant frequency of the magnetic resonance antenna, so the antenna can be detuned simply, cost-effectively and efficiently. | 07-29-2010 |
20100194392 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECONSTRUCTING AN MR IMAGE - An MR imaging apparatus is disclosed, wherein the MR imaging apparatus includes a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly. The MR imaging apparatus also includes a controller coupled to the plurality of gradient coils and the RF transceiver system and programmed to obtain MR image signals at different echo times from a subject containing metabolites having known characteristics. The controller is further programmed to reconstruct images of the metabolites in a selected region of interest (ROI) using a probabilistic mathematical expression based on known information regarding an image acquisition process and using a spatial distribution of the metabolites to account for artifacts in the images. | 08-05-2010 |
20100194393 | GRADIENT COIL DEVICE, MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE, AND METHOD OF DESIGNING COIL PATTERN - There is provided a gradient coil device which can suppress any generation of an error magnetic field and thus an eddy current, and which can improve the image quality of a cross-sectional image. An MRI device includes a first coil generating a linear magnetic field distribution at an imaging region of the MRI device, and a second coil which suppresses any leakage of a magnetic field from the first coil to a static-magnetic-field coil device that generates a uniform magnetic field distribution at the imaging region. | 08-05-2010 |
20100201365 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT TO TRANSMIT MAGNETIC RESONANCE SIGNALS - In a method and an arrangement for magnetic resonance signal transmission, a first channel of a local coil arrangement has a first individual antenna that receives a first magnetic resonance signal, and a first frequency converter connected with the first individual antenna, and the first frequency converter forms a first signal with the first magnetic resonance signal supplied thereto and a first oscillator signal supplied thereto. A second channel of the local coil arrangement has a second individual antenna that receives a second magnetic resonance signal, and a second frequency converter connected with the second individual antenna, and the second frequency converter forms a second signal from the second magnetic resonance signal supplied thereto and a second oscillator signal supplied thereto. The local coil arrangement has a signal combination device that applies the first signal and the second signal to a single transmission path. At least one of the oscillator signals has a frequency that corresponds to the difference between the frequency of a first synthesizer frequency signal and the frequency of a second synthesizer frequency signal that are supplied to the local coil arrangement. | 08-12-2010 |
20100207632 | RECEIVER FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SIGNALS AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING THE MAGNETIC RESONANCE SIGNALS - In a transmission method and receiver for magnetic resonance signals, the receiver has an in vivo coil and an ex vivo coil that are independent of each other. The in vivo coil is disposed within the rectum of a human body for acquiring the magnetic resonance signals generated by the excitation of a radio-frequency transmitter, and transferring the acquired magnetic resonance signals to the ex vivo coil by electromagnetic coupling. The ex vivo coil is to be disposed outside the human body for receiving the magnetic resonance signals from the in vivo coil by the electromagnetic coupling. It is thus not necessary to make a mechanical connection from the in vivo coil to the outside, so it is very convenient for use. | 08-19-2010 |
20100219832 | FERROMAGNETIC SHIELD FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - The present invention provides a ferromagnetic shield for a cryocooler assembly making use of a moveable rare-earth regenerator for recondensing of a cooling liquid for cooling of a superconductive magnet of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. The ferromagnetic shield effectively provides depletion of a magnet field in the vicinity of the rare-earth regenerator and therefore on the one hand reduces the noise impact of the moving regenerator on the homogeneous magnetic field in the imaging volume of the MRI apparatus and on the other hand reduces the mechanical force exerted by the magnetic field on the rare-earth regenerator. | 09-02-2010 |
20100219833 | MAGNET ASSEMBLY - An electromagnet comprising a ferromagnetic yoke which comprises a yoke. Mutually opposing first and second pole pieces are provided. The first pole piece is provided with a planar coil having a first side facing the yoke and a second side facing the yoke. A balancing member is arranged on the second side of the planar coil to counterbalance the attractive force between the planar coil and the yoke. The other pole piece may also be provided with a corresponding balancing member. | 09-02-2010 |
20100219834 | BIRDCAGE COIL WITH IMPROVED HOMOGENEITY AND REDUCED SAR - A birdcage coil ( | 09-02-2010 |
20100225320 | RF STRIPLINE ANTENNA WITH IMPEDANCE ADAPTATION FOR MR IMAGING - The efficiency and the field structure of an antenna arrangement for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus are improved by at least one impedance transformation circuit connected with the antenna. | 09-09-2010 |
20100225321 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE - A magnetic resonance device has a cryostat and a gradient coil assembly situated within an inner bore of the cryostat. A seal is positioned between the gradient coil assembly and the inner bore. The seal includes a first fluid filled toroid or helix mounted concentrically with the gradient coils; and a second fluid filled toroid or helix situated within the first toroid, or first helix. | 09-09-2010 |
20100237868 | APPARATUS FOR LOW AC LOSS THERMAL SHIELDING AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A apparatus for low AC loss thermal shielding includes a plurality of thermally conducting fibers positioned along a desired direction of heat conduction. The fibers are electrically insulated from each other. The fibers are bonded together with a matrix, and a thermal link connects the bonded fibers to a cryogenic cold head. | 09-23-2010 |
20100244835 | THIN EXTENDED-CAVITY RF COIL FOR MRI - Systems and methods for reducing an amount of space occupied by a radio frequency coil assembly in a magnetic resonance imaging system are provided. In one embodiment, a radio frequency coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a radio frequency coil disposed cylindrically around a patient space and a radio frequency shield disposed cylindrically around the patient space and electrically coupled to the axial ends of the radio frequency coil. The radio frequency shield may be configured to extend behind the radio frequency coil, and the axial length of the radio frequency shield may be at least two times the axial length of the radio frequency coil. | 09-30-2010 |
20100244836 | INTERLEAVED GRADIENT COIL FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Gradient coils for generating gradient magnetic fields in a magnetic resonance imaging system are provided. In one embodiment, a gradient coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system may include a plurality of turns formed generally in a figure-eight. The figure-eight may form a first section configured to overly a section of a first adjacent coil, a second section configured to underly another section of the first adjacent coil, a third section configured to overly a section of a second adjacent coil, and a fourth section configured to underly another section of the second adjacent coil. | 09-30-2010 |
20100244837 | LIQUID DIELECTRIC GRADIENT COIL SYSTEM AND METHOD - Magnetic resonance imaging systems having gradient coil assemblies employing a liquid dielectric medium are provided. In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a gradient coil assembly with a plurality of gradient coils. In the gradient coil assembly, at least two of the gradient coils are electrically separated from one another by a fluid medium. | 09-30-2010 |
20100244838 | RF coil assembly for MRI using differently shaped and/or sized coils - A radio frequency coil assembly is provided that includes a first radio frequency coil for receiving a magnetic resonance signal from a tested body; a second radio frequency coil for receiving a magnetic resonance signal from the tested body; and a third radio frequency coil for receiving a magnetic resonance signal from the tested body and having a shape that is different from that of at least one of the first and second radio frequency coils so as to increase local sensitivity in an image-picked-up region. | 09-30-2010 |
20100244839 | POWER TRANSMITTING APPARATUS - A power transmitting apparatus includes: a first magnetic resonance coil that externally transmits power as energy through magnetic resonance; a first power transmitting-and-receiving unit that supplies power to at least the first magnetic resonance coil; a second magnetic resonance coil that accepts the magnetic field energy through magnetic resonance occurring between the first magnetic resonance coil and the second magnetic resonance coil; a second power transmitting-and-receiving unit that accepts the power at least with reference to the second magnetic resonance coil; a main power supply; and a power supply-management unit configured to select either the power accepted by the second power transmitting-and-receiving unit or power transmitted from the main power supply, and transmit the selected power to the first power transmitting-and-receiving unit and/or transmit the power accepted by the second power transmitting-and-receiving unit and the power transmitted from the main power supply to the first power transmitting-and-receiving unit in combination. | 09-30-2010 |
20100253347 | ANTENNA SYSTEM AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - An RF coil is provided with a hollow-shaped outer conductive element and strip-shaped conductive elements disposed along the outer conductive element in the axial direction. The strip-shaped conductive elements are disposed with uneven intervals to secure an internal space at a position where the strip-shaped conductive elements are not disposed. In order to obtain uniform sensitivity at the center section of the RF coil, the strip-shaped conductive elements and the outer conductive element are electrically connected via capacitors of which capacitances are adjusted so that a magnetic field component perpendicular to the center axis should be generated at a desired resonance frequency, and the strip-shaped conductive elements are axisymmetrically disposed with respect to the center axis of the outer conductive element. As a result, a comfortable examination space in a tunnel type MRI apparatus is achieved without increasing the manufacturing cost of the MRI apparatus. | 10-07-2010 |
20100253348 | RADIO FREQUENCY COIL ARRANGEMENT FOR HIGH FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING WITH OPTIMIZED TRANSMIT AND RECEIVE EFFICIENCY FOR A SPECIFIED REGION OF INTEREST, AND RELATED SYSTEM AND METHOD - For example, the present disclosure provides exemplary embodiments of a coil arrangement that can include, e.g., a plurality of elements which can be provided at an angle from one another. The angle can be selected to effectuate an imaging of a target region of interest at least one of a predetermined depth or range of depths, for example. In certain exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure, the angle can be selected to effectuate an exemplary predetermined transmit efficiency for at least one of the elements. Additionally, the exemplary angle can be selected to effectuate a predetermined receive sensitivity for at least one of the elements. Further, according to certain exemplary embodiments of a coil arrangement in according to the present disclosure, the angle can be adjusted manually and/or automatically. | 10-07-2010 |
20100253349 | PARAMETRIC AMPLIFIER DEVICE - A parametric amplifier device has a two port parametric amplifier, a DC voltage generator and a DC bias regulator. The bias regulator has a voltage regulator, an attenuator and a summer. Output voltages from the regulator and the attenuator are added in the summer. | 10-07-2010 |
20100253350 | ANTENNA ASSEMBLY - A wireless magnetic resonance imaging scanner antenna assembly has a radio frequency antenna array having a number of RF antenna rungs, a microwave antenna array having a number of microwave antenna elements, and a number of antenna feeds. The rungs and elements are grouped together in feed subsets, each subset having at least one feed rung, one non-feed rung and associated microwave antenna elements. Signal transfers between a feed rung and a non-feed rung of a subset are made at a point on the feed rung, within a region of minimum potential. | 10-07-2010 |
20100253351 | ANTENNA FEED - A microwave antenna feed has a radio frequency trap and a number of microwave transmission lines. The radio frequency trap has co-planar ground and signal layers mounted on one surface of a substrate. | 10-07-2010 |
20100253352 | CALIBRATION METHOD - A method for calibration of a magnetic resonance imaging system having a bore, a body coil mounted in the bore, a patient mat, a number of local coils mounted in the patient mat, an upconversion stage having a number of upconverters, and a processing stage, includes the steps of generating a calibration signal in the body coil; receiving the calibration signal at the local coils, upconverting the signal from the local coils in the upconversion stage, transmitting the upconverted signal to the processing stage, synchronously downconverting the signal in the processing stage using the calibration signal generated in the body coil, and processing the downconverted signal to generate an overall path complex gain. | 10-07-2010 |
20100253353 | UPCONVERTER - A magnetic resonance imaging system upconverter stage has a number of local coils and a number of upconverters to receive a signal from an output of each coil. Each upconverter has a number of two port upconverter cores, each core having a first port to receive a signal from a local coil and a second port to output an upconverted signal at upper and lower sideband frequencies through an antenna coupled to the second port. The inputs of the plurality of upconverter cores are connected in parallel, and at least one antenna is associated with the second port of each core. | 10-07-2010 |
20100264927 | HIGH-PERFORMANCE NANOMATERIAL COIL ARRAYS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Magnetic Resonance Imaging with imaging coils at least partially formed from carbon-based nanomaterials possessing high Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) are disclosed. The imaging or Radio Frequency receiving coils are constructed with a locally ballistic electrical conductor such as carbon in the form of a macroscopic configuration of carbon nanotubes or variations thereof whose resistance does not increase significantly with length over appropriate local length scales. Due to their enhanced SNR properties, the nanomaterial imaging coils and arrays including the nanomaterial imaging coils can result in significant improvements in imaging with MRI systems. The nanomaterial imaging coils include metal conductors deposited on ends of the coils. | 10-21-2010 |
20100271026 | TRANSVERSELY FOLDED GRADIENT COIL - A gradient coil comprising: a pair of gradient coil units disposed so as to enclose a gradient axis, each gradient coil unit including: a gradient coil substrate with a primary coil section, a shield coil section, and first and second return path sections, the primary coil section disposed between the gradient axis and the shield coil section, the primary coil section configured to produce a magnetic gradient field at the gradient axis when conducting an electrical current; the first return path section foldably connected between the primary coil section and the shield coil section, and the second return path section foldably connected between the shield coil section and the primary coil section such that the gradient coil substrate forms a cylindrical surface having a longitudinal axis substantially aligned with the gradient axis; and a plurality of substantially parallel conductive paths disposed across the cylindrical surface in a direction transverse to the gradient axis. | 10-28-2010 |
20100271027 | ADAPTER TO CONNECT A LOCAL COIL IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM - A simple connection of a coil with a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) is facilitated by a method and an adapter wherein a coil-connection element of at least one local coil is connected with an MRT-connection element of an MRT system. The adapter has a coil-connection element adapter designed to form a connection with at least one coil-connection element of at least one local coil. The adapter also has at least one MRT-connection element adapter designed to form a connection with an MRT-connection element of an MRT system. The adapter can be fixed mechanically to a fixing element of the MRT system. | 10-28-2010 |
20100271028 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes; a gradient coil that applies a gradient magnetic field to a static magnetic field in which an examined subject is placed; a metal shim with which the gradient coil is provided and that corrects spatial nonuniformity of the static magnetic field; an executing unit that executes an imaging sequence; and a controlling unit that, before execution of the imaging sequence is started, raises the temperature of the metal shim up to a saturation temperature that is to be reached during the execution of the imaging sequence. | 10-28-2010 |
20100277175 | TUNABLE AND/OR DETUNABLE MR RECEIVE COIL ARRANGEMENTS - MR receive (or reception) coil arrangements are disclosed which comprise at least one MR receive coil or coil element or coil system ( | 11-04-2010 |
20100283466 | LOCAL GRADIENT SYSTEM FOR IMAGING OF THE BREAST WITH PLANAR ARRANGEMENT - A coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus has plates that each contain at least one gradient coil. | 11-11-2010 |
20100289494 | System and Method for Mode Mixing in Magnetic Resonance Imaging - The present invention provides a system and method for using a hardware-based compression of signals acquired with an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. This allows a first multi-channel MR signal to be compressed to a second multi-channel MR signal having fewer channels than the first MR signal. This system and method reduces the number of RF receivers needed to achieve the sensitivity encoding benefits associated with highly parallel detection in MRI. Furthermore, the system and method reduces bottlenecks connection an MRI system's RF receiver and reconstruction computer and reduces the computational burden of image reconstruction. | 11-18-2010 |
20100301862 | DUAL-FREQUENCY COIL ARRAY FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) SYSTEM - A dual-frequency coil array for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The coil array includes a first coil element having a pair of dual-frequency loop coils and a second coil element having a pair of dual-frequency loop coils. The coil array further includes at least one capacitive mesh configured to decouple the pairs of dual-frequency loop coils of the first and second coil elements. | 12-02-2010 |
20100301863 | MECHANICAL PICK-UP WITH REDUCED IMPACT FORCE BY USING A POTATING INTERMEDIATE PART - When a subject is being positioned in a diagnostic imager for a diagnostic scan, a subject support ( | 12-02-2010 |
20100301864 | MAGNETIC SHIELD BODY AND MAGNETIC SHIELDED ROOM - A magnetic shield body comprises a cylindrical body unit configured by having a plurality of cylindrical bodies having permeability and mutually same longitudinal cross-sectional shapes arranged with a mutual interval such that central axes of the cylindrical bodies coincide with each other and side surfaces of the cylindrical bodies form a mutually same plane; and a supporting unit that supports a plurality of the cylindrical body units such that side surfaces of cylindrical bodies of the cylindrical body units face each other with a mutual interval. | 12-02-2010 |
20100301865 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a gradient coil, a first cooling pipe, and a second cooling pipe. The gradient coil applies a gradient magnetic field onto a subject placed in a static magnetic field. The first cooling pipe is provided in the gradient coil, and circulates a coolant in a certain direction. The second cooling pipe is provided in the gradient coil so as to be in parallel with the first cooling pipe, and circulates a coolant in an opposite direction to a direction in which the first cooling pipe circulates the coolant. | 12-02-2010 |
20100308830 | MAGNETIC FIELD DETECTION DEVICE - A magnetic field sensor device suitable for use in an implantable medical device (such as a pacemaker, cardioverter/defibrillator, or cardiac resynchronization therapy device) is able to detect magnetic fields, such as the fields generated by a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) device, over a wide measurement range and to discriminate between different field strengths. Multiple sensors provided within the magnetic field sensor device are optimally biased to provide a power saving solution which is accurate enough for medical devices applications. The output of the magnetic field sensor device can be used to switch the implantable medical device to different operational modes, e.g., between programmable and “MRI safe” modes. | 12-09-2010 |
20100308831 | OPTIMIZED FLAT/SADDLE COIL COOLING SYSTEM - An optimization of a magnetic resonance apparatus is achieved by a device and a method to generate a gradient field in a magnetic resonance apparatus, wherein a field directed in a first direction is generated by a first flat/saddle coil cooling system, a field directed in an additional direction is generated by an additional flat/saddle coil cooling system, and wherein a gradient field pointing in a direction is composed of at least the field generated by the first flat/saddle coil cooling system and the field generated by the additional flat/saddle coil cooling system. | 12-09-2010 |
20100315086 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND CHILLER - By using a temperature monitor, a coil-dedicated chiller measures an amount of change in temperature of cooling water flowing out from a cooling pipe of a gradient magnetic field, determines an amount of change in temperature of cooling water to be flowed into the cooling pipe in accordance with the measured amount of change in temperature of the cooling water; and changes the temperature of cooling water to be flowed into the cooling pipe of the gradient magnetic field based on the determined amount of change in temperature. | 12-16-2010 |
20100315087 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Magnetic Resonance Imaging system comprising a Magnetic Resonance (MR) scanner to selectively couple to one among a plurality of antennas without compromising spatial alignment with an anatomical sample during signal acquisition by the MR scanner. According to one embodiment, the invention teaches to replace a single-tuned antenna tuned to a first resonance frequency by another single-tuned antenna tuned to a different resonance frequency in the course of an MRI experiment (e.g. metabolic quantification). | 12-16-2010 |
20100321018 | High-Resolution NMR Probe - A high-resolution NMR probe is offered which is simple in structure and can be fabricated at low cost. The inside of the probe is maintained in a vacuum to adiabatically isolate the inside from the outside. Liquid helium is sent into a first heat exchanger located immediately close to a measurement portion via the innermost region of a triple tube placed in the vacuum. The helium is evaporated in the exchanger to cool a transmit-receive coil and a variable capacitor. The evaporated helium gas is returned via the outermost region of the triple tube. At this time, a radiation shield placed in the vacuum is cooled by a second heat exchanger placed in the return path. | 12-23-2010 |
20100321019 | GRADIENT MAGNETIC FIELD COIL DEVICE AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - When the gradient magnetic field | 12-23-2010 |
20110001479 | MILLIPEDE SURFACE COILS - A low pass RF ladder coil, which is named as a millipede surface coil, comprises a first and a second conductor end strips running parallel to each other. A set of rung elements are placed between them, alternate rung elements are connected to the first and second strip respectively. The number and spacing of the rung elements are sufficient for resonating the coil at the desired imaging frequency. This millipede surface coil may have 100 or more rung elements. Fixed and variable capacitors are provided for separately tuning and matching the first and second mode resonant frequencies, and for coupling and impedance matching the two modes to external circuits. An active detuning is provided that detunes the ladder coil when a separate RF coil is transmitting. | 01-06-2011 |
20110006771 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS AND METHOD - Magnetic resonance apparatus, e.g. for magnetic resonance imaging, is described that includes a cooler unit and one or more radio-frequency (RF) coil assemblies. A separable thermal connection is provided between the cooler unit and the one or more RF coil assemblies. This separable thermal connection allows the one or more RF coil assemblies to be detached from the cooler unit after the one or more coil assemblies have been cooled to the required operating temperature. Each RF coil assembly can then be used for magnetic resonance imaging or the like. A plurality of different RF coil assemblies may thus be cooled by a single cooler unit. | 01-13-2011 |
20110012598 | MR COILS WITH AN ACTIVE ELECTRONIC COMPONENT HAVING AN INDIRECT POWER CONNECTION - A radio frequency coil comprises: a coil unit ( | 01-20-2011 |
20110012599 | CRYOGENICALLY COOLED SUPERCONDUCTOR GRADIENT COIL MODULE FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Methods and/or apparatuses for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or magnetic resonance spectroscopy comprising a superconducting gradient coil module configured for cryogenic cooling. Such a superconducting gradient coil module may comprise a vacuum thermal isolation housing comprising a double wall hermetically sealed jacket that (i) encloses a hermetically sealed interior space having a first vacuum pressure, and (ii) substantially encloses a vacuum space having a second vacuum pressure; at least one superconductor gradient coil disposed in the vacuum space; a thermal sink member disposed in the vacuum space and in thermal contact with the at least one superconductor gradient coil; and a port configured for cryogenically cooling at least the thermal sink member. | 01-20-2011 |
20110018539 | HYBRID IMAGING COILS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Hybrid imaging coil elements for use with MRI systems are disclosed that can include at least one electrical conductor, termed the first electrical conductor, formed from shaped carbon-based nanomaterial, a conducting connector deposited on at least one end of the first electrical conductor and connecting the first electrical conductor to a second electrical conductor formed from metal to comprise a hybrid electrical conductor, the hybrid electrical conductor having a ratio of electrical inductive reactance to electrical resistance, over a range of frequencies, that is larger than that of a similarly dimensioned electrical conductor constructed only of metal. The imaging coil element can operate in a window of radio frequencies over the range between about 3 MHz and 700 MHz. | 01-27-2011 |
20110018540 | METHOD OF CALCULATING COIL PATTERN, AND GRADIENT MAGNETIC FIELD COIL. - The present invention eliminate the limitation of coil pattern design, facilitates the fabrication, and improves the accuracy of magnetic field. A coil pattern calculation method is characterized by comprising the steps of: calculating a current potential at each contact between finite surface elements forming each of the coil surfaces based on an initial value of an input current potential distribution, and, for each of the coil surfaces, repeatedly calculating the current potential alternately and, under each magnetic field condition, determining a current potential distribution that generates a magnetic field falling within the range of allowable error for each target magnetic field so that a surface current represented by the current potential will become close to a target magnetic field distribution set for each of the finite surface elements; and determining a coil pattern from the contour lines of the determined current potential distribution. | 01-27-2011 |
20110025329 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THERMO-ELECTRIC COOLING OF RF COILS IN AN MR IMAGING SYSTEM - A cooling system for reducing the thermal energy transfer from the heated spots of an RF coil assembly to a patient bore of an MRI system is disclosed. The MRI system includes a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, an RF shield formed about an RF space, and an RF coil assembly positioned within the RF space and about the patient bore. The cooling system is positioned within the RF space and includes a plurality of cooling modules configured to reduce an operating temperature of the MRI system. Each of the plurality of cooling modules further includes a thermoelectric cooler thermally coupled to the RF coil and a heat sink thermally coupled to the thermoelectric cooler opposite from the RF coil. The thermoelectric cooler is configured to extract heat from the RF coil when a current is applied to the thermoelectric cooler. | 02-03-2011 |
20110025330 | NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE GYROSCOPE MECHANIZATION - One embodiment of the invention includes a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) gyroscope system. The system includes a gyro cell that is sealed to enclose an alkali metal vapor, a first gyromagnetic isotope, a second gyromagnetic isotope, and a third gyromagnetic isotope. The system also includes a magnetic field generator configured to generate a substantially uniform magnetic field that is provided through the gyro cell to cause the first, second, and third gyromagnetic isotopes to precess. The system further includes an angular rotation sensor configured to measure a rotation angle about a sensitive axis of the NMR gyroscope system based on measured precession angles of the first, second, and third gyromagnetic isotopes. | 02-03-2011 |
20110025331 | BODY COIL ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR GENERATING RADIO-FREQUENCY FIELD USING THE BODY COIL ASSEMBLY - A body coil assembly for a magnetic resonance apparatus has a first coil and a second coil for generating a radio-frequency field in space, and a power control apparatus connected to the first coil and the second coil for controlling the transmitting power of the first coil and the second coil. In a method for generating a radio-frequency field using such a body coil assembly, the transmitting powers of the first coil and the second coil are controlled, to provide unequal transmitting powers to the first coil and the second coil when needed to generate a required radio-frequency field distribution, so as to form a stronger field strength at a certain position, thus improving the signal to noise ratio at that position during the receiving process. | 02-03-2011 |
20110025332 | MRI APPARATUS - An MRI apparatus comprising a magnet structure which delimits a cavity for receiving a body under examination or a part thereof, and which includes means for generating a magnetic field in said cavity, as well as means for causing the body under examination or the part thereof to emit nuclear magnetic resonance signals, a region being defined in the cavity, known as imaging volume, and means for receiving the nuclear magnetic resonance signals. The MRI apparatus also comprises an electronic processing unit with which the means for receiving the nuclear magnetic resonance signals are electrically connected; the cavity has an access opening for receiving a body under examination or part thereof. | 02-03-2011 |
20110025333 | SHEAR MODE PRESSURE-ACTIVATED DRIVER FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE ELASTOGRAPHY - A magnetic resonance elastography (“MRE”) driver that can produce shear waves in a subject without relying on mode conversion of longitudinal waves is disclosed. More specifically, the MRE driver includes a pneumatic driver located remotely from a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system which is operable in response to an applied electrical current to oscillate, a pressure-activated driver that is positioned on a subject in the MRI system, and a tube that is in fluid communication, at one end, with the pneumatic driver. The pressure-activated driver includes a base plate and a driver plate having a region between them that receives the tube. Oscillations of the pneumatic driver produce a pressure wave in the tube that causes the driver plate to vibrate. The driver plate rests against the subject of interest to apply a corresponding shear oscillatory force to the subject during the MRE examination. | 02-03-2011 |
20110037469 | Electromagnet Device and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Device - An electromagnet device which generates magnetic field in the direction perpendicular to the inserting direction of an inspection subject is reduced in size and weight by removing unnecessary arrangement as much as possible. A magnetic resonance imaging device is also provided. The electromagnet device comprises a first coil ( | 02-17-2011 |
20110037470 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE SURFACE COIL - A plug block module for a surface coil for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus has a plug block body with contacts for connection lines that can be connected with a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus, an adapter plug that can be inserted into an adapter plug of the surface coil, a surface coil connector device that fixes the plug block module to the surface coil, and a connection between the plug block and the adapter plug. | 02-17-2011 |
20110043207 | Whole-Body Coil Arrangement for an Open Magnetic Resonance Scanner for Use With a Second Diagnostic and/or Therapeutic Modality - A whole-body coil arrangement for an open magnetic resonance scanner for use with a second diagnostic and/or therapeutic modality is proposed. The whole-body coil arrangement includes at least one coil conductor and a radio-frequency shield. The whole-body coil arrangement is embodied at least in part as essentially transparent to the second modality. | 02-24-2011 |
20110043208 | DOUBLE LAYER MULTI ELEMENT RF STRIP COIL ARRAY FOR SAR REDUCED HIGH FIELD MR - When performing high or ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging, a double-layered transmit-receive coil array ( | 02-24-2011 |
20110057654 | Systems And Methods For Design And Construction Of NMR Transceiver Circuits - The Rabi frequency of oscillation of the nuclear magnetization vector of a sample in an NMR system may be controlled by modifying only the duty cycle of RF pulses delivered to the sample, without modifying the amplitude of the RF pulses, until the energy delivered at the Larmor frequency is adjusted to a desired amount. An impedance matching network between an NMR transceiver and an NMR coil may perform both power matching and noise matching simultaneously. During a transmission mode, the impedance matching network is connected to a transmitter portion of the transceiver, and the impedance of the coil is matched to the driver resistance. During a receiver mode, the impedance matching network is disconnected from the transmitter portion so that the impedance matching network remains connected only to the receiver portion, and signal-to-noise ratio in received NMR signals is maximized. | 03-10-2011 |
20110057655 | SOFTWARE FOR ADJUSTING MAGNETIC HOMOGENEITY, METHOD FOR ADJUSTING MAGNETIC HOMOGENEITY, MAGNET DEVICE, AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - On the basis of the magnetic field intensity distribution of a magnetic field space ( | 03-10-2011 |
20110068792 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE COIL ACTUATION - An apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic resonance (MR) coil elements and a plurality of voltage-actuated switches coupled to the plurality of MR coil elements, each voltage-actuated switch configured to selectively activate a respective MR coil element. The apparatus also includes a voltage source configured to supply a voltage to the plurality of voltage-actuated switches, a control unit coupled to the voltage source, and a plurality of transmission lines coupled to the plurality of voltage-actuated switches and to the control unit and configured to provide an actuation signal from the voltage source to the plurality of voltage-actuated switches. The plurality of transmission lines being free of discrete resistive elements and having a substantially uniform resistivity such that an interaction between the plurality of transmission lines and the plurality of MR coil elements is minimized and thermal dissipation is distributed over a length of each of the plurality of transmission lines. | 03-24-2011 |
20110068793 | SOLVATED HYPERPOLARIZED XeNMR AND MRI SIGNAL AMPLIFICATION BY GAS EXTRACTION - The present invention provides a method and apparatus of amplifying the signal of at least one NMR spectrum and of at least one MRI of hyperpolarized xenon. In an embodiment, the invention includes dissolving the hyperpolarized xenon in a liquid via an input membrane, thereby resulting in xenon in liquid phase, encoding information in the longitudinal magnetization of the nuclear spins of the xenon in liquid phase via an encoding coil surrounding an encoding phantom coupled to an output of the input membrane and via an encoding magnet, thereby resulting in encoded xenon, extracting the encoded xenon into the gas phase from the liquid phase via an extraction membrane coupled to an output of the encoding phantom, thereby resulting in encoded xenon in the gas phase, and decoding the encoded information from the encoded xenon in gas phase via a detection coil coupled to an output of the extraction membrane. | 03-24-2011 |
20110074419 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - An Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) apparatus includes a static magnetic-field magnet that generates a static magnetic field in an imaging area in which a subject is to be placed; a main coil that is provided on the inner side of the static magnetic-field magnet, and applies a gradient magnetic field onto a subject placed in the static magnetic field; and a shield coil that is provided between the static magnetic-field magnet and the main coil, and shields a gradient magnetic field generated by the main coil. Moreover, a Radio Frequency (RF) coil side cooling system including a plurality of cooling pipes that circulates a coolant in pipe is provided on the inner side of the main coil. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074420 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM - 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. Or, 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 arranged on a lamellar structure so that they can be moved relative to each other. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074421 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a gradient coil and a coil cooling pipe. The gradient coil applies a gradient magnetic field onto a subject placed in a static magnetic field. The coil cooling pipe is provided to the gradient coil, and cools the gradient coil by circulating a coolant inside pipe. The coil cooling pipe is provided so as to extend from one end of the gradient coil in the direction toward the other end, then to bend, and to return to the one end along the shape of the gradient coil. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074422 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING AND SPECTROSCOPY USING MULTIPLE-MODE COILS - A RF coil for use with a resonance imaging device, the RF coil comprises a conductor comprising a first conductive region, a second conductive region substantially isolated from the first portion along its length, and at least one coupling portion adjacent to ends of the first and second portions and configured to electrically couple the first and second portions at a first predetermined frequency. The coil further includes a dielectric substrate supporting the conductor. The RF coil is configured to perform one of excitation, detection, reception, or a combination thereof. A method of using one or more RF coil is further disclosed. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074423 | ANISOTROPIC DIFFUSION PHANTOM FOR CALIBRATION OF DIFFUSION TENSOR IMAGING PULSE SEQUENCES USED IN MRI - The subject matter of the invention concerns the anisotropic diffusion phantom for the calibration of any diffusion MR-DTI imaging sequence and a method for the calibration of all the MRI scanners by using anisotropic diffusion models based on the “b” matrix, which is a quantity specific for every magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequence and the MRI scanner used. It has application in the study of solids, amorphous materials, liquids and biological tissues. The anisotropic diffusion phantom for the calibration of any MR imaging sequence is any anisotropic diffusion model of any shape for the hydrogen H | 03-31-2011 |
20110080171 | Method and Apparatus for Accurately Adjusting Magic Angle in NMR - Method and apparatus for accurately adjusting the magic angle in NMR. The NMR probe has a uniform magnetic field coil assembly disposed to produce a uniform magnetic field H. The uniform magnetic field H is produced by controlling the currents flowing through the uniform magnetic field coil assembly. The vector sum of the external field B | 04-07-2011 |
20110084694 | INDUCTIVELY POWERED ELECTRIC COMPONENT OF AN MRI APPARATUS - The invention relates to a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising: a main magnet ( | 04-14-2011 |
20110101981 | NMR MAS ROTOR ASSEMBLY WITH POROUS CERAMIC BEARINGS - Each NMR rotor bearing in an NMR magic angle spinning assembly is constructed of a porous ceramic material and has no inlet channels or nozzles. Instead, pressurized gas is forced through pores in the bearing ceramic material from an annular groove at the bearing periphery to the central aperture. Since the pores are small and very numerous, the gas pressure is effectively balanced around the periphery of the central aperture. In addition, if contaminants block one or more pores during operation, the pores are so numerous that the balanced pressure can still be maintained in the central aperture, thereby preventing an imbalance that could destroy the rotor. | 05-05-2011 |
20110101982 | CRYOGENIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNETS - A cryogenic system for a superconducting magnet comprises a closed-loop cooling path. The closed-loop cooling path comprises a magnet cooling tube thermally coupled to the superconducting magnet. The magnet cooling tube comprises a cryogen flow passage. The closed-loop cooling tube further comprises a re-condenser is fluidly coupled to the magnet cooling tube through tube sections and a liquid cryogen container fluidly coupled between the magnet cooling tube and the re-condenser. At least one gas tank is fluidly coupled to the magnet cooling tube through a connection tube. | 05-05-2011 |
20110109314 | Method and apparatus for improving 2D acceleration in MRI using a new coil array design - The present invention is a coil array for an MRI system that is designed to improve 2D accelerated imaging of an object having significantly different fields of view in two phase-encoding directions. This is achieved by having a first set of coil elements whose sizes are tuned to optimize acceleration along a first phase-encoding direction and a second set of coil elements whose sizes are tuned to optimize acceleration along a second-phase encoding direction. Images acquired in accordance with the present invention exhibit improved signal to noise ratio at a given acceleration factor when compared to images acquired using a traditional MR coil array. | 05-12-2011 |
20110109315 | MR SIGNAL TRANSMISSION IN A LOCAL COIL ARRANGEMENT - In a magnetic resonance tomography local coil arrangement and a method for processing signals received thereby at least one local coil is fashioned to receive at least one reception signal and at least one amplifier is provided that amplifies the at least one reception signal. A frequency converter generates at least one intermediate frequency signal from the at least one reception signal the intermediate frequency of the intermediate frequency signal differing from the reception signal frequency of each reception signal. An analog-digital converter converts the analog intermediate frequency signal into a digitized signal. A shielding device shields against at least radio-frequency signals, the shielding device surrounding at least the analog-digital converter. At least one frequency filter is arranged between the at least one local coil and the analog-digital converter, the frequency filter exhibiting a transmission range for signals with the intermediate frequency of an intermediate frequency signal. The digitized signal is transmitted from the local coil arrangement. | 05-12-2011 |
20110115488 | CASTING COMPOUND SUITABLE FOR CASTING AN ELECTRONIC MODULE, IN PARTICULAR A LARGE-VOLUME COIL SUCH AS A GRADIENT COIL - Casting compound suitable for casting an electronic module, in particular a large-volume coil such as a gradient coil, which is composed of a support material forming a matrix, one or more fillers made of inorganic microparticles, and at least one filler made of polymer nanoparticles. | 05-19-2011 |
20110121830 | SUPERCONDUCTOR RF COIL ARRAY - A superconducting RF coil array which may be used in whole body MRI scanners and/or in dedicated MRI systems. Some embodiments provide a superconducting RF coil array for at least one of receiving signals from and transmitting signals to a sample during magnetic resonance analysis of the sample, the superconducting RF coil array comprising a thermally conductive member configured to be cryogenically cooled, and a plurality of coils elements comprising superconducting material, wherein each coil element is thermally coupled to the thermally conductive member and is configured for at least one of (i) receiving a magnetic resonance signal from a spatial region that is contiguous with and/or overlaps a spatial region from which at least one other of the plurality of coil elements is configured to receive a signal and (ii) transmitting a radiofrequency signal to a spatial region that is contiguous with and/or overlaps a spatial region to which at least one other of the plurality coil elements is configured to transmit a radiofrequency signal. | 05-26-2011 |
20110121831 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus executes a calibration scan for acquiring calibration data used to correct image data of a subject and an imaging scan for acquiring the image data of the subject and receives magnetic resonance signals using combinations of coil elements selected out of a plurality of coil elements. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a calibration scan condition determining device for determining a scan condition for the calibration scan, based on a first scan range of the subject taken when the imaging scan is executed and a first combination of coil elements used to receive magnetic resonance signals in the first scan range. | 05-26-2011 |
20110121832 | SELF-SHIELDED GRADIENT COIL - 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. | 05-26-2011 |
20110121833 | FOCUS COIL ARRAY AND INTERFACE DEVICES THEREFOR - A coil for use with a magnetic resonance (MR) system includes an outer loop having a first end and a second end formed from a conductive material for detecting MR signals oriented vertical to a plane of the coil. The outer loop has a plurality of capacitors therein including: (i) a first drive capacitor and a second drive capacitor of approximately equal value serially deployed within the outer loop at the first end of the outer loop with a junction node therebetween; and (ii) a third drive capacitor and a fourth drive capacitor serially deployed within the outer loop at the second end of the outer loop with a junction node therebetween. The coil also includes a first center conductor extending between and evenly bisecting the junction nodes of the outer loop and a second center conductor extending perpendicular to the first center conductor and evenly bisecting the outer loop. | 05-26-2011 |
20110121834 | HIGH-FREQUENCY COIL AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE - There is provided a high-frequency coil of an MRI device, which can easily and highly reproducibly reduce electromagnetic coupling between adjacent surface coils among a plurality of surface coils disposed with intervals. An electromagnetic decoupling coil that can generate a magnetic flux for canceling a magnetic flux generated by one of the adjacent surface coils and interlinking with the other surface coil is disposed between the adjacent surface coils. The electromagnetic decoupling coil is provided with a capacitor, and is tuned by means of the capacitor so that the electromagnetic coupling should be minimized in such a range that the resonance frequency thereof should be lower than the resonance frequency of the surface coils. | 05-26-2011 |
20110128001 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a plurality of coil elements for receiving magnetic resonance signals of a subject in a plurality of selectable combinations. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus also includes a sensitive region storage device for storing respective sensitive regions for the combinations of the coil elements, a setting device for setting scan regions, a calculation device for calculating a scan volume rate indicating each of proportions of overlap regions between the scan regions and the sensitive regions to the scan regions, and a sensitivity volume rate indicating each of proportions of the overlap regions to the sensitive regions, and a selection device for selecting each combination of the coil elements used to receive the magnetic resonance signals of the subject, out of the combinations of the coil elements, based on the scan volume rate and the sensitivity volume rate. | 06-02-2011 |
20110128002 | POLARIZED XENON GAS CONCENTRATION METHOD, POLARIZED XENON GAS MANUFACTURING SUPPLY DEVICE, AND MRI SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a polarized xenon gas manufacturing supply device that is provided with a polarization cell | 06-02-2011 |
20110133737 | Adjustable EMI Suppression Core for Common Mode/Normal Mode Balance - An adjustable EMI suppression core has an outer core having a first reluctance. The outer core has three apertures aligned horizontally. A first aperture and a third aperture are each suitable for a wire to be placed therein. A second aperture is located between the first and third apertures. An inner core is rotatable engaged in the second aperture, for example, using matching threads on an inner surface of the second aperture and an outer surface on the inner core. The inner core has first and third portions having a second reluctance similar to the first reluctance and a third portion having a reluctance considerably higher than the first and second reluctances. Rotating the inner core varies a normal mode and a common mode suppression of currents in the wires placed in the first and second apertures. | 06-09-2011 |
20110133738 | Systems and Methods for Obstructing Magnetic Flux - An aspect of the present invention relates to system and method for substantially obstructing magnetic flux. One aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for substantially obstructing at least one magnetic flux path between an ambient space and a protected volume. The apparatus includes an inner shield, substantially enclosing the protected volume. The inner shield has at least one inner shield aperture extending therethrough to allow external access to the protected volume. An outer shield substantially encloses the inner shield. The outer shield has at least one outer shield aperture extending therethrough to allow internal access from the ambient space. The apparatus is configured to impede magnetic flux between at least one inner shield aperture and at least one outer shield aperture. | 06-09-2011 |
20110133739 | ARRANGEMENT OF COILS FOR MRI APPARATUS - A method of determining a magnet arrangement for use in magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, the method including, determining a function representing current densities required within a magnet region to generate a field, determining a current density distribution required to generate a desired field, using the function and determining the magnet arrangement using the current density distribution, the magnet arrangement including a number of current carrying coils arranged within the magnet region. | 06-09-2011 |
20110140699 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COIL DISABLING IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A system and method for coil disabling in magnetic resonance imaging are provided. One magnetic resonance coil includes a radio-frequency (RF) coil having end rings with a plurality of conductors connected therebetween and at least one loop coil positioned at one of the end rings. The one loop coil is configured to operate at a resonant frequency of the RF coil. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140700 | MULTIPLE-FREQUENCY RF TRAP AND MRI SYSTEM - A multiple-frequency RF trap and an MRI system including a multiple-frequency RF trap. The multiple-frequency RF trap being tuned to block RF energy at two frequencies. | 06-16-2011 |
20110148415 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DECOUPLING MR COILS - An apparatus includes a first RF coil integrated into a first printed circuit board (PCB) and a second RF coil integrated into the first PCB. The apparatus also includes a tuning member positioned adjacently to the first PCB and inductively coupled to the first and second RF coils, the tuning member configured to minimize a mutual inductance formed between the first and second RF coils via modification of a coupling constant between the first and second RF coils. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148416 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO IMPROVE MAGNET STABILITY IN AN MRI SYSTEM - An MRI apparatus and method comprises an MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images. The magnet comprises a main coil former and a shield coil former arranged radially around the bore of the magnet, wherein a radius of the shield coil former is greater than a radius of the main coil former. The magnet also includes at least one main coil affixed to the main coil former, at least one shield coil affixed to the shield coil former, and at least one structural member affixed to the main coil former and to the shield coil former to provide structural support and enable longitudinal alignment adjustment between the main coil former and the shield coil former. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148417 | SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNET COIL INTERFACE AND METHOD PROVIDING COIL STABILITY - A superconducting magnet coil interface and method providing coil stability are provided. A superconducting coil arrangement includes a superconducting coil and a thermal interface coupled to the superconducting coil. The thermal interface is configured to intercept frictional heat before reaching the superconducting coil. The superconducting coil arrangement further includes a plurality of channels extending within at least a portion of the thermal interface and towards the superconducting coil. The plurality of channels are configured to receive therein a cooling liquid. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148418 | RF Power Splitter for Magnetic Resonance System - A radio frequency transmission system for a magnetic resonance system includes a radio frequency power amplifier ( | 06-23-2011 |
20110156705 | QUADRATURE AND LINEAR RF COIL ARRAY FOR MRI OF HUMAN SPINE AND TORSO - A radio frequency (RF) coil array includes a plurality of RF coil sections arranged in a superior-inferior direction. Each RF coil section includes a first linear coil element, a loop-saddle coil quadrature pair and a second linear coil element configured in an overlapping arrangement in a left-right direction. The position of the first linear coil element and the second linear coil element on the left and right may be shifted in the superior-inferior direction with respect to the center loop-saddle coil quadrature pair. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156706 | SENSING DURING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Physiologic information can be received from a subject during a portion of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session using a sensing circuit of an implantable medical device (IMD). An indication of an active MRI scan can be received, and a time period to inhibit use of physiological information from the subject can be determined following the received indication of the active MRI scan. | 06-30-2011 |
20110169491 | SPINE COIL ARRAY - The present embodiments relate to a spine coil array for an imaging system that includes a number of coil elements. The density of the coil elements changes at least once from a first region to a second region in at least one direction within the spine coil array. | 07-14-2011 |
20110175616 | Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging System and Coil Unit - There is provided a coil unit having a large region of homogeneous sensitivity for the axial direction even with a shortened rung length of birdcage type RF coil. | 07-21-2011 |
20110181287 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprises: static magnetic field generation means which generates a static magnetic field in an imaging space where an object to be examined is placed; gradient magnetic field generation means which generates a gradient magnetic field in the imaging space; high-frequency magnetic field generation means which generates a high-frequency magnetic field in the imaging space; calculation means which calculates an amount of the electromagnetic wave absorbed by the object when the high-frequency magnetic field is irradiated to the object; and a measurement means which measures a characteristic of the high-frequency magnetic field generation means. | 07-28-2011 |
20110187369 | MAGNETIC RESONANT IMAGING GRADIENT DRIVER ARCHITECTURE - Embodiments of the present disclosure include a magnetic resonant imaging (MRI) system including a gradient driver configured to deliver a pulse sequence to gradient coils in the MRI system. The gradient driver may be interleaved, and may include two or more interleaved drivers, such that a high amplitude pulse may be output by operating the two interleaved parts of the gradient driver while spreading the electrical loss and maintaining the thermal stability of the system. In one embodiment, each interleaved driver may be rated to output approximately half a maximum amplitude of a current utilized by the gradient coil, and only one interleaved driver may be in operation if only one interleaved driver is sufficient for delivering a necessary pulse to the coils. Further, the interleaved drivers may alternate in operation to maintain thermal stability in the switching semiconductors of the gradient driver. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187370 | GRADIENT FIELD POWER SUPPLY AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, there is provided a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus in which a gradient field power supply apparatus supplies currents to gradient field coils corresponding to spatial coordinate axis directions to form gradient fields in a static field space which change along the respective spatial coordinate axis directions, the gradient field power supply apparatus includes a transformer configured to supply power supplied to a primary winding to a current output circuit via a plurality of secondary windings, with the number of phases of the primary windings being equal to or a multiple of the number of phases of the secondary windings, and the secondary windings of the respective phases of output channels corresponding to the respective spatial coordinate axis directions being wound around the primary windings of the respective phases. | 08-04-2011 |
20110204893 | DISPLACEMENT MEASUREMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS, STRAIN MEASUREMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS, ELASTICITY AND VISCO-ELASTICITY CONSTANTS MEASUREMENT APPARATUS, AND THE ELASTICITY AND VISCO-ELASTICITY CONSTANTS MEASUREMENT APPARATUS-BASED TREATMENT APPARATUS - The present invention provides elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus etc. for measuring in the ROI in living tissues elastic constants such as shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, Lame constants, etc., visco elastic constants such as visco shear modulus, visco Poisson's ratio, visco Lame constants, etc. and density even if there exist another mechanical sources and uncontrollable mechanical sources in the object. The elastic constant and visco elastic constant measurement apparatus is equipped with means of data storing | 08-25-2011 |
20110210738 | LOW FIELD SQUID MRI DEVICES, COMPONENTS AND METHODS - Low field SQUID MRI devices, components and methods are disclosed. They include a portable low field (SQUID)-based MRI instrument and a portable low field SQUID-based MRI system to be operated under a bed where a subject is adapted to be located. Also disclosed is a method of distributing wires on an image encoding coil system adapted to be used with an NMR or MRI device for analyzing a sample or subject and a second order superconducting gradiometer adapted to be used with a low field SQUID-based MRI device as a sensing component for an MRI signal related to a subject or sample. | 09-01-2011 |
20110210739 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM COMPRISING A POWER SUPPLY UNIT ADAPTED FOR PROVIDING DIRECT CURRENT ELECTRICAL POWER - A MRI system for acquiring MRI image data comprising a data acquisition means comprising a plurality of subunits for acquiring MRI image data, a power distribution means for providing the means for acquiring MRI image data with electrical power, the power distribution means comprising: a power supply unit adapted for providing direct current electrical power from an alternating current electrical mains, a power bus adapted for supplying the subunits with the direct current electrical power, control means for controlling the supply of direct current electrical power by the power bus to the subunits. | 09-01-2011 |
20110227573 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM WITH SATELLITE GRADIENT COILS - The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising a main magnet ( | 09-22-2011 |
20110241681 | HALL EFFECT CURRENT SENSOR - Example systems, apparatus, circuits, and so on described herein concern a Hall effect current sensor that includes a planar portion of a conductor that is oriented perpendicular to a base magnetic field in which it is located. In the presence of the magnetic field, a differential voltage is produced across the planar portion that is proportional to a strength of the magnetic field and the amount of current flowing through the conductor. | 10-06-2011 |
20110241682 | ON-COIL CURRENT MODE CLASS D RF POWER AMPLIFIER IN HIGH FIELD PARALLEL TRANSMISSION MRI - Example systems, apparatus, circuits, and so on described herein concern parallel transmission in high field MRI. One example apparatus includes a balun network that produces out-of-phase signals that are amplified to drive current-mode class-D (CMCD) field effect transistors (FETs) that are connected by a coil that includes an LC (inductance-capacitance) leg. The LC leg is to selectively alter the output analog RF signal and the analog RF signal is used in high field parallel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) transmission. | 10-06-2011 |
20110241683 | MULTI-CHANNEL BREAST MRI RADIO FREQUENCY RECEIVER COIL - A system and method for breast imaging is disclosed. The system is constructed as a modular RF coil system for an MR imaging apparatus and includes a fitted coil former constructed to have a shape and size so as to substantially conform to a breast of a patient to be imaged and a receiver coil array positioned on the fitted coil former and having a plurality of receiver coils arranged to form a coil array. At least one of a size of each of the plurality of receiver coils and a number of the plurality of receiver coils is based on a size of the fitted coil former. Based on its coil arrangement and its proximity to the breasts of the patient to be imaged, the receiver coil array of the modular RF coil system is capable of receiving MR data for parallel imaging. | 10-06-2011 |
20110241684 | SPLIT MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a split magnet system having a pair of MRI magnet housings separated by gap. A pair of main MRI magnets are disposed within respective MRI magnet housings. A plurality of buttress assemblies are attached to the MRI magnet housings. Some or all of the buttress assemblies are provided with removable connections to the MRI magnet housings. This allows for partial disassembly of the MRI system for improved transport and maneuverability for relocating the MRI system. The MRI system can include a gantry in the gap for supporting a radiation therapy system. Also, the removably buttress assemblies can be used for housing conduits, such as electrical and fluid conduits, between the pair of MRI magnet housings. | 10-06-2011 |
20110254551 | GRADIENT COIL ASSEMBLY FOR MRI WITH INTEGRATED RF TRANSMIT AMPLIFIERS - A magnetic field gradient coil assembly comprises: a structural former ( | 10-20-2011 |
20110260727 | Shim insert for high-field MRI magnets - The present invention is a portable in-bore shim coil insert suitable for correcting high-degree and high-order magnetic field inhomogeneities over a limited examination zone in a magnetic resonance assembly operating above 3 T magnetic field strengths, wherein the magnetic resonance assembly includes at least a MRI magnet having an internal bore of known configuration and volume, at least one set of gradient coils, and an arrangement of radio frequency coils. The in-bore shim coil insert and corresponding method of use is able to produce higher degree and order shimming effects on-demand (i.e., the correction of at least some 3 | 10-27-2011 |
20110260728 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE COIL DEVICE - A combined head and nape magnetic-resonance coil device for a magnetic-resonance examination using a magnetic-resonance device, includes at least one posterior coil unit and at least two anterior coil units. At least one anterior coil unit of the at least two anterior coil units is mounted in relation to the posterior coil unit such that the at least one anterior coil unit may move along at least one direction of a spacing between the posterior coil unit and the at least one anterior coil unit. | 10-27-2011 |
20110260729 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH RADIOTHERAPY - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus suitable for radiotherapy. The apparatus includes two sets of coil pairs, each coil pair forming a Maxwell-like coil. The two sets of coil pairs share a common transverse plane, have opposing polarities, and define a common plane of symmetry and an imaging area. The two sets generate a substantially homogenous electromagnetic field in a first transverse direction in the imaging area and peripheral electromagnetic fields in a direction opposite to the first transverse direction in a peripheral area. The apparatus also includes at least one focusing magnet positioned in the peripheral areas to generate a focusing electromagnetic field in a focusing area, in a direction substantially the same as the first transverse direction. At least a portion of the peripheral electromagnetic fields is maintained in a defocusing area between the focusing area and the imaging area. | 10-27-2011 |
20110267059 | RF COIL ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - An apparatus for intra-operative MRI includes a patient table with a movable magnet and an RF coil having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is formed of a foam material flexible to different shapes with a pair of stiffeners formed of connected pivotal elements extending from a central back-bone embedded in the top sheet of the foam to hold the flexible material in the different shapes and is carried at one end of a flexible foam arm attached to a side rail of the table and stiffened by a longitudinal stiffener. A head clamp is attached to the table with a C-shaped holder for the skull clamp pins. The lower coil is movable by flexing about longitudinal lines to different curvatures and is held channel shaped by the C-shaped holder. It is attached at one longitudinal end to an adjustable mount connected to the head clamp. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267060 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE - A magnetic resonance imaging device includes magnetic field generating means and control means for controlling receiving means according to a predetermined pulse sequence, the predetermined pulse sequence including an unnecessary material suppressing sequence unit for canceling a signal from an unnecessary material which is not a measurement target and a main imaging sequence unit for measuring a nuclear magnetic resonance signal used to create an image of an examinee. The unnecessary material suppressing sequence unit generates at least two or more high frequency magnetic field pulses so that the longitudinal magnetization of the unnecessary material is made spatially uniform in the imaging space under application of a first high frequency magnetic field pulse in the main imaging sequence unit. The magnetic resonance imaging device further includes adjusting means for adjusting the flip angles of the two or more high frequency magnetic field pulses, and the control means applies the two or more high frequency magnetic field pulses at the flip angles adjusted by the adjusting means. | 11-03-2011 |
20110273177 | Electromagnet Assembly - An electromagnet assembly comprises a first pair of substantially co-planar coils wound in opposite senses to each other. It further comprises a second pair of co-planar coils also wound in opposite senses to each other. The coil pairs are arranged substantially parallel to, and spaced apart from, each other. In use, the field shape and direction produced by the first coil pair are substantially mirrored by those produced by the second coil pair. | 11-10-2011 |
20110279119 | COMBINABLE MULTIPART SURFACE COIL FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY - The present embodiments relate to a local coil system for use in a magnetic resonance tomography system. The local coil system includes a local coil lower part and a plurality of mutually different local coil upper parts. Each local coil upper part of the plurality is connectable to the local coil lower part to form a local coil. | 11-17-2011 |
20110285397 | Baluns, a fine balance and impedance adjustment module, a multi-layer transmission line, and transmission line NMR probes using same - A pseudo-Marchand balun, compound balun and tunable multi-resonant coaxial balun, and NMR probes employing each such balun, and a fine balance and impedance adjustment module and a multi-layer transmission line for use in such NMR probes. | 11-24-2011 |
20110291655 | FAILSAFE PROTECTION FROM INDUCED RF CURRENT FOR MRI RF COIL ASSEMBLY HAVING TRANSMIT FUNCTIONALITY - An electrically-controlled failsafe switch is included in an MRI transmit-and-receive RF coil assembly so as to protect it from induced RF currents in the event it is disconnected from an MRI system, but inadvertently left linked to strong MRI RF fields during imaging procedures using other RF coils. | 12-01-2011 |
20110291656 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS COMPRISING A FASTENING ELEMENT FOR ATTACHING A NOISE-INSULATING ELEMENT AND A METHOD FOR ATTACHING A NOISE-INSULATING ELEMENT - A magnetic resonance apparatus is provided. The magnetic resonance apparatus comprises a gradient coil unit, a housing cover and a noise protection unit which has at least one noise-insulating element which is arranged between the gradient coil unit and the housing cover for deadening an operating noise of the gradient coil unit. The magnetic resonance apparatus also comprises at least one fastening element for attaching the at least one noise-insulating element. The fastening element engages in a connection with the gradient coil unit for attaching the at least one noise-insulating element. | 12-01-2011 |
20110298459 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an imaging condition acquisition unit and an imaging unit. The imaging condition acquisition unit acquires at least one of optimum amplitude and optimum phase of a radio frequency transmission signal so as to reduce a deviation of data in at least one region of interest set in an object. The imaging unit acquires image data by imaging according to an imaging condition including at least one of optimum amplitude and optimum phase. | 12-08-2011 |
20110304335 | Method For Determining The Radiation Attenuation Of A Local Coil - A method is disclosed for determining radiation attenuation by a local coil in a tomography scanner of a magnetic resonance-positron emission tomography system. In at least one embodiment of the method, arrangement-dependent radiation attenuation, which depends on a coil-arrangement parameter record, is set for the local coil. Raw radiation data of an examination object is acquired with the aid of the MR-PET system and a plurality of images of the examination object are determined from the raw radiation data. In the process, each image is determined with a different coil-arrangement parameter record, taking into account the arrangement-dependent radiation attenuation. Each image is assigned a cost value, which corresponds to a measure of artifacts in the image. The radiation attenuation by the local coil is determined from the arrangement-dependent radiation attenuation and the coil-arrangement parameter record, which is associated with the optimized cost value, by determining an optimized cost value. | 12-15-2011 |
20110309832 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PARALLEL TRANSMISSION IN MR IMAGING - A system and method for selectively operating an array of RF receive coils in a transmit mode is disclosed. The system includes an RF transmit coil configured to generate an RF field that excites nuclei of a subject to generate RF resonance signals, an array of RF receive coils to receive the RF resonance signals, and a detuning circuit coupled to each RF receive coil in the array of RF receive coils that is selectively switched between a disabled and an enabled state to control a resonance and impedance of the RF receive coil. Each RF receive coil is caused to receive RF resonance signals when its respective detuning circuit is in the disabled state and is caused to modify an amplitude and phase of the RF field generated by the RF transmit coil when its respective detuning circuit is in the enabled state. | 12-22-2011 |
20110316538 | OPENING AND CLOSING MODULE, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME, IMAGING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - An imaging apparatus includes: a rotator having a shape of a perforated circular plate and rotating around a rotating axis of a center of the perforated circular plate; and a supporter having a perforated circular plate and one side of which is connected to one side of the rotator such that the rotator is restricted only to rotation movement. The supporter includes a supporter opening/closing part a part of which is separated along the rotating axis and then rotates by a predetermined angle around the rotating axis, and the rotator includes a rotator opening/closing part a part of which integrally moves with the supporter opening/closing part. | 12-29-2011 |
20110316539 | ANTENNA ARRAY COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE DIPOLE ANTENNA FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - An antenna array adapted for magnetic resonance imaging, wherein the antenna array comprises at least one antenna element, wherein each antenna element comprises:-a substrate with a first side and a second side, wherein the substrate comprises a dielectric material,-at least one dipole antenna, wherein the dipole antenna is attached to the second side of the substrate, wherein the dipole antenna comprises a first connection adapted for connecting the dipole antenna to a transmission line. | 12-29-2011 |
20120007601 | INDUCTOR ASSEMBLY FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - An inductor assembly includes an electrical conductor having a first end and an opposite second end, and a plurality of turns, each turn having a first lobe and a second lobe, the electrical conductor being formed into a lemniscate shape. A Radio Frequency (RF) coil including the lemniscate shaped inductor and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system including the lemniscate shaped inductor are also described herein. | 01-12-2012 |
20120013338 | MAGNETISED STRUCTURE INDUCING A HOMOGENEOUS FIELD, IN THE CENTRE THEREOF, WITH A PRE-DETERMINED ORIENTATION - A magnetized structure that induces in a central area of interest a homogeneous magnetic field of predetermined orientation relative to a longitudinal axis (z) of the structure comprises at least two magnetized rings ( | 01-19-2012 |
20120019249 | MASS DAMPED BORE TUBE FOR IMAGING APPARATUS - A bore tube for use in an imaging apparatus has a first tube and a second tube. The first tube is a complete cylinder of electrically conductive material; and the second tube is segmented into separate elements, each separately attached to the first tube. | 01-26-2012 |
20120019250 | NOISE MATCHING IN COUPLET ANTENNA ARRAYS - The invention relates to a system comprising an array of two or more receiving antennas ( | 01-26-2012 |
20120025829 | ACOUSTICALLY DAMPED GRADIENT COIL - A gradient coil assembly is provided. The gradient coil assembly includes a cylindrical element. The cylindrical element has an inner surface and an outer surface. At least one first isolation material is disposed over the outer surface of the cylindrical element. A conducting material is disposed over the isolation material. A method to form the gradient coil assembly is also provided. | 02-02-2012 |
20120025830 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY LOCAL COIL - The present embodiments relate to a local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography system. The local coil extends in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The local coil has a plurality of coil elements. At least some coil elements of the plurality overlap at least partly in a third direction running between the first direction and the second direction. | 02-02-2012 |
20120025831 | HIGH-CURRENT CABLE CONNECTION FOR GRADIENT CABLES OF A MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEM - The present embodiments relate to a method and gradient cable connection for a magnetic resonance tomography system. The gradient cable connection connects cable shoes of two gradient cables to one another. A first fastening device is provided with two nuts. Using the first fastening device, the cable shoes are pressed against one another by the two nuts, the two nuts being disposed on a bolt on opposing sides of the cable shoes. A second fastening device is also provided. Using the second fastening device, the bolt is pressed against a support plate by the bolt and one of the two nuts. | 02-02-2012 |
20120032678 | METHOD AND COILS FOR HUMAN WHOLE-BODY IMAGING AT 7 T - A progressive series of five new coils is described. The first coil solves problems of transmit-field inefficiency and inhomogeneity for heart and body imaging, with a close-fitting, 16-channel TEM conformal array design with efficient shield-capacitance decoupling. The second coil progresses directly from the first with automatic tuning and matching, an innovation of huge importance for multi-channel transmit coils. The third coil combines the second, auto-tuned multi-channel transmitter with a 32-channel receiver for best transmit-efficiency, control, receive-sensitivity and parallel-imaging performance. The final two coils extend the innovative technology of the first three coils to multi-nuclear ( | 02-09-2012 |
20120038361 | RECEIVER COIL TO MEASURE X-NUCLEI SIGNALS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS WITH SUCH A RECEIVER COIL - A reception coil, in particular local coil, to measure X-nuclei signals in magnetic resonance spectroscopy, has at least one filter connected in a first signal path to filter out radio-frequency pulses radiated by a transmission coil during a measurement, and a second signal path bypassing the filter. At least one switching arrangement is provided to switch between these signal paths. | 02-16-2012 |
20120062230 | ACTIVE TRANSMIT ELEMENTS FOR MRI COILS AND OTHER ANTENNA DEVICES - Apparatus and method that includes amplifiers for transceiver antenna elements, and more specifically to power amplifying an RF (radio frequency) signal using a distributed power amplifier having electronic devices (such as field-effect transistors) that are thermally and/or mechanically connected to each one of a plurality of antenna elements (also called coil elements) to form a hybrid coil-amplifier (e.g., for use in a magnetic-resonance (MR) imaging or spectroscopy machine), and that is optionally adjusted from a remote location, optionally including remotely adjusting its gains, electrical resistances, inductances, and/or capacitances (which controls the magnitude, phase, frequency, spatial profile, and temporal profile of the RF signal)—and, in some embodiments, the components are compatible with, and function in, high fields (such as a magnetic field of up to and exceeding one tesla or even ten tesla or more and/or an electric field of many thousands of volts per meter). | 03-15-2012 |
20120062231 | RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) COIL FOR MRI HAVING HIGH THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY - An MRI apparatus and method is disclosed comprising a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images. The RF coil assembly comprises an RF tube, a plurality of electrically conductive members disposed around the RF tube and configured to transmit RF excitation pulses, a plurality of electrical components coupled to the electrically conductive members, and at least one thermally conductive substrate mounted upon the RF tube, wherein one of the plurality of electrically conductive members and the plurality of electrical components is mounted to the at least one thermally conductive substrate and is in thermal contact therewith. | 03-15-2012 |
20120062232 | TRANSMIT COIL ARRANGEMENT FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE - A transmit coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance device includes a plurality of individually actuatable conductor loops following one after another in a peripheral direction and a longitudinal direction on a cylinder surface. At least two groups, at a distance from one another in the peripheral direction, of at least two conductor loops following one after the other in the longitudinal direction are provided in the peripheral direction. To decouple the at least two groups, each of the at least two groups is bounded at least in the peripheral direction by at least one screen surface extending essentially in a radial direction and the longitudinal direction. | 03-15-2012 |
20120068707 | Gradient Coil Assemblies - An MRIS gradient coil assembly | 03-22-2012 |
20120068708 | Gradient Coil Sub-Assemblies - An MRIS gradient coil sub-assembly comprising a first coil layer comprising a first conducting coil portion, a second coil layer comprising a second conductive coil portion electrically connected with the first conductive coil portion so that the first and second conductive coil portions act together as one winding, and a B-stage material consolidation layer sandwiched between the first and second coil layers. | 03-22-2012 |
20120068709 | COIL ARRANGEMENT - A coil arrangement for use in a magnetic resonance imaging system, the imaging system being for generating a magnetic imaging field in an imaging region, the coil arrangement including at least three coils for at least one of transmitting, receiving or transceiving an electromagnetic field, each coil being provided on a coil geometry and being substantially orthogonal. | 03-22-2012 |
20120074942 | MULTI-FIELD-OF-VIEW GRADIENT COIL - A coil assembly for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system includes a primary gradient coil, and a corrector coil, at least a portion of the corrector coil being interwoven with a portion of the primary gradient coil such that the portion of the primary gradient coil is concentric with the portion of the corrector coil. An MRI imaging system and a method of fabricating the coil assembly are also provided. | 03-29-2012 |
20120074943 | Apparatus and Method for Ferromagnetic Object Detector - An apparatus is provided for compensating for the effect of a moving door on a nearby ferromagnetic object detector. The ferromagnetic object detector is of a type to produce a main sensor signal indicative of the presence of a ferromagnetic object in the vicinity of the ferromagnetic object detector. Furthermore, the door is arranged relative to the ferromagnetic object detector such that movement of the door is liable to introduce an undesirable interference signal into the main sensor signal. The apparatus comprises an input ( | 03-29-2012 |
20120081117 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELF-SEALING A COLDHEAD SLEEVE OF A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - Systems and methods for self-sealing a coldhead sleeve of a magnetic resonance imaging system are provided. One coldhead sleeve arrangement includes a coldhead sleeve configured to receive therein a coldhead of an MRI system and having an open end. The coldhead sleeve arrangement also includes a sealing member coupled at the open end of the coldhead sleeve and configured in a normally closed position covering the open end. | 04-05-2012 |
20120081118 | SKEWED RADIO FREQUENCY COIL ARRAYS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A radio frequency (RF) coil array configured for use with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and that includes coil elements with a skewed coil geometry is provided. The coil elements are skewed with respect to a given direction, such as the slice-encoding direction of an MRI system, such that a variation in spatial sensitivity along that direction is provided. This spatial sensitivity variation allows for parallel imaging acceleration along the direction of the variation, which provides improved performance over standard rectangular geometries in performing acceleration along the slice-encode direction for three-dimensional axial acquisitions. | 04-05-2012 |
20120086451 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANTENNA AND A MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE HAVING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANTENNA - The present embodiments include a magnetic resonance antenna having parallel-running longitudinal antenna rods arranged in a birdcage structure and antenna ferrules connecting the parallel-running longitudinal antenna rods at ends of the parallel-running longitudinal antenna rods in radio frequency terms. The magnetic resonance antenna includes a plurality of radio-frequency switching elements configured to interrupt at least a part of the parallel-running longitudinal antenna rods to detune a natural resonance frequency with respect to an operating magnetic resonance frequency in radio frequency terms. At least some radio-frequency switching elements of the plurality of radio-frequency switching elements are arranged at end sections of the parallel-running longitudinal antenna rods. | 04-12-2012 |
20120086452 | RF COIL AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - It is an object of the present invention to provide an RF coil and an MRI apparatus capable of ensuring a wide imaging space and excellent in terms of allowing maintenance at the time of installation or failure. In order to do so, an RF coil of the present invention includes a cylindrical outer conductor and a plurality of rung conductors disposed inside the outer conductor along a circumferential direction of the outer conductor. In addition, each of the plurality of rung conductors is electrically connected to the outer conductor through a capacitor so as to form an electrical loop. The outer conductor is divided into a plurality of portions in the circumferential direction and is characterized in that the numbers of rung conductors disposed in at least two divided portions are different. In addition, an MRI apparatus of the present invention includes such an RF coil. | 04-12-2012 |
20120086453 | MRI WITH HYPERPOLARISATION DEVICE USING PHOTONS WITH ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM - A photonic-based hyperpolarisation device is disclosed with an electromagnetic source for emitting photonic radiation having a substantial penetration depth for material of the object, in particular of tissue, to be examined. For example, soft or ultra-soft x-rays are applied. Notably, the photonic-based hyperpolarisation device incorporates a magnet to generate a static magnetic field. Alternatively, the photonic-based hyperpolarisation device is incorporated in an magnetic resonance examination system. | 04-12-2012 |
20120092012 | SHAPED CARBON NANOMATERIAL IMAGING COIL ELEMENTS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - MRI imaging coil elements can include at least one electrical conductor formed from shaped carbon-based nanomaterial, the carbon-based nanomaterial conductor having a ratio of electrical inductive reactance to electrical resistance, over a range of frequencies, that is larger than that of a similarly dimensioned electrical conductor constructed only of metal, and a connector coupled to the first electrical conductor for functionally connecting the imaging coil element to electronic circuitry connecting to a magnetic resonance imaging system. The shape of the carbon-based nanomaterial in at least one of the imaging coil elements formed from carbon-based nanomaterial can be selected from a yarn-like shape, a ribbon-like shape, and a string-like shape. Similarly, the carbon-based nanomaterial in the at least one imaging coil element formed from carbon-based nanomaterial is structured as one of, carbon nanotubes, Buckypaper, and graphene. | 04-19-2012 |
20120092013 | NMR REACTION MONITORING FLOW CELL - A monitoring cell, used to perform a measurement in an NMR spectrometer of a reaction fluid produced by a reaction vessel, has a body having inlet and outlet transport coaxial capillaries for transporting the reaction fluid between the body and the reaction vessel. Cooling lines are also positioned coaxially with the transport capillaries to transport cooling liquid between the body and the reaction vessel. The cell further has a hollow sample probe for insertion into the NMR spectrometer and a coupler section that removably connects the sample probe to the body so that the inlet transport capillary extends through the body into the interior of the sample probe and the outlet transport capillary is sealed to the sample probe to allow reaction fluid that enters the sample probe via the inlet transport capillary to exit the sample probe via the outlet transport capillary. | 04-19-2012 |
20120092014 | Shimming device and method to improve magnetic field homogeneity in magnetic resonance imaging devices - An automated shim power supply system and associated methods for calibrating the magnetic field in magnetic resonance imaging devices by precisely adjusting the currents in shim coils. An automated shim power supply system sets, monitors, and corrects programmable power supply outputs to ensure stable output currents to shim coils with milliampere precision. Accompanying methods include iteratively measuring primary field flux and setting shim coil currents to correct inhomogeneities to within OEM specifications. | 04-19-2012 |
20120098538 | SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNET HAVING COLD IRON SHIMMING CAPABILITY - A method of shimming a superconducting magnet assembly that includes a cryostat and a superconducting magnet configured to be installed in the cryostat. The method includes determining a plurality of field inhomogeneity characteristics of the superconducting magnet while the superconducting magnet is at room temperature and prior to the superconducting magnet being sealed in the cryostat, and installing an initial set of passive shims inside the cryostat while the superconducting magnet is at room temperature, the initial set of passive shims reducing the determined field inhomogeneity characteristics when the superconducting magnet is operating at a normal operational temperature. | 04-26-2012 |
20120098539 | CYLINDRICAL PERMANENT MAGNET DEVICE GENERATING A CONTROLLED MAGNETIC FIELD AT A DISTANCE FROM THE SURFACE THEREOF - The cylindrical permanent magnet device includes at least one basic structure ( | 04-26-2012 |
20120098540 | ANTENNA CIRCUIT FOR AN MRI SYSTEM - The present embodiments include an antenna circuit that is adapted to supply and/or read out a plurality of antenna elements of an antenna assembly of a magnetic resonance imaging system. The antenna elements are decoupled by phase shifter elements and supplied with signals by the phase shifter elements. The antenna circuit may also be used to detect signals that are received by the antenna elements. | 04-26-2012 |
20120105061 | Portable bio-magnetic imager and method - Methods and apparatuses of the present invention perform imaging using a contrast agent and/or a metamaterials lens, together with a low magnetic field detector. The apparatus according to one embodiment comprises: a field source capable of generating a magnetic field directed to an area in a subject; a low magnetic field detector arranged downstream from the field source, the low magnetic field detector being capable of detecting a low magnetic field signature associated with the area in the subject; and a metamaterials lens arranged downstream from the field source, the metamaterials lens concentrating the magnetic field produced by the field source to the area in the subject, and/or concentrating back the magnetic signature from the area in the subject to the low magnetic field detector. | 05-03-2012 |
20120105062 | Method of Controlling Static Magnetic Field in NMR Spectrometer - A method of controlling the static magnetic field in an NMR spectrometer in such a way that the magnetic field can be homogenized even if there is a temperature gradient across a sample tube. A distribution of resonance frequencies and chemical shift differences within the sample tube is found by NMR measurements for each of two peaks of a calibration sample. A temperature distribution is found based on the distribution of the chemical shift differences. A distribution of chemical shifts of a solvent used for the measurements is found, based on the temperature distribution in the sample tube. Shimming is done using magnetic field gradients based on the distribution of the chemical shifts of the solvent. | 05-03-2012 |
20120112747 | MRI Safety System - In a MRI system housed within a room there is provided a movable magnet and additional components for other procedures on the patient, a control system is provided for the relative movement of the magnet and components. This includes a plurality of magnetic field sensors mounted on the components for measuring the magnetic field at the location of the component and an optional camera positioning system so that the control system can estimate relative positions of the components relative to the magnet from the sensed field strengths from the set of sensors to avoid collisions during the movements. | 05-10-2012 |
20120112748 | Transceiver apparatus, system and methodology for superior In-Vivo imaging of human anatomy - The inventive subject matter as a whole is an improved transceiver apparatus and system for diagnostic evaluations of living subject, human or animal; and is particularly effective as a clinical tool for the spectroscopic scanning or magnetic resonance imaging of humans suspected of being afflicted with a particular disease, disorder, or pathology. The improved transceiver apparatus is used as an essential component in a computer controlled system suitable for magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”), or nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (“MRS”), and/or nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (“MRSI”); and the present improvement of these electromagnetic signaling systems will provide far more accurate and precise visual images and accumulated data for the clinician or surgeon, as well as serve as a basis upon which to make a diagnosis and decide upon a mode of therapeutic treatment for that individual. | 05-10-2012 |
20120112749 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INCREASING SPIN RELAXATION TIMES FOR ALKALI ATOMS IN ALKALI VAPOR CELLS - An atomic vapor cell apparatus and method for obtaining spin polarized vapor of alkali atoms with relaxation times in excess of one minute is provided. The interior wall of the vapor cell is coated with an alkene-based material. The preferred coatings are alkenes ranging from C18 to C30 and C20-C24 are particularly preferred. These alkene coating materials, can support approximately 1,000,000 alkali-wall collisions before depolarizing an alkali atom, an improvement by roughly a factor of 100 over traditional alkane-based coatings. Further, the method involves a combination of one or more of the following: the use of a locking device to isolate the atoms in the volume of the vapor cell from the sidearm used as a reservoir for the alkali metal vapor source, careful management of magnetic-field gradients, and the use of the spin-exchange-relaxation-free (SERF) technique for suppressing spin-exchange relaxation. | 05-10-2012 |
20120119741 | GRADIENT COIL ARRANGEMENT AND PRODUCTION METHOD - The present embodiments optimize a gradient coil structure with a gradient coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance tomography device. The gradient coil arrangement includes a carrier plate with holes. Inserts are located in the holes. The inserts are made of an electrically isolating, thermally conductive material. | 05-17-2012 |
20120119742 | CAGE IN AN MRD WITH A FASTENING/ATTENUATING SYSTEM - A cage with a fastening system ( | 05-17-2012 |
20120126814 | PEDIATRIC COIL ASSEMBLY - In order to increase the signal to noise ratio, and thus increase the quality of images produced during pediatric MRI, a pediatric RF coil assembly includes a head coil and a flexible body coil in a single dedicated device shaped and sized for a child. The flexible body coil may be operable to at least partially surround and abut the body of the child located on the pediatric RF coil assembly, while the head coil may at least partially surround and abut the head of the child located on the pediatric RF coil assembly. In order to optimize workflow, the child may be positioned on the pediatric RF coil assembly in a first room and moved to a second room including an MRI system after the child is brought to sleep or sedated in the first room. The pediatric RF coil assembly and the child may be moved to the second room using a handle rotatably attached to the pediatric RF coil assembly, and may be positioned on a patient table of the MRI system when the imaging process is to begin. | 05-24-2012 |
20120126815 | SPINE COIL UNIT - 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. | 05-24-2012 |
20120133365 | SYSTEM OF RECEIVE COILS AND PADS FOR USE WITH MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - There is described embodiments of a coil and pad system for use with an MRI machine. The coil and pad system includes a plurality of coils sized to accommodate a plurality of patient ranges of various heights and body weights. There is also a plurality of pads designed to work in conjunction with the plurality of coils to accommodate patient ranges of various heights and body weights. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133366 | SYSTEM OF RECEIVE COILS AND PADS FOR USE WITH MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - There is described embodiments of a coil and pad system for use with an MRI machine. The coil and pad system includes a plurality of coils sized to accommodate a plurality of patient ranges of various heights and body weights. There is also a plurality of pads designed to work in conjunction with the plurality of coils to accommodate patient ranges of various heights and body weights. | 05-31-2012 |
20120139541 | DETERMINATION OF LOCAL SAR IN VIVO AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY MAPPING - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus produces calculations of local specific energy absorption rates (SAR) by calculating an electrical permittivity map of a subject. The electric permittivity is calculated by measuring the components of the B | 06-07-2012 |
20120146643 | RADIO FREQUENCY COIL AND APPARATUS - A radio frequency (RF) coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a first end ring, a second end ring, and a plurality of rungs electrically coupled between the first and second end rings, each rung including a first rung portion formed from a plurality of conductors and a second rung portion formed from a single solid conductor. A resonance assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and an MRI imaging system are also described herein. | 06-14-2012 |
20120146644 | INTEGRATED FIELD GENERATION UNIT FOR AN MRT SYSTEM - The present embodiments relate to a magnetic resonance tomography system having a basic-field field generation device for generating a basic magnetic field. The magnetic resonance tomography system also includes a gradient-field field generation device for generating a gradient field, where the basic-field field generation device and the gradient-field field generation device are arranged in an evacuatable low-pressure housing. | 06-14-2012 |
20120146645 | MAGNETIC FIELD UNIT OF AN MRI SYSTEM FOR IMAGE CAPTURING A HEAD REGION - The invention relates to a magnetic field unit ( | 06-14-2012 |
20120153953 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS WITH A BASIC FIELD MAGNET FORMED BY AT LEAST TWO SEPARATED MAGNETIC COILS - A magnetic resonance apparatus for examination in THE teeth and/or jaw region of a patient has at least one basic magnet to generate a constant basic magnetic field. The basic magnet is formed at least in part from at least one magnetic coil pair with at least two magnetic coils, and the at least one magnetic coil pair generates the basic magnetic field with a homogeneous magnetic field region between the at least two magnetic coils thereof. | 06-21-2012 |
20120153954 | RF COIL DEVICE AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - In one embodiment, an RF coil device ( | 06-21-2012 |
20120161767 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDUCTIVELY COMMUNICATING DATA - A system for inductively communicating signals in a magnetic resonance imaging system is presented. The system in one embodiment includes a first array of primary coils disposed on a patient cradle of the imaging system, and configured to acquire data from a patient positioned on the patient cradle. Additionally, the system includes a second array of secondary coils disposed under the patient cradle, wherein a number of secondary coils is less than or equal to the number of primary coils, wherein the first array of primary coils is configured to inductively communicate the acquired data to the second array of secondary coils. | 06-28-2012 |
20120161768 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATING DATA - A system for communicating data in a magnetic resonance imaging system in one embodiment includes a first array of receiver coils disposed on a first flexible substrate having at least one edge, wherein the flexible substrate is configured to be disposed upon or under a section of a patient under exam, wherein the first array of receiver coils is configured to acquire imaging data from the patient positioned on a patient support in the imaging system. Additionally, the system includes at least one blanket connector disposed along the at least one edge of the first flexible substrate, wherein the at least one blanket connector is electrically coupled to the first array of receiver coils in the first flexible substrate. Moreover, the system includes at least one system connector disposed proximate the patient support and configured to communicate with the imaging system, wherein the at least one blanket connector is configured to be detachably coupled to the at least one system connector, and wherein the first array of receiver coils is configured to communicate the acquired imaging data to the imaging system. In one embodiment the electrical connector is further configured to physically secure the first array of receiver coils in place and prevent the first array of receiver coils from moving. | 06-28-2012 |
20120161769 | RF COIL ARRAY FOR CARDIAC AND THORACIC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A radio frequency (RF) coil array includes a first coil section and a second coil section mechanically coupled to the first coil section. The first coil section includes a first row of a plurality of double asymmetric saddle coil pairs arranged in a left-right direction and a second row of a plurality of double asymmetric saddle coil pairs arranged in a left-right direction. The first row and the second row are arranged along a superior-inferior direction. The second coil section includes a plurality of loop coils arranged around at least a portion of a perimeter of the first coil section. | 06-28-2012 |
20120169341 | INTEGRATED GAMMA RAY DETECTOR RING AND RF BODY COIL - An integrated gamma ray detector ring and RF coil assembly includes a first RF coil section and a gamma ray detector ring with a first end and a second end. The first end of the gamma ray detector ring is electrically coupled to the first RF coil section. The assembly also includes a second RF coil section that is electrically coupled to the second end of the gamma ray detector ring. | 07-05-2012 |
20120176133 | Integrated high-frequency generator system utilizing the magnetic field of the target application - An integrated high-frequency generator system utilizing the magnetic field of the target application including a magnetic resonance magnet having an application zone and a high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) generator zone in the magnetic field of the magnetic resonance magnet; and a high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) generator disposed in the high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) generator zone and utilizing the magnet field of the magnetic resonance magnet to generate the high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) radiation. The magnetic resonance magnet may have an auxiliary magnetic field source for modifying the magnetic field profile in the high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) generator zone. The high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) generator may include an electron gun for generating an electron beam adapted to be focused by a magnetic field source having a spatially rising region, a homogenous region and a decaying region, an interaction structure for generating high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) radiation, an internal mode converter in the homogenous region for extracting the high-frequency (microwave/terahertz) radiation through a window, and a reduced collector disposed substantially in the homogenous region before the electron beam spreads in the decaying region. | 07-12-2012 |
20120176134 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM WITH THERMAL RESERVOIR AND METHOD FOR COOLING - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system with a thermal reservoir and method for cooling are provided. A cooling vessel for a magnet system of the MRI system includes a first portion containing a helium cryogen in contact with a plurality of magnet coils of an MRI system. The cooling vessel also includes a second portion separate from and fluidly decoupled from the first portion, with the second portion containing a material different than the helium cryogen and having a volume greater than the first portion. | 07-12-2012 |
20120176135 | OPTICALLY CONTROLLED MEMS SWITCH AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME - The present embodiments are directed towards the optical control of switching an electrical assembly. For example, in an embodiment, an electrical package is provided. The electrical package generally includes a micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) device configured to interface with an electrical assembly, the MEMS device being operable to vary the electrical assembly between a first electrical state and a second electrical state, a MEMS device driver in communication with the MEMS device and being operable to produce high voltage switching logic from an electrical signal, and an optical detector in communication with the MEMS device driver and configured to produce the electrical signal from an optical signal produced by a light source in response to an applied current-based electrical control signal. | 07-12-2012 |
20120182012 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING MAGNET DURING QUENCH - A superconducting magnet assembly comprising a plurality of superconducting magnet coil portions forming a coil series circuit to provide a magnetic field, a power supply to supply power to the plurality of superconducting magnet coil portions during a magnet ramp mode of operation, and a ramp switch coupled to the superconducting magnet coil portions, wherein the ramp switch is configured to be open during a magnet ramp mode and closed during a persistent mode. A dump resistor is disposed externally to the vessel and is connectable by the ramp switch to the superconducting magnet coil portions. Further, a controller is coupled to at least one superconducting magnet coil portion and the ramp switch and is configured to detect a quench onset condition in the at least one superconducting magnet coil portion and to open the ramp switch upon detection of the quench onset condition in order to dump magnet energy. | 07-19-2012 |
20120182013 | ANTENNA ARRANGEMENT FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPLICATIONS - An antenna arrangement for magnetic resonance applications includes antenna elements substantially parallel to a common central axis, distributed around the central axis at a distance from the central axis, and enclosing an essentially cylindrical volume. The antenna arrangement includes intermediate connections that connect to immediately adjacent antenna elements at connection points that lie between the ends of the antenna elements. A preamplifier connects to each of the intermediate connections and has an output that, in a receive mode, corresponds to a respective feed-out point. In send mode, the antenna arrangement injects radio-frequency signals into the antenna elements using the injection points. The antenna arrangement is also configured to adjust the intermediate connections to a higher resistance when the antenna arrangement is in the send mode and at least some of the intermediate connections to a lower resistance when the antenna arrangement is in the receive mode. | 07-19-2012 |
20120182014 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE MICROCOIL AND METHOD OF USE - A magnetic resonance imaging device includes an elongate flexible member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending between the proximal end and the distal end and a solenoid coil affixed to the distal end of the elongate flexible member, the solenoid coil having a plurality of wire turns, the solenoid coil connected to a twisted-pair of leads extending proximally along the length of the flexible member. A connector is disposed at the proximal end of the elongate flexible member, the connector operatively coupled to the twisted-pair of leads. In an alternative embodiment, a coaxial cable substitutes for the lumen-containing elongate flexible member. | 07-19-2012 |
20120187948 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a first acquiring unit, a second acquiring unit, and a combining unit. The first acquiring unit is configured to acquire data by executing a pulse sequence based on a first radio-frequency pulse transmission condition. The second acquiring unit is configured to acquire data by executing a pulse sequence based on a second radio-frequency pulse transmission condition that is different from the first radio-frequency pulse transmission condition. The combining unit is configured to perform a combining process either on the data acquired by the first acquiring unit and the data acquired by the second acquiring unit or on data obtained by reconstructing the data acquired by the first acquiring unit and data obtained by reconstructing the data acquired by the second acquiring unit. | 07-26-2012 |
20120194191 | TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FIELD - A device includes a housing, a first magnetic field sensor, a second magnetic field sensor, and a control module. The housing is configured to be implanted in a patient. The first magnetic field sensor is located at a first location within the housing and is configured to measure a first strength of a magnetic field at the first location. The second magnetic field sensor is located at a second location within the housing and is configured to measure a second strength of the magnetic field at the second location. The control module is configured to identify a source of the magnetic field based on the first and second strengths. | 08-02-2012 |
20120194192 | MECHANICALLY FLEXIBLE MAGNETIC RESONANCE COIL WITH OPENING CONDUCTOR STRUCTURES - The present embodiments relate to a local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography system, the local coil including an antenna element that includes a releasable connection to form an opening. | 08-02-2012 |
20120194193 | Method for independent manipulation of a fat and a water component in Magnetic Resonance Imaging - An MR imaging system independently manipulates a fat and a water component of MR signals used for generating image data. An RF signal generator and a magnetic field gradient generator provide an RF pulse and magnetic field gradient sequence for acquisition of an MR signal discriminating between anatomical objects based on longitudinal relaxation time (T | 08-02-2012 |
20120200294 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANTENNA ARRANGEMENT - A magnetic resonance antenna arrangement having a plurality of antenna elements disposed around a measurement chamber and a plurality of switching elements is provided. The antenna elements and the switching elements are disposed and interconnected such that in a first switching configuration of the switching elements, the antenna elements form a first antenna architecture, and in a second switching configuration of the switching elements, the antenna elements form a second antenna architecture. | 08-09-2012 |
20120200295 | METHOD TO GENERATE MAGNETIC FIELDS OF HIGH UNIFORMITY AND COMPENSATION OF EXTERNAL DISPERSED FIELD, AND SYSTEM FOR ITS EMBODIMENT - A method to generate magnetic fields of high uniformity within the object examined in which two pairs of coils are used in which the current flows in the same direction and sense. | 08-09-2012 |
20120206142 | DEVICE FOR GENERATING OPPOSING FIELDS AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE SCANNER - A device for generating opposing fields for shielding an implant in the body of a patient during a magnetic resonance imaging, which device comprises a field generation unit with one or more field generation configured to generate field pulses and a control unit coupled with the field generation unit, and which is configured in such a manner that field pulses can be generated as opposing fields through which, within a spatial zone which contains the implant at least in sections, high-frequency electromagnetic field pulses and/or magnetic gradient field pulses used during the magnetic resonance imaging can be reduced or cancelled out in their intensity through superposition. | 08-16-2012 |
20120206143 | Resonant electromagnetic sensor - The present device relates to a sensor capable of detecting changes in the electromagnetic field it generates when in proximity to either conductive or nonconductive materials. This occurs by way of oscillating a transmit coil with an electro motive force at a resonant frequency thus creating an electromagnetic field. The magnetic field passes through a target of either conductive or nonconductive material and is then intercepted by a receive coil which likewise oscillates at a resonant frequency, which when in proximity to the transmit coil and transmit coils resonant frequency produces an enhanced signal by way of the interaction of the respective resonant frequencies and receive coil output. | 08-16-2012 |
20120212224 | SUSPENDED SUBSTRATE CIRCUITS AND NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE PROBES UTILIZING SAME - A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probe circuit assembly includes one or more probe circuits in signal communication with one or more respective sample coils configured for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency (RF) energy to and/or from a sample of interest. One or more of the probe circuits have a suspended substrate configuration in which variable capacitors share a common dielectric substrate that is separated from a ground plane by an air gap. Each variable capacitor includes an electrode that is movable by a user-actuated adjusting device. One or more of the probe circuits may have a multiply resonant or broadband configuration, and may have one or more individual channels. One or more of the variable capacitors enable tuning to resonant frequencies of selected nuclei. One or more other variable capacitors may enable impedance matching. | 08-23-2012 |
20120223714 | LOCAL COIL - The present embodiments relate to a local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography system. The local coil includes a preamplifier for amplification of a signal received by the local coil from an examination object in a receive phase of the local coil. The local coil also includes a detuning device for detuning the local coil in a transmit phase of the local coil, and a rectification device for supplying voltage to the preamplifier. | 09-06-2012 |
20120223715 | PET-MRI CONVERGENCE SYSTEM - A positron emission tomography (PET)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) convergence system. In one aspect, the invention may be a PET-MRI convergence system including: a cylindrical magnet bore which includes an outer wall and an inner wall; a gradient magnet which is disposed adjacent to the inner wall of the magnet bore; a MRI RF coil which is disposed adjacent to the inner wall of the gradient magnet, emits an RF pulse signal and detects MRI data corresponding to the RF pulse signal; and a PET detector which is spaced apart from the MRI RF coil and is disposed adjacent to the inner wall of the gradient magnet, and detects PET data. | 09-06-2012 |
20120229138 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO REDUCE NOISE IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEMS - An apparatus and method to reduce noise in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems are provided. One MRI system includes a gantry having a bore therethrough and at least one radio frequency (RF) coil supported by the gantry for imaging an object within the bore. The MRI system also includes a vacuum space between the at least one RF coil and the bore. | 09-13-2012 |
20120229139 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a storage unit, an eddy current correcting unit, and a gradient magnetic field power supply. The storage unit stores therein eddy current correction parameters that each correspond to the imaging positions to correct the influence of an eddy current magnetic field. The eddy current correcting unit receives the waveform of the gradient magnetic field calculated in accordance with the imaging condition, performs calculation onto the received waveform of the gradient magnetic field by use of an eddy current correction parameter selected in accordance with the position, and outputs the corrected waveform obtained as the calculation result to the gradient magnetic field power supply. The gradient magnetic field power supply receives the corrected waveform and applies a gradient magnetic field in accordance with the corrected waveform. | 09-13-2012 |
20120229140 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE ELECTRIC POWER-TRANSMITTING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE ELECTRIC POWER-RECEIVING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance electric power-transmitting apparatus in the magnetic resonance wireless electric power transmission system includes a resonance coil, an electric power-supplying unit which supplies electric power to the resonance coil to cause the resonance coil to generate a magnetic field, a magnetic material which varies a magnetic field generated by the resonance coil, and a position adjustment unit which adjusts a positional relationship between the resonance coil and the magnetic material. | 09-13-2012 |
20120242335 | Cryogenic probehead cooler in a nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus - An NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) apparatus has a magnet system disposed in a cryostat ( | 09-27-2012 |
20120249145 | GRADIENT AMPLIFIER SYSTEM - A gradient amplifier system is presented. An embodiment of a gradient amplifier system that includes a power stage having a plurality of bridge amplifiers, where each of the plurality of bridge amplifiers operates at a first switching frequency. The gradient amplifier system further includes a gradient coil coupled to an output terminal of the power stage and configured to produce a magnetic field proportional to a coil current signal supplied by the power stage. In addition, the gradient amplifier system includes a controller stage coupled to an input terminal of the power stage and configured to generate a pulse width modulated gate signal based on the coil current signal and a reference current signal, where the pulse width modulated gate signal is generated at a second switching frequency upon occurrence of a slew rate associated with the reference current signal is below a determined threshold rate and an amplitude level associated with the reference current signal is above a determined level. Further, the controller stage is configured to apply the generated pulse width modulated gate signal to the power stage for changing an operating frequency of each of the plurality of bridge amplifiers from the first switching frequency to the second switching frequency. | 10-04-2012 |
20120249146 | MRT GRADIENT SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED MAIN MAGNETIC FIELD GENERATION - In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance tomography system that has a gradient field coil system for generating a gradient field is provided. The gradient field coil system is also a main magnetic field generation system for generating a main field. | 10-04-2012 |
20120249147 | RF ANTENNA FOR MRI WITH A REMOVABLE CONDUCTOR - An RF transmit and/or receive antenna is disclosed, especially in the form of a coil structure or coil or loop arrangement, having one or more removable conductors, especially for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system or a magnetic resonance (MR) scanner, for transmitting RF excitation signals (Bi field) for exciting nuclear magnetic resonances (NMR), and/or for receiving NMR relaxation signals. The RF antenna is provided such that it can be adapted in an easy way according to an application which either requires a large opening through the RF antenna or a parallel imaging capability. | 10-04-2012 |
20120256630 | DYNAMIC NUCLEAR POLARIZATION APPARATUS WITH SAMPLE TRANSPORT SYSTEM - The invention relates to a dynamic nuclear polarization apparatus ( | 10-11-2012 |
20120262177 | BALANCED-TO-UNBALANCED TRANSFORMER FOR CONVERTING A SYMMETRICAL HIGH-FREQUENCY SIGNAL INTO AN ASYMMETRICAL HIGH-FREQUENCY SIGNAL - The present embodiments relate to a balanced-to-unbalanced transformer for converting a symmetrical high-frequency signal into an asymmetrical high-frequency signal. The balanced-to-unbalanced transformer includes two coil windings made of wire. The two coil windings are electrically insulated from each other and are wound on a winding form. Each of the two coil windings has an input at one end of the winding form for the symmetrical high-frequency signal and an output at another end of the winding form for the asymmetrical high-frequency signal. The two coil windings lie on top of one another in a radial direction of the winding form. | 10-18-2012 |
20120268130 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM ACTIVATION SEQUENCE - A method and control a sequence determination device for determining a magnetic resonance system-activation sequence are provided. The magnetic resonance system-activation sequence includes a multichannel pulse having a plurality of individual HF pulses to be emitted in a parallel manner by the magnetic resonance system by way of different independent high-frequency transmit channels. A multichannel pulse is calculated based on a predefined MR excitation quality using an HF pulse optimization method, and an HF pulse length is optimized with respect to an HF energy parameter. | 10-25-2012 |
20120274326 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGING A PATIENT USING LOCAL SHIM COILS - A method of generating a magnetic resonance (MR) image includes applying a localized magnetic field to a portion of a patient, determining a difference between a local field strength around a first region of interest and a local field strength around a different second region of interest, adjusting the local field strength around the first region of interest such that the local field strength around the first region of interest is substantially the same as the local field strength around the second region of interest, and generating an image of the first and second regions after adjusting the local field strength around the first second region of interest. A coil apparatus and a system are also described herein. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274327 | MAGNETIC SHIELDING MATERIAL FOR SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNET - A magnetic shielding material which can decrease the thickness by having excellent conductivity even at low temperatures of, for example, 77 K or lower, in a strong magnetic field of a magnetic flux density of 1 T or more is provide. A magnetic shielding material to be used at low temperatures of 77 K or lower in the magnetic field of a magnetic flux density of 1 T or more, comprises aluminum having a purity of 99.999% by mass or more. | 11-01-2012 |
20120280687 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE - A magnetic resonance device includes a measuring chamber, a high-frequency shield at least partially enclosing the measuring chamber and an antenna arrangement that includes a plurality of antenna elements disposed around the measuring chamber. The antenna elements have at least one component that is active in the manner of an antenna and extends, as viewed from the high-frequency shield, towards an interior of the measuring chamber. | 11-08-2012 |
20120286784 | SIZE-ADJUSTABLE HEAD/NECK MR SURFACE COIL WITH HINGED UPPER SECTION - A local coil for a magnetic resonance tomography system includes an upper section and a lower section. The upper section is hingeable in relation to the lower section. | 11-15-2012 |
20120286785 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS WITH MEANS FOR CORRECTING MAGNETIC FIELD HOMOGENEITY - A Magnetic Resonance apparatus includes a 3D structure having a cavity for receiving a body under examination, a mechanism for generating a static magnetic field in the patient receiving cavity, a mechanism for generating variable magnetic fields in the cavity, an antenna for transmitting electromagnetic nuclear spin excitation pulses, an antenna for receiving the electromagnetic signals generated by nuclear spin relaxation, a plate for locating and fixing magnetic dipoles for fine correction of magnetic field homogeneity, and a compartment for the magnetic correction dipole locating and fixing plate, the compartment being adapted to be opened for direct access to the magnetic correction dipole locating and fixing plate from the outside. The compartment may be opened either by removal of an end plate of the magnetic field generating mechanism, or via a lateral slot for insertion and removal of the magnetic correction dipole locating and fixing plate. | 11-15-2012 |
20120293173 | RF BODY COIL FOR REDUCED ACOUSTIC NOISE IN AN MR SYSTEM - An RF body coil having enhanced acoustic deadening properties for an MR scanning apparatus is disclosed. The RF body coil includes an RF support form and RF electronics affixed to the RF support form, with the RF electronics comprising a plurality of RF legs. The RF support form further includes an inner structural layer, an outer structural layer, and a middle layer sandwiched between the inner structural layer and the outer structural layer, the middle layer comprising a layer of viscoelastic material configured to increase the mechanical damping of the RF body coil so as to reduce RF body coil vibration. | 11-22-2012 |
20120293174 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGING A SUBJECT USING LOCAL SURFACE COILS - A Radio Frequency (RF) coil apparatus for generating a Magnetic Resonance (MR) image includes a body adapted to be worn by a subject being scanned, the body comprising an anterior portion, a posterior portion, and a transition portion coupled between the anterior and posterior portions, a first RF receive-only saddle coil including a first coil positioned in the anterior portion and a second coil positioned in the anterior portion, the first RF saddle coil configured to be positioned on the anterior and posterior sides of the subject. An MRI imaging system and method are also described herein. | 11-22-2012 |
20120306494 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A system including a plurality of coil elements is provided. Each coil element is arranged with a first switch and a second switch. In a first mode, the first switch and the second switch are turned off to split each coil element into a first coil portion and a second coil portion, to transmit first radio frequency signals. In a second mode, the first switch and second switch are turned on to transform each coil element into a loop coil to simultaneously transmit or receive multiple second radio frequency signals. | 12-06-2012 |
20120306495 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING INTERCONNECTIONS IN A GRADIENT COIL ASSEMBLY - A gradient coil apparatus for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes an inner gradient coil assembly comprising at least one inner gradient coil and an outer gradient coil assembly comprising at least one outer gradient coil. At least one gradient coil interconnect is coupled to the inner gradient coil and the outer gradient coil. The gradient coil interconnect includes a wire assembly comprising a plurality of conductors. The wire assembly has a first end electrically coupled to the outer gradient coil assembly and a second end electrically coupled to the inner gradient coil. The gradient coil interconnect also includes a reinforcement material disposed around a portion of the wire assembly. | 12-06-2012 |
20120313642 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSULATING A CRYOGEN VESSEL - Systems and methods for insulating superconducting magnets, such as a cryogen vessel of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having therein one or more superconducting magnets are provided. One system includes a thermal insulator having a first plurality of reflector layers and a non-deformed spacer layer between adjacent layers in the first plurality of reflector layers. The thermal insulator further includes a second plurality of reflector layers and a deformed spacer layer between adjacent layers in the second plurality of reflector layers. | 12-13-2012 |
20120313643 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) DEVICE NOISE DAMPENING SYSTEM - Disclosed herein is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device noise dampening system, including an adjustable vibration dampening suspension system arranged between a gradient winding assembly of the MRI device and a support structure supported by a primary magnet assembly of an MRI device, wherein the adjustable vibration dampening suspension system comprises: a plurality of separately inflatable support elements; a vibration reducing material coupled to at least one of a plurality of connecting elements associated with a gradient winding assembly of an MRI device; and/or an acoustic noise absorbing material at least partially filling a space containing a gradient winding assembly of an MRI device. | 12-13-2012 |
20120319687 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING MAGNETIC RESONANCE (MR) SIGNALS - A preamplifier is provided for a radio frequency (RF) receiver coil in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The preamplifier includes an amplifier configured to receive at least one magnetic resonance (MR) signal from the RF receiver coil and configured to generate an amplified MR signal. An input circuit is electrically connected to the amplifier. The input circuit is configured to be electrically connected to an output of the RF receiver coil for transmitting the at least one MR signal from the RF receiver coil to the amplifier. The input circuit includes an impedance transformer and a field effect transistor (FET). The FET is electrically connected between the impedance transformer and the amplifier. The FET has an FET impedance. The impedance transformer is configured to transform a source impedance of at least approximately 100 ohms. The impedance transformer is further configured to transform the FET impedance into a preamplifier input impedance of less than approximately 5 ohms. | 12-20-2012 |
20130002251 | NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE PROBE COMPRISING SLIT SUPERCONDUCTING COIL WITH NORMAL-METAL OVERLAYER - A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probe comprises a superconducting material formed in a spiral having a plurality of fingerlets separated by a plurality of slits, and a normal-metal overlayer formed on the spiral over the plurality of fingerlets and the plurality of slits. | 01-03-2013 |
20130009642 | MRI MAGNET AND MRI SYSTEM WITH OPTIMIZED FRINGE FIELDS, ATTRACTIVE FORCES AND SPATIAL CONSTRAINTS - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system magnet includes at least one main electromagnet winding disposed within a first radius of the magnet and at least one bucking electromagnet winding disposed within a second radius, larger than the first radius of the magnet and configured to provide self-shielding magnetic fields that substantially reduce fringe magnetic fields outside the magnet produced by the main electromagnet winding. The combination of magnetic fields produced by both the main and bucking electromagnet windings inside the magnet conform to MRI requirements within at least an imaging volume. The main and bucking electro-magnet windings are configured so as to create a net fringe field outside the magnet within the range of 50-100 gauss at a distance within a range of 3-5 meters axially and 2-3 meters radially from a center of the magnet. | 01-10-2013 |
20130021033 | System for Adapting an RF Transmission Magnetic Field for Image Acquisition - A system generates a Radio Frequency (RF) magnetic field in an MR imaging unit using an RF transmitting coil for generating a Radio Frequency (RF) magnetic field and multiple RF receiver coils for receiving RF signals for Magnetic Resonance (MR) image data acquisition. An RF transmission coil generates an RF magnetic field. An RF receiver coil receives an RF signal for MR image data acquisition and couples a magnetic field from the RF receiver coil to the RF transmission coil for adaptively altering the RF magnetic field generated by the RF transmission coil to reduce inhomogeneity in the RF magnetic field generated by the RF transmission coil in response to applying an RF pulse to the RF transmission coil. An adjustment processor adjusts characteristics of the RF receiver coil to alter the RF magnetic field generated by the RF transmission coil. | 01-24-2013 |
20130021034 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE - A magnetic resonance device having a tunnel for accommodating a patient is disclosed. The magnetic resonance device has a lining which clads both the tunnel and the end faces adjacent to it. At least one OLED, LCD or LED display panel is movably disposed on or in the lining cladding the tunnel or the lining cladding the end face. The display panel disposed in the tunnel is disposed on a bracket which can travel linearly along the lining and/or along the circumference of the lining. The display panel disposed on the end-face lining can travel and/or be tilted vertically. | 01-24-2013 |
20130027039 | END FLANGE FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING - An end flange for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system and method for manufacturing an end flange are provided. One end flange is for a vacuum vessel of the MRI system. The vacuum vessel includes a housing configured to receive therein a magnet assembly and an end flange forming an end of the housing. The flange includes an outer surface, an inner surface, and a core coupled between the outer and inner surfaces, wherein the core has a greater stiffness than the outer surface and the inner surface. | 01-31-2013 |
20130033264 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND SCANNING-CONDITION SETTING METHOD - According to a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) apparatus, a scanning-parameter limit calculating unit creates examination information that represents scanning conditions for collection of magnetic resonance signal data based on scanning parameters set by an operator; a scanning-condition edit/scan positioning unit creates a time chart that indicates the type and a sequential execution order of an event to be executed when collecting magnetic resonance signal data based on the examination information created by the scanning-parameter limit calculating unit, and causes a time-chart display unit to display the created time chart. | 02-07-2013 |
20130038329 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM HAVING VARIABLE FREQUENCY TRANSMIT PULSES - A controller of a magnetic resonance system outputs a low frequency base signal to a conversion device. While outputting the base signal to the conversion device, the controller outputs an oscillator control signal to an oscillator. The oscillator outputs a frequency signal corresponding to the oscillator control signal to the conversion device. The conversion device converts the frequency signal into a high frequency transmit pulse with the aid of the base signal and outputs the transmit pulse to a magnetic resonance transmit antenna. The magnetic resonance transmit antenna applies a high frequency field corresponding to a transmit pulse to an examination volume of the magnetic resonance system. The controller varies the oscillator control signal output to the oscillator while outputting the base signal to the modulator. The transmit pulse) has a larger bandwidth than the base signal. | 02-14-2013 |
20130043870 | THERMOACOUSTIC RF BODY COIL LINER FOR REDUCED ACOUSTIC NOISE IN AN MR SYSTEM - A composite RF body coil liner for reducing acoustic noise in an MR System is disclosed. The composite RF body coil liner includes an inner surface layer, an outer surface layer, a fire retardant layer positioned between the inner surface layer and the outer surface layer, and an acoustic barrier positioned between the inner surface layer and the outer surface layer, with the acoustic barrier configured to increase the mechanical damping of the RF body coil so as to reduce RF body coil vibration. | 02-21-2013 |
20130063148 | Cryogenically Cooled Whole-Body RF Coil Array and MRI System Having Same - A whole body RF coil array module configured for cryogenic cooling for use in magnetic resonance imaging. The RF coil array may be a superconducting coil array, such as a high temperature superconducting (HTS) array. The RF coil array module provides sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio and large field of view such that the RF coil array may be used in an MRI whole body system for diagnostic imaging of all body parts without requiring using special-purpose RF coils for different body parts. | 03-14-2013 |
20130069651 | MRT Local Coil Apparatus for Diagnostics, Intervention and Therapy - An MRT local coil apparatus ( | 03-21-2013 |
20130093425 | RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) COIL ARRAY FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - A radio frequency (RF) coil array that includes an RF coil support structure, and a plurality of RF coils coupled to the RF coil support structure, the RF coil support structure configured to enable the plurality of RF coils to be positioned in an underlap configuration and repositioned to an overlap configuration. A medical imaging system and a method of manufacturing the RF coil array are also described herein. | 04-18-2013 |
20130113484 | APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY TESTING AND TUNING RADIO FREQUENCY COIL - In one embodiment, an apparatus for automatically testing and tuning a RF coil is provided. The apparatus comprises a digital frequency generator for generating a stimulus, the stimulus comprising a range of radio frequency signals having different frequencies, a radio frequency coupler configured for applying the stimulus to the RF coil so as to enable the RF coil to generate a reflected signal in response to the stimulus applied, a radio frequency detector for detecting the reflected signal and a signal processing unit for processing the reflected signal, so as to identify the tuned resonant frequency of the RF coil and further configured for calculating return loss at the RF coil based on the reflected signal. | 05-09-2013 |
20130127467 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a mode switching part and an imaging system. The mode switching part is configured to put a circuit system consuming a power into a shutdown state when a first trigger has been detected and put the circuit system being the shutdown state into a startup state when a second trigger has been detected. The first trigger shows that an imaging does not start for a certain period. The second trigger shows that the imaging starts. The imaging system is configured to perform the imaging by using the circuit system being the startup state. | 05-23-2013 |
20130134977 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance apparatus is provided. The magnetic resonance apparatus is configured to divide k space into a data acquisition region and a data non-acquisition region, and execute a scan including a sequence group in which an imaging sequence is executed a plurality of times, thereby acquiring data disposed in the data acquisition region, wherein data acquired by imaging sequences of the first to i-th times in the imaging sequences of the plurality of times is disposed in the data acquisition region so as to be arranged in a direction away from the data non-acquisition region from a position on a side of the data acquisition region that is adjacent to the data non-acquisition region, and wherein the magnetic resonance apparatus has scan means configured to execute the scan such that a flip angle of an RF pulse of the imaging sequences of the first to i-th times gradually increases. | 05-30-2013 |
20130141099 | VARIATION OF AN MRI SEQUENCE PARAMETER TO MINIMIZE THE VARIANCE OF A MEASURED VALUE - In a magnetic resonance system and a method and device for generating a control command sequence for operating the magnetic resonance system, a magnetic resonance data acquisition sequence is provided to a processor and is modified in the processor. The sequence operates the magnetic resonance system to acquire magnetic resonance data from a subject in multiple individual data acquisitions for subsequent automated evaluation of the individual data acquisitions with respect to an evaluation parameter. The individual evaluation results are combined into an overall evaluation result. The control command sequence is automatically modified in the processor by varying at least one sequence control parameter between different individual data acquisitions so that a variance of a measurement error in the overall evaluation result is minimized. | 06-06-2013 |
20130147484 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CHARACTERIZING AND OPTIMIZING AN RF COIL IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - An MRI apparatus includes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet, an RF coil assembly having at least a first port and a second port, an RF transceiver system having a pulse module and configured to transmit RF signals to the first port and the second port, and a computer programmed to drive the RF coil assembly in quadrature through the at least first port and the second port, measure a B | 06-13-2013 |
20130147485 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a superconductive coil unit, a cooling vessel and a plurality of refrigerators. The superconductive coil unit includes a superconductive coil, and a supporter configured to support the superconductive coil. The cooling vessel houses the superconductive coil unit and is free from liquid helium. The plurality of refrigerators are disposed on the superconductive coil unit and cool the superconductive coil unit. | 06-13-2013 |
20130154646 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes an acquiring unit, a detecting unit, a deriving unit, and an imaging controller. The acquiring unit acquires three-dimensional image data including a target organ. The detecting unit detects an upper end position and a lower end position of the target organ in the three-dimensional image data. The deriving unit derives an imaging range of subsequent imaging performed after acquisition of the three-dimensional image data based on the upper end position and the lower end position of the target organ. The imaging controller controls performance of the subsequent imaging in accordance with the imaging range. | 06-20-2013 |
20130154647 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An MRI apparatus provided with a support panel on which a subject is placed, the MRI apparatus including a noise cancelling unit movably installed at the support panel in a longitudinal direction of the support panel and configured to output a sound wave to cancel noise that reaches a target position, and a controller configured to control the noise cancelling unit to be moved to a target position and output the sound wave to cancel the noise. | 06-20-2013 |
20130162252 | MR HF COILS HAVING FLEXIBILITY THAT CAN BE MODULATED - The invention relates to a local coil arrangement ( | 06-27-2013 |
20130162253 | SELECTION UNIT FOR A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - A selection unit for a magnetic resonance imaging system may be provided. The selection unit electrically connects a first number of electrical terminals to a second number of communication entities. The selection unit is arranged in and/or on a mobile object-support element for moving an examination object which is to be depicted by the magnetic resonance imaging system into a recording position. | 06-27-2013 |
20130181714 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a controller and an image reconstruction unit. The controller executes a pulse sequence having spare time during the time after transient of a gradient magnetic field for dephasing, applied in a readout direction after a radio frequency (RF) pulse for excitation is applied, until the first RF pulse for refocusing is applied in the case where imaging based on a fast spin echo method is performed. The image reconstruction unit reconstructs an image from magnetic resonance data collected by executing the pulse sequence. | 07-18-2013 |
20130181715 | MRT Local Coil Position Detection in an MRT System - Magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) local coil positioning by RFID is enabled with a positioning device to detect a position of a first object relative to a position of an additional object that includes at least one RFID tag arranged on the first object and/or at least one RFID reader arranged on the additional object. | 07-18-2013 |
20130193971 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) USING SPIR AND/OR CHESS SUPPRESSION PULSES - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus includes an MRI imaging condition setting unit configured to set an imaging condition frequency-selectively applying a first suppression pulse for suppressing fat and further frequency-selectively applying a second suppression pulse to the fat after applying the first suppression pulse, a slip angle of the second suppression pulse differing from that of the first suppression angle, and the second suppression pulse further suppressing remaining fat after applying the first suppression pulse. The image data acquisition unit acquires image data according to the imaging condition. | 08-01-2013 |
20130193972 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of an embodiment has a setting unit configured to set a pulse sequence having a pre-pulse for fat suppression and a pulse train for data acquisition for acquiring echo data for image reconstruction, the pulse sequence being provided with a plurality of dummy pulses between the pre-pulse for fat suppression and the head of the pulse train for data acquisition, a data acquisition unit configured to apply an RF pulse and a gradient magnetic field pulse based on the pulse sequence set by the setting unit to a test object so as to acquire the echo data, and an image generation unit configured to reconstruct an image of the test object from the acquired echo data, wherein an application time during which the plural dummy pulses are applied or flip angles of the plural dummy pulses can be adjusted. | 08-01-2013 |
20130200894 | ADAPTIVE ENERGY TRANSFER TO A LOCAL COIL SYSTEM - A method for wireless transfer of energy to a local coil system for a magnetic resonance system is provided. The method includes determining an energy requirement value representing a minimum energy level to be fed to the local coil system, so that the local coil system may carry out a predetermined function over a predetermined time period. Energy is transferred adaptively to the local coil system depending on the energy requirement value. | 08-08-2013 |
20130200895 | OPTICAL HYPERPOLARISATION WITH LIGHT ENDOWED WITH ORBITAL ANGULAR MOMENTUM - A dispenser is provided for producing a nuclear hyperpolarised contrast agent. The dispenser comprises a chamber to receive a compound. A photonic hyperpolarisation system generates an OAM-photonic beam endowed with orbital angular momentum and is arranged to direct the OAM-photonic beam into the chamber so as to generate nuclear hyperpolarisation in the compound. The chamber has an output over which the hyperpolarised compound can be issued. Since the hyperpolarisation is generated ex-vivo, the penetration depth of the OAM-photonic beam in biological tissue is irrelevant for the present invention. | 08-08-2013 |
20130200896 | MEDICAL IMAGING DEVICE COMPRISING A HOUSING UNIT THAT HAS A CASING SHELL AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A CASING SHELL OF THE MEDICAL IMAGING DEVICE - A medical imaging device includes a detection unit and a housing unit that surrounds the detection unit and has at least one casing shell The at least one casing shell includes a netlike supporting structure unit and an elastic spring-mass unit. | 08-08-2013 |
20130200897 | METAMATERIAL LINERS FOR HIGH-FIELD-STRENGTH TRAVELING-WAVE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A liner for a bore of a waveguide is provided. The liner as an aperture passing through it and is formed of a metamaterial that has a relative electrical permittivity that is negative and near zero. When the liner is installed in the waveguide, it lowers the cutoff frequency of the waveguide while allowing the waveguide to remain hollow. This liner can be used in the bore of an MRI machine to lower the cutoff frequency of the bore of the MRI machine to allow the MRI machine to operate using waves having a lower frequency that if the liner was not used. | 08-08-2013 |
20130221966 | Magnetic Resonance Signal Detection Using Remotely Positioned Receive Coils - The receive coil arrangement includes an inner local volume coil adjacent the part to be imaged so as to maximize the received MR signal and an outer coil, which may be the built in body coil of the magnet, connected by cable to the signal processing system. Both the coils are individually tuned to the common resonant frequency and the local volume coil include an arrangement to halt current flow therein during the transmit stage. The local volume coil has no cable and is arranged to communicate the MR signal therein to the signal processing system through the outer coil by inductive coupling to the outer coil. Despite inherent losses by interfering with the tuning of the loops and in the inductive coupling this magnifies the MR signal and makes the local volume coil wireless. | 08-29-2013 |
20130229181 | Magnetic Resonance Facility Having a Cylindrical Patient Receiving Unit and Patient Capsule - A magnetic resonance facility having a cylindrical patient receiving unit includes a high-frequency shield. The high-frequency shield is disposed to enclose the patient receiving unit and shield at least one high-frequency coil from a gradient coil arrangement. The high-frequency shield is extendable to form a shielded chamber that shields the high-frequency coil from high-frequency signals outside the shielded chamber. | 09-05-2013 |
20130234709 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance apparatus is proposed. The magnetic resonance apparatus has a magnet unit, magnet housing and a housing unit surrounding the magnet unit. The housing unit includes at least one support structure unit and a cladding unit. The cladding unit has at least one first layer, which includes a sound absorption element, and at least one second layer, which includes a heavy mass layer. | 09-12-2013 |
20130234710 | PET-MRI APPARATUS - In a PET (Positron Emission Tomography)-MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus of an embodiment, a transmitting radio frequency coil applies a radio frequency magnetic field on a subject placed in a static magnetic field. A detector is formed in a ring shape, disposed on a side adjacent to an outer circumference of the transmitting radio frequency coil, includes at least two PET detectors disposed with a space therebetween in an axial direction of a bore so as to interpose the magnetic field center of the static magnetic field therebetween, and detects gamma rays emitted from positron emitting radionuclides injected into the subject. Radio frequency shields are each formed in an approximately cylindrical shape, disposed between the transmitting radio frequency coil and the detector, and shield the radio frequency magnetic field generated by the transmitting radio frequency coil. | 09-12-2013 |
20130241554 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a magnetic resonance data acquisition unit and a cerebrospinal fluid image data generation unit. The magnetic resonance data acquisition unit consecutively acquires a plurality of magnetic resonance data for generating a plurality of cerebrospinal fluid image data, each corresponding to a different data acquisition time, after a labeling pulse is applied. The cerebrospinal fluid image data generation unit generates the plurality of cerebrospinal fluid image data based on the plurality of magnetic resonance data. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241555 | PET-MRI APPARATUS - In a PET (Positron Emission Tomography)-MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) apparatus of an embodiment, a magnet that is a seamless structure generates a static magnetic field in a bore having a cylindrical shape. First detectors and second detectors are each formed in a ring shape and detect gamma rays emitted from positron emitting radionuclides injected into a subject. The first detectors and the second detectors are disposed with a space therebetween in an axial direction of the bore so as to interpose the magnetic field center of the static magnetic field therebetween. | 09-19-2013 |
20130249556 | MATERIAL FOR USE IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE INSTALLATION, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAID MATERIAL, AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE INSTALLATION - A material for a magnetic resonance installation is provided, wherein the material includes a support material and a magnetic doping material which is admixed in a specific proportion. The doping material exhibits an anisotropic susceptibility. In respect of the anisotropic susceptibility, the doping material exhibits a mean orientation along a predefined direction. An essentially homogeneous intermixture of the support material and the doping material is present within a volume of the material which is smaller than 1 mm | 09-26-2013 |
20130249557 | MATERIAL FOR USE IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM, METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE MATERIAL AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM - A material for use in a magnetic resonance system includes a carrier material and a doping material. The carrier material and the doping material are admixed in a specific proportion. A volume of the material smaller than 1 mm | 09-26-2013 |
20130271141 | MULTIPLE RESONANCE SAMPLE COIL FOR MAGIC ANGLE SPINNING NMR PROBE - A multiple resonance sample coil for a magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance probe is comprised of a solenoid coil that resonates at low frequencies and a resonator that resonates at high frequencies. The ends of the low frequency solenoid coil are electrically connected to the high frequency resonator to eliminate arcing and allow the solenoid coil to extend the full width of the resonator. In some embodiments, the high frequency resonator is constructed from the outermost turns of the solenoid coil in the form of a birdcage resonator. In another embodiment, the solenoid coil is electrically connected to one turn of the resonator and the other turn is used as part of a trap to shunt the resonator at low frequencies. | 10-17-2013 |
20130278264 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DAMPING COMMON-MODE ENERGY - Systems and methods for damping cable common-mode energy in magnetic environments are provided. One system includes a damping arrangement having a transmission line within an electric (E) field environment and an energy damping device formed having a conductive plastic body and positioned adjacent a conductor of the transmission line. The energy damping device is configured to dampen common-mode energy induced within the transmission line by the E field environment. | 10-24-2013 |
20130278265 | LOW-FIELD NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE AND LOW-FIELD NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE METHOD - Provided are a low-field nuclear magnetic resonance device and a low-field nuclear magnetic resonance method. The low-field nuclear magnetic resonance device includes a dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) amplification unit to amplify the nuclear polarization of hydrogen atoms of water using a DNP-possible substance (DNP substance) to provide the amplified nuclear polarization to a measurement target, a sensor unit to measure a magnetic resonance signal of the measurement target using a SQUID sensor or an optically-pumped atomic magnetometer, and a measurement field coil to apply a measurement field to the measurement target. The DNP amplification unit is separated from the measurement target, the sensor unit, and the measurement field coil. | 10-24-2013 |
20130285662 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: an arranging unit that arranges magnetic resonance signals acquired by implementing parallel imaging and correspond to a plurality of channels into a first region on a k-space so as to be positioned at first interval to generate first k-space data and into a second region larger than the first region so as to be positioned at second interval larger than the first interval to generate second k-space data; a generating unit that generates third k-space data at the first interval corresponding to each of the plurality of channels, based on the second k-space data; and a reconstructing unit that reconstructs a magnetic resonance image, based on the first k-space data, the third k-space data, and sensitivity distributions corresponding to the plurality of channels. | 10-31-2013 |
20130285663 | CRYOGENIC REFRIGERATOR AND COOLING METHOD - A cryogenic refrigerator includes a refrigerator having a cylinder and a displacer movably arranged in the cylinder. The displacer is operative to provide intake of an operating gas into the cylinder and exhaust of the gas out of the cylinder. The refrigerator includes a compressor for compressing the operating gas. The compressor includes a low-pressure side to receive the gas exhausted from the cylinder and a high-pressure side to discharge the gas compressed in the compressor into the cylinder. The refrigerator includes a medium-pressure buffer volume connected to a high-pressure side or a low-pressure side of the compressor. The compressor adjusts a pressure of the buffer volume. The buffer volume is also connected to the cylinder. | 10-31-2013 |
20130293232 | STRUCTURED RF COIL ASSEMBLY FOR MRI SCANNER - An imaging apparatus that incorporates an RF coil assembly and RF shield as part of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is disclosed. The imaging apparatus includes an MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils, an RF coil former having inner and outer surfaces, an RF shield positioned on the outer surface of the RF coil former so as to be formed about the RF coil former, and an RF coil positioned on the inner surface of the RF coil former, with the RF coil coupled to a pulse generator to emit an RF pulse sequence and receive resulting MR signals from a subject of interest. The RF coil former comprises a generally cylindrical member having an indented portion indented in a radial direction inwardly from the outer surface, with the RF shield conforming to the RF coil former so as to also have an indented portion. | 11-07-2013 |
20130307540 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COIL ARRANGEMENTS IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Systems and methods for coil arrangements in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are provided. One coil arrangement includes a magnet bore, a radio-frequency (RF) transmit coil coupled to the magnet bore, and at least one RF receive coil coupled to the magnet bore. The RF receive coil is movable within the magnet bore. | 11-21-2013 |
20130307541 | Automatic Positioning and Adaptation in an Adjustment for a Shim Field Map - A method for shimming a magnetic field in a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) device includes determining a field of view region for an object under examination. Determining the field of view region includes adapting the field of view region automatically to a region of the object under examination to be examined by the MRT device. Before the MRT device records an image, an adjustment measurement of the magnetic field is performed. A field map of the magnetic field of the field of view region is defined based on the adjustment measurement. A shimming of the magnetic field is implemented based on the field map. | 11-21-2013 |
20130307542 | HIGH-THROUGHPUT AND MOTION INSENSITIVE MRI ACCELERATED WITH MULTI-ECHO ECHO PLANAR ACQUISITION AND RELATED SYSTEMS - Methods, systems, computer programs, circuits and workstations are configured to generate MRI images using an Echo-Planar Double-Echo Steady State (EP-DESS) pulse sequence and/or a Repeated Imaging with Echo-planar Navigation and Acceleration (RIENA) pulse sequence and image processing protocol to generate clinical MRI images. | 11-21-2013 |
20130320981 | ADAPTABLE SHEET OF COILS - An imaging system is presented. The imaging system includes a cradle, and a first sheet of coils disposed inside of the cradle such that a first end of the first sheet of coils protrudes out of the cradle and a second end of the first sheet of coils is coupled to a structure, wherein a requisite expanse of the first sheet of coils is flexibly pulled out from the cradle by pulling the first end. | 12-05-2013 |
20130320982 | ADAPTABLE SHEET OF COILS - An imaging system is presented. The imaging system includes a storage structure that stores a first sheet of coils inside a cradle, wherein the storage structure includes a plurality of first set of rotatable bodies and a plurality of second set of rotatable bodies, and a plurality of springs that are coupled to one or more of the plurality of second set of rotatable bodies, wherein the first sheet of coils is disposed around the plurality of first set of rotatable bodies, the plurality of second set of rotatable bodies and the plurality of springs, and wherein a first end of the first sheet of coils protrudes out of the cradle. | 12-05-2013 |
20130328563 | HIGH RESOLUTION HIGH CONTRAST MRI FOR FLOWING MEDIA - An MRI device for providing high-contrast, high-resolution images of a fluid. The device includes: an envelope for at least partially confining the fluid; a plurality of magnets located at least partially around the envelope; and a CPU to process the images, including a computer readable medium containing instructions for generating at least one third image superimposing at least one image of the first images with at least one image of the second images, whereby a high-contrast, high-resolution real-time continuous images of the fluid is obtained. | 12-12-2013 |
20130335084 | Cooling System for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Device Having Reduced Noise and Vibration - A conduit for the transfer of a cooling medium is provided that may include a tube that has a length and a through aperture that extends through the entire length. The tube may have an inner surface that defines a helical channel that may be continuous along a length of the tube such that the helical channel is continuous along a plurality of turns of the helical channel along the inner surface. The conduit may be incorporated into a cooling system of a magnetic resonance imaging device. | 12-19-2013 |
20130335085 | VIBRATION TYPE DRIVE DEVICE, MEDICAL APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL SYSTEM - One aspect of the invention relates to a vibration type drive device including: a mechanical energy application element; a resilient member provided with the mechanical energy application element; a driven member subjected to a relative displacement with respect to the resilient member due to a vibration excited by the resilient member, wherein the resilient member includes a conductive material, and does not constitute an electric closed loop. | 12-19-2013 |
20140002083 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREPARING A SENSITIVITY MAP | 01-02-2014 |
20140028316 | RETRACTABLE CURRENT LEAD - A current lead assembly for minimizing heat load to a conduction cooled superconducting magnet during a ramp operation is provided. The current lead assembly includes a vacuum chamber having a through hole to enable a retractable current lead having a retractable contact to penetrate within the vacuum chamber. A superconducting magnet is arranged inside of the vacuum chamber and includes a magnet lead. A current contact is arranged inside of the vacuum chamber beneath the through-hole and is coupled to the magnet lead via a thermal connector. The current contact is supported by a thermal isolation support structure coupled to an inside wall of the vacuum chamber. An actuator assembly is provided to contact the retractable contact with the current contact, where connection occurs at ambient temperature inside of the thermal isolation support structure. | 01-30-2014 |
20140035583 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetization vector is detected for each pixel position in an imaging region including at least part of a subject, the magnetization vector being excited to have a phase difference between a flow portion and a static portion or between a normal portion and an abnormal portion. A pixel value at each pixel position is determined as a value proportional to an absolute value of the amplitude of the magnetization vector detected for each of the pixel positions. On the basis of a real part or phase of the magnetization vector detected for each of the pixel positions, the determined pixel value is corrected so that the difference of the pixel value increases between (a) the flow portion or the abnormal portion and (b) the static portion or the normal portion. | 02-06-2014 |
20140091799 | TRAPPING MAGNETIZABLE PARTICULATES - Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus for measuring properties of a fluid stream flowing within a pipeline has one or more magnet systems for applying magnetic field to the fluid stream and also has means for inducing and observing magnetic resonance within the fluid stream as it passes through a said magnetic field. The apparatus may also include a polarizing magnetic field upstream of the magnetic field in which resonance is observed. The fluid stream may be hydrocarbon from an underground reservoir. In order to guard against accumulation of magnetisable iron debris particles entrained in the fluid flow, the apparatus comprises one or more upstream traps having a magnetic field to attract and hold solid magnetizable material and an exit path for the removal of the solid magnetizable material so that it does not continue towards any polarizing field and the field where resonance is observed. | 04-03-2014 |
20140103930 | VENTILATION DEVICE FOR MAGNETIC REASONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM AND MAGNETIC REASONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM - A ventilation device for an MRI system and an MRI system are presented. The ventilation device has a fan and an adjustment component. The fan is used to generate a flow of air past an examination subject in the MRI system, and the adjustment component is used to adjust an operating parameter of the fan according to a heat signal indicating variation of heat in the examination subject. The ventilation device and MRI system enhance the user's experience of the MRI system, increase the examination subject's ability to undergo examinations of high SAR and long duration, and reduce medical risks associa. | 04-17-2014 |
20140111205 | Method and Device for Holding and Adjusting Permanent Magnets Included in an NMR System - The device for holding and adjusting individual permanent magnets included in a spectroscopy or a magnetic resonant imaging system comprises, for each individual permanent magnet: a first rigid fork of non-magnetic material that laterally clamps in fixed manner the individual permanent magnet; and a second rigid fork of non-magnetic material that engages the first fork via a slideway system and that is provided with means for radially adjusting the first fork relative to a stationary support to which the second fork is attached. The device enables fine adjustment to be made after assembling a magnetized structure that is constituted by rings of individual magnets. | 04-24-2014 |
20140125338 | Anisotropic Diffusion Phantom For Calibration Of Diffusion Tensor Imaging Pulse Sequences Used In MRI - The subject matter of the invention concerns the anisotropic diffusion phantom for the calibration of any diffusion MR-DTI imaging sequence and a method for the calibration of all the MRI scanners by using anisotropic diffusion models based on the “b” matrix, which is a quantity specific for every magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequence and the MRI scanner used. It has application in the study of solids, amorphous materials, liquids and biological tissues. The anisotropic diffusion phantom for the calibration of any MR imaging sequence is any anisotropic diffusion model of any shape for the hydrogen H | 05-08-2014 |
20140132267 | MR ACTIVE TRACKING SYSTEM - An active tracking system that overcomes the heating problems of conventional transmission line and signal line conductors is provided. The active tracking system includes at least one active tracking coil; at least one integrated circuit proximate the active tracking coil; a tracking receiver; a first MR safe means configured for transmitting a received signal to the tracking receiver; and a second MR safe means configured for communicating one or more signals from the tracking receiver to the integrated circuit at coil. The integrated circuit may also include frequency estimations, analog to digital conversion at the tracking coil location to reduce the amount of processing required in the tracking receiver thereby decreasing the potential for signals passing from the tracking coil location to the tracking receiver to interfere with MR imaging signals. | 05-15-2014 |
20140139217 | INDUCTIVE SENSOR FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, COMPRISING ELECTRIC OSCILLATORS DESIGNED TO FORM AN AC VOLTAGE AT THE TERMINALS OF A FIELD COIL BY MEANS OF ELECTRIC RESONANCE - An inductive sensor ( | 05-22-2014 |
20140139218 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM WITH A MULTI-CHANNEL IMPEDANCE MATCHING NETWORK - The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system includes a radio-frequency transmitter with multiple transmit channels. The MRI system includes an impedance matching network ( | 05-22-2014 |
20140139219 | Gradient Coil Sub-Assemblies - An MRIS gradient coil sub-assembly comprising a first coil layer comprising a first conducting coil portion, a second coil layer comprising a second conductive coil portion electrically connected with the first conductive coil portion so that the first and second conductive coil portions act together as one coil, and a B-stage material consolidation layer sandwiched between the first and second coil layers. | 05-22-2014 |
20140152310 | GANTRY FOR MOBILIZING AN MRI DEVICE - A system useful for mobilizing a magnetic resonance device (MRD) in a room. The system includes: in a room having at least one first location and at least one second remote location, comprising a structural surface, a gantry at least temporarily interconnected to the surface by a transporting mechanism; and an MRD, at least temporarily interconnected to the gantry by at least one joint. At the first and second locations, the MRD is spatially oriented in two or more different orientations. The gantry is adapted to reciprocate the MRD from the at least one first location to the at least one second remote location. | 06-05-2014 |
20140176136 | CRYOGEN-FREE COOLING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRON PARAMAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROMETER - In an electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer, a closed cycle cryocooler is used to cool gaseous helium, which is then circulated around a sample to cool the sample by direct convection. Since the sample is not mechanically connected to the refrigerator, no vibrations are transmitted from the refrigerator to the sample and the sample can be quickly removed and replaced. The cooled helium can be passed through a Joule-Thomson expansion device before circulating the cooled helium around the sample to further cool the helium. In addition, a vacuum pump can be connected to the helium outlet after circulating the cooled helium around the sample to increase the pressure differential across the Joule-Thomson expansion device and further cool the helium. In order to raise the temperature of the cooled helium, a heater can be placed about the cooled helium line upstream from the sample. | 06-26-2014 |
20140184222 | MATRIX SHIM COIL APPARATUS - A matrix shim coil apparatus includes a plurality of coils configured to provide high order shimming. Each coil has a figure eight shape and a first loop and a second loop. In another embodiment, each coil is further folded along an axis of the coil creating a folded coil with an upper portion and a lower portion. | 07-03-2014 |
20140184223 | NMR ANALYZERS FOR CLINICAL EVALUATION OF BIOSAMPLES - The clinical analyzers automatically electronically monitor selected parameters and automatically electronically adjust parameters to maintain the analyzer within desired operational ranges. The clinical NMR analyzers can be configured as a networked system with a plurality of clinical NMR analyzers located at different use sites. | 07-03-2014 |
20140184224 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE METHOD FOR ANALYZING PORE SIZE DISTRIBUTION - A method of magnetic resonance analysis of a porous structure is disclosed. The method comprises: obtaining a recorded magnetic resonance signal as a function of both a magnetic resonance wavevector and a magnetic resonance angle, in response to a series of magnetic resonance experiments, each featuring a plurality of pairs of bipolar gradient pulse subsequences being characterized by a respective magnetic resonance wavevector and a respective magnetic resonance angle, where the respective magnetic resonance angle is an angle between gradient directions of the bipolar gradient pulse subsequences. The method further comprises performing an at least three-dimensional analysis of the magnetic resonance signal, so as to extract a pore size distribution from the structure; and issuing a report regarding the analysis. | 07-03-2014 |
20140191755 | METHOD AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED ANALYSIS OF THE RAW DATA OF A SPECTRUM - In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for automating the analysis of MR raw data representing a spectrum, at least one post-processing procedure is applied to the raw data, so as to obtain a processed spectrum. The number of numerical values depicted by the processed spectrum is lowered to a feature vector. The feature vector is allocated to one of numerous groups of known feature vectors. | 07-10-2014 |
20140191756 | MEDICAL IMAGE IMAGING DEVICE - A technique in a medical imaging apparatus being capable of setting any plane in three-dimensional space as an imaging slice is provided, allowing an automatically-set imaging slice to be configured to suit user's preferences, and determine a position of the imaging slice being configured, with respect to an imaging target subject automatically with a high degree of accuracy. Reference information for specifying the imaging slice, set by the user for each imaging site, is associated with the anatomical feature of the imaging site, so as to generate an imaging slice parameter. Upon actual imaging, the imaging slice parameter and the anatomical feature of the imaging target subject obtained by scout imaging are used to determine the imaging slice position of the imaging target subject. | 07-10-2014 |
20140197836 | DETERMINATION OF SPECIFIC ABSORPTION RATE (SAR) IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes static and gradient magnetic field generators, at least one radio frequency (RF) coil, at least one RF transmitter and at least one RF receiver. At least one power consumption monitor is coupled to locally measure power consumed by the RF coil. The MRI control system has at least one computer configured to determine a specific absorption rate (SAR) for a patient coupled to the RF coil based on at least: (a) RF power transmitted to said RF coil while the RF coil is inductively coupled to the patient, and (b) an electrical signal output from the at least one power consumption monitor while the RF coil is inductively coupled to the patient. | 07-17-2014 |
20140197837 | Application of a Multichannel Coil for Hand Imaging - A method and a local coil for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system are provided. The local coil includes a hand coil having a plurality of rings, each made of a plurality of coil elements. | 07-17-2014 |
20140203808 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELIMINATING NOISE IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES - A method and an apparatus for eliminating noise in magnetic resonance images are disclosed. An aspect of the invention provides a method for eliminating noise in a magnetic resonance image that includes: obtaining a multiple number of magnetic resonance images sequentially within a preset time range for the same part; calculating probability information, which relates to the probability of a first pixel and a second pixel of the multiple magnetic resonance images belonging to the same tissue, by using decay information, which relates to a decay in signal intensity values for the first pixel and the second pixel according to time; and determining a new signal intensity value for the first pixel and the second pixel based on a weighted average of signal intensity values of the first pixel and the second pixel according to the probability information. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203809 | COOLING DEVICE FOR SUB-MRI UNITS AND MRI APPARATUS - A cooling device for sub-MRI units of an embodiment includes a tank in which cooling water for cooling a heat generating unit that an MRI apparatus has is stored, a pump which circulates the cooling water stored in the tank through a circulation path starting from the tank and traveling around the heat generating unit, a heat exchanger which cools the cooling water, and a controller which decides that a water leakage has occurred on the circulation path when a decreasing rate of the cooling water in the tank is greater than a given reference value. | 07-24-2014 |
20140210474 | LINEAR TRANSFORM FOR DIFFUSION MRI - Samples of a Fourier transform of a signal may be received that are distributed in a generally spherically-shaped pattern on a surface of at least one sphere. The samples may be assembled to form a profile function having a domain that is a surface of at least one sphere. Information indicative of at least one property of the signal may be determined by applying a spherical linear transform to the profile function. The spherical linear transform may use more than just an equator of the profile function for each of multiple orientations. | 07-31-2014 |
20140232404 | METHOD OF PRODUCING A COMPACT CONTROL MODULE FOR A HIGH FREQUENCY ANTENNA FOR A NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE - A method of making a compact control module of a high frequency antenna for a magnetic resonance imaging device including M control elements and N radiating elements, N greater than M, the control module represented by a control matrix {tilde over (P)}, approximately equal to a control matrix P to control the radiating elements, the method including: decomposing the control matrix {tilde over (P)} into a product of two matrices H×L; the matrix L with dimensions M×M capable of transforming M signals V | 08-21-2014 |
20140232405 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of an embodiment includes: an imaging condition setting section configured to set an imaging condition for a main scan, a preparatory scan performing section configured to repeat a preparatory scan to be performed by the use of the imaging condition for a main scan and a changeably inputted center frequency so as to generate a preparatory image in real time, a display section on which the preparatory image can be displayed in real time, an optimum center frequency setting section configured to change the center frequency so as to change a situation in which a banding artifact appears and configured to set an optimum center frequency according to a user operation based on an observation of the preparatory image, and a main scan performing section configured to reconstruct an image for a diagnosis by using the optimum center frequency having been set. | 08-21-2014 |
20140253123 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREPARING A SENSITIVITY MAP - A magnetic resonance apparatus configured to select a coil mode that includes a combination of coil elements to be used when a subject is scanned from within a plurality of coil elements and configured to execute a predetermined scan for acquiring data on the subject using the selected coil mode is provided. The magnetic resonance apparatus includes a coil device having n coil modes, a selecting unit configured to select, from within the n coil modes, a candidate for the selected coil mode, a scanning unit configured to execute a first scan for acquiring the data on the subject using the candidate, and a sensitivity map preparing unit configured to prepare a sensitivity map of the candidate based on data obtained by the first scan. | 09-11-2014 |
20140266203 | MRI SAFETY DEVICE MEANS AND METHODS THEREOF - A magnetic shielding mechanism for preventing penetration of metallic objects through an aperture, towards the open bore of an magnetic resonance imaging device, where the magnetic field is maximized. The magnetic resonance imaging device produces a fringing magnetic field that decreases with increasing distance (L) from the aperture. The mechanism includes at least one magnet with a magnetic field. The mechanism is affixed at a distance from the aperture of magnetic resonance imaging device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266204 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MEDICAL IMAGE DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the present embodiments comprises a gantry device, a front light source and an exterior casing of the gantry device. The gantry device has a bore serving as a space where a magnetic resonance image is captured, with the gantry device being configured to acquire, when a subject placed on a couchtop has been moved into the bore by a couch device configured to move the couchtop, a magnetic resonance signal from the subject. The front light source is provided in surroundings of a front opening, with the front opening being an opening of the bore positioned at front of the couch device. The exterior casing of the gantry device, with a portion of the exterior casing being illuminated by light emitted from the front light source, is made of a transparent or translucent material. | 09-18-2014 |
20140285199 | SIGNAL ANALYZER FOR NUCLEAR MAGNETIC FLOWMETERS - A signal analyzer for nuclear magnetic flowmeters is provided. The signal analyzer can be placed in a power signal path between a signal generator that generates an electric excitation signal and an electrical load. The signal analyzer includes a power signal line in the power signal path for the transmission of electrical signals. The signal analyzer also includes a decoupling circuit for decoupling a first signal characterizing the excitation signal occurring in the load and for decoupling of a second signal characterizing the part of the excitation signal reflected at the load. The signal analyzer further includes a first attenuator and a second attenuator. Additionally, the signal analyzer includes a detector for determining the ratio of the magnitude of the first signal to the magnitude of the second signal and for determining the phase difference between the first signal and the second signal. | 09-25-2014 |
20140285200 | AUTO RECOVERING PROTECTION OF ELECTROMECHANICAL COMPONENTS IN A HIGH MAGNETIC FIELD - An apparatus ( | 09-25-2014 |
20140300360 | Multi-channel Coil Array for Parallel Magnetic Resonance Imaging - This disclosure provides a coil array for parallel magnetic resonance imaging data acquisition, comprising: a plurality of coil elements, wherein each of the coil elements is formed by a loop of wire, wherein the plurality of coil elements are arranged such that the coil elements are covering the imaged sample and uniformly distributed over a plane comprising the encoding directions not in parallel with the frequency encoding directions, which are the directions of the static magnetic field variation generated by a plurality of gradient coils of a magnetic resonance imaging system during magnetic resonance data sampling. | 10-09-2014 |
20140312900 | Spinning Controller for NMR Sample Tube - A spinning controller has an arithmetic unit ( | 10-23-2014 |
20140327441 | MEASURING FACILITY FOR MEASURING A MAGNETIC FIELD IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE, USE OF A MEASURING FACILITY AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE - A measuring facility for measuring a magnetic field in a magnetic resonance device, having:
| 11-06-2014 |
20140347053 | Split Magnetic Resonance Imaging System - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes a split magnet system having a pair of MRI magnet housings separated by gap. A pair of main MRI magnets are disposed within respective MRI magnet housings. A plurality of buttress assemblies are attached to the MRI magnet housings. Some or all of the buttress assemblies are provided with removable connections to the MRI magnet housings. This allows for partial disassembly of the MRI system for improved transport and maneuverability for relocating the MRI system. The MRI system can include a gantry in the gap for supporting a radiation therapy system. Also, the removably buttress assemblies can be used for housing conduits, such as electrical and fluid conduits, between the pair of MRI magnet housings. | 11-27-2014 |
20140354279 | Faraday Cage For MR Imaging With Accessory Equipment - A Faraday cage assembly for use with a Magnetic Resonance (MR) Imaging scanner is deployed inside the MR scanner room. The Faraday cage assembly is configured to accept accessory medical equipment which is desired to be attached to the patient during scanning. Accessory medical equipment can include patient monitoring systems, injector pumps, and intravenous (IV) poles with infusion pumps. Once the accessory medical equipment is placed inside the Faraday cage, radiofrequency (RF) interference emitted by the accessory medical equipment is contained within the cage and cannot significantly degrade MR image quality. The cage may permit non-MR compatible accessory equipment such as infusion pumps to be used without modification or reconfiguration during MR scanning. | 12-04-2014 |
20140354280 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING NAVIGATOR SIGNALS - A magnetic resonance apparatus which acquires navigator signals generated from a navigator region including a first portion and a second portion, the navigator signals acquired using a coil having a plurality of channels, is provided. The magnetic resonance apparatus includes a scan unit configured to execute a first navigator sequence for acquiring first navigator signals generated from the navigator region, a profile generating unit configured to generate first profiles each including position information on the first portion for every channel, a determining unit configured to determine correlations between the first profiles and a template, and a selecting unit configured to select each channel used to acquire the position information on the first portion based on the correlations. | 12-04-2014 |
20140354281 | GRADIENT AMPLIFIER WITH COMPENSATION FOR DEAD TIME AND FORWARD VOLTAGE - The present invention relates to a method for compensating non-linearities of a gradient amplifier ( | 12-04-2014 |
20150008924 | NANOPARTICLE RF SHIELD FOR USE IN AN MRI DEVICE - A radio frequency (RF) shield for use in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, the RF shield comprising a carrier ( | 01-08-2015 |
20150008925 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - There is provided a technique for obtaining temperature information for inside of a living body and accuracy information thereof in short time with low burden imposed on a subject. It is realized with a spectrum calculator configured to perform MRS or MRSI measurement for two kinds of substances showing difference of resonant frequencies and calculating spectra of magnetic resonance signals of the two kinds of substances, a temperature information calculator configured to calculate temperature information for inside of the subject on the basis of peaks of the calculated spectra, a temperature accuracy information calculator configured to calculate temperature accuracy information indicating accuracy of the temperature information on the basis of peaks of the calculated spectra, and a display information generator configured to generate display information to be displayed on a display device on the basis of the temperature information and the temperature accuracy information. | 01-08-2015 |
20150015260 | COOLING SYSTEM AND SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNET APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE SAME - A cooling system and a superconducting magnet apparatus employing the same. The cooling system includes: a thermal shield unit for thermally shielding a superconducting coil; a recondensing unit for recondensing an extremely low temperature refrigerant that cools down the superconducting coil. A cryocooler includes a body and an end portion extending from the body and inserted into the recondensing unit in order to directly contact the extremely low temperature refrigerant. A refrigerator chamber penetrates through the thermal shield unit and to which the cryocooler is attachably and detachably provided. A sealing member is disposed between the cryocooler and the refrigerator chamber to seal the recondensing unit. | 01-15-2015 |
20150022209 | Method and Apparatus for Resonator Signal Production and Measurement - Techniques provide for passive Q switching in a bimodal resonator environment, where magnetic resonators are coupled for power transfer. A passive Q switch is responsive to a driving power from one magnetic resonator coupled to another magnetic resonator. After the driving power reaches a threshold, the passive Q switch shunts the receiving magnetic resonator, at least partially, to reduce the Q of that second resonator, which allows faster detection operation of the second resonator in some applications. The technique allows for fast Q switching in a bimodal resonator system, especially one having resonators having magnetic fields that are orthogonal to one another. | 01-22-2015 |
20150022210 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - The present invention provides a technique for obtaining a high-quality image at high speed in DKI analysis. In the DKI analysis, upon estimating a parameter relating to diffusion in an application direction of an MPG pulse, a least square fitting is separated from a constraint processing, and only a value of the pixel that does not meet the constraint condition in the least square fitting is targeted for the correction. Then, with regard to this pixel, a diffusion-related parameter is re-estimated using the pixel value after the correction, and a parameter image is generated by using the diffusion-related parameter thus obtained. | 01-22-2015 |
20150028871 | MAGNETIC FIELD PROBE SEALED WITH A METALLIC PLUG - The invention provides for a magnetic field probe ( | 01-29-2015 |
20150028872 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to one embodiment includes an arranger, a sensitivity deriver, and an image generator. The arranger arranges time-series data at a part of sampling points out of sampling points of a k-space determined based on an imaging parameter. The sensitivity deriver derives a sensitivity distribution in a time-space, in which the time-series data transformed in a time direction is expressed with a coefficient value, based on the time-series data. The image generator generates an image of the time-series data using the time-series data and the sensitivity distribution. | 01-29-2015 |
20150035533 | ACTIVE POSITION MARKER SYSTEM FOR USE IN AN MRI APPARATUS - An active position marker system comprising at least one active position marker ( | 02-05-2015 |
20150035534 | Temperature Monitoring of Local Coils - A device for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes a warning signal apparatus configured to emit a warning signal when a limit value is exceeded by a current induced in the device by radiofrequency signals of a magnetic resonance imaging system. | 02-05-2015 |
20150042337 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE TRANSMITTER - A transmitter for a magnetic resonance (MR) system, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) system, is described herein. The transmitter includes a coil for applying NMR pulse sequences to a substance. The coil includes a first coil section and a second coil section. The first coil section and second coil section pass current in opposite polarity. The transmitter may also include a transmitter circuit for generating the NMR pulse sequences and providing the NMR pulse sequences to the coil. The transmitter circuit includes a first switch that selectively powers the first coil section and a second switch that selectively powers the second coil section. Operation of the first switch and the second switch generates the NMR pulse sequences. | 02-12-2015 |
20150042338 | SIGNAL INPUT APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A signal input user interface apparatus comprises an input device including, a plurality of buttons, a light waveguide, and a plurality of light transmission members. The plurality of light transmission members being respectively coupled to the plurality of buttons insertable in the light waveguide to change characteristics of light passing through the light waveguide and in response to activation of an individual button a corresponding respective transmission member is inserted inside the waveguide. A receiver device including a light source is configured to emit light into the light waveguide. A sensor is configured to measure characteristics of light passing through the waveguide including passing through inserted transmission members. | 02-12-2015 |
20150042339 | THERMOSTABILIZATION OF ANTENNA ARRAY FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE TOMOGRAPHY - A device for thermal stabilization of a first electrical characteristic of an antenna array of a magnetic resonance tomograph includes a heat exchanger configured for thermal coupling of a component of the device to a heat source. The device also includes a temperature-dependent second electrical characteristic. In a predefined connection to the antenna array, the temperature-dependent second electrical characteristic is configured to compensate for an effect of a temperature-dependent change on the first electrical characteristic of the antenna array in a predetermined temperature range. | 02-12-2015 |
20150048827 | GRADIENT COIL SUPPORTING IMPLEMENT AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - In one embodiment, a gradient coil supporting implement includes three bearings and a mounting main body. At least one of the three bearings is a spherical bearing. Shafts of these bearings are fixed to a static magnetic field magnet of an MRI apparatus. One end side of the mounting main body is fixed to an outer periphery side of an end face of the static magnetic field magnet, at one position via one of the bearings. The other end side of the mounting main body is fixed to an inner periphery side of the end face of the static magnetic field magnet, at two positions via the other two bearings. The mounting main body supports the gradient magnetic field coil unit (installed inside the static magnetic field magnet) in the horizontal direction by being partially made in contact with the gradient magnetic field coil unit. | 02-19-2015 |
20150048828 | FRACTAL RF COILS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Methods and devices which can use fractal radiofrequency coils to improve the use of magnetic resonant imaging over, for example, standard circular coils. The fractal coils can be Koch loops, and can reduce or eliminate mutual inductance between pairs of coils. Further, embodiments of the fractal radiofrequency coils can be used with higher T magnetic resonance imaging. | 02-19-2015 |
20150054508 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a sequence controller and a storage unit. The sequence controller acquires magnetic resonance signals of a target imaging part including cerebrospinal fluid flowing therein of a subject in a condition where a supply of oxygen is receivable, at a plurality of time phases in an oxygen inhalation process of the subject. The storage unit stores therein the magnetic resonance signals acquired at the time phases. | 02-26-2015 |
20150061674 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM INCLUDING RADIO FREQUENCY COIL - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprises, a main magnet, a gradient coil and an RF coil. The main magnet generates a static magnetic field, the gradient coil which is formed inside the main magnet and generates a gradient magnetic field and the RF coil. The RF coil is formed inside the gradient coil and comprises a plurality of different components including: a former supporting the plurality of different components including windings and having a first area and a second area and a groove formed in the second area and in which a component of the RF coil is installed and inset, reducing thickness of the RF coil. | 03-05-2015 |
20150061675 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes an execution unit and a generation unit. The execution unit executes first data collection of collecting a data after a predetermined inversion time elapses from a timing in which a labeling pulse is applied to a fluid flowing into an imaging region of a subject and a second data collection of collecting a data without the application of the labeling pulse. The generation unit generates a differential image by using the first data collected by the first data collection and the second data collected by the second data collection. Here, the generation unit generates the differential image by a different differential method according to a relation between the inversion time and a longitudinal relaxation time of the fluid. | 03-05-2015 |
20150061676 | Combined Shim and RF Coil Arrangement - A coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance tomography device includes at least two antennas connected in parallel to one another for RF signals and connected in series with one another for direct current signals. | 03-05-2015 |
20150061677 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes: a magnetostatic field magnet that is formed in the shape of a cylinder and generates a magnetostatic field in a space inside the cylinder; a gradient coil that is formed in the shape of a cylinder, is disposed in the cylinder of the magnetostatic field magnet, and applies a gradient magnetic field to the magnetostatic field; a bore tube that is formed in the shape of a cylinder and is disposed in the cylinder of the gradient coil; and an elastic member that is loop-shaped and hollow, is disposed in at least one selected from: a space between an inner circumferential side of the magnetostatic field magnet and an outer circumferential side of the gradient coil; and a space between an inner circumferential side of the gradient coil and an outer circumferential side of the bore tube, and thereby seals the space hermetically. | 03-05-2015 |
20150070017 | Apparatus Having a Fixing Device - An apparatus includes at least one first component, at least one second component and a fixing device that, in order to secure the at least one second component to the at least one first component, is arranged between the at least one first component and the at least one second component. The fixing device includes an adjusting unit. The adjusting unit includes at least one adjusting element for setting a fixing force. | 03-12-2015 |
20150077112 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND COMPUTER-ACCESSIBLE MEDIUM FOR HIGHLY-ACCELERATED DYNAMIC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING USING GOLDEN-ANGLE RADIAL SAMPLING AND COMPRESSED SENSING - Exemplary method, system and computer-accessible medium can be provided which facilitates an acquisition of radial data, which can be continuous, with an exemplary golden-angle procedure and reconstruction with arbitrary temporal resolution at arbitrary time points. According to such exemplary embodiment, such procedure can be performed with a combination of compressed sensing and parallel imaging to offer a significant improvement, for example in the reconstruction of highly undersampled data. It is also possible to provide an exemplary procedure for highly-accelerated dynamic magnetic resonance imaging using Golden-Angle radial sampling and multicoil compressed sensing reconstruction, called Golden-angle Radial Sparse Parallel MRI (GRASP). | 03-19-2015 |
20150077113 | Determining a Position and/or a Motion of a Patient During a Medical Imaging Examination - A medical imaging apparatus includes a detector unit, a patient-receiving area at least partially surrounded by the detector unit, and a motion capture unit. The motion capture unit includes at least one first motion capture sensor for capturing patient monitoring data relating to a motion of the patient, and at least one second motion capture sensor for the capture of further motion data relating to a motion of the first motion capture sensor. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077114 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a specifying unit and an acquiring unit. The specifying unit specifies, on a basis of a detection result of target sites of a subject detected from an image on which the target sites are visualized, a first region and a second region which is different from the first region on the image. The acquiring unit acquires data of the second region by using an imaging condition which is different from an imaging condition on an imaging slice and used for acquiring data of the first region. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077115 | METHOD AND COMPUTER TO DETERMINE A B0 FIELD MAP WITH A MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS - In a method to determine a B0 field map describing the local deviation of a nominal Larmor frequency of a magnetic resonance apparatus, wherein magnetic resonance data are acquired in measurements implemented at two different echo times whose difference forms a dephasing time after an excitation at at least two different dephasing times, and a phase change to be used to determine the B0 field map is determined from a difference of phases measured at different echo times, the phase changes of different dephasing times are evaluated to at least partially reduce an ambiguity due to a Nyquist phase wrapping, by using dephasing times that result as a quotient or, given the use of only two dephasing times, as a product, of a base time and a respective prime number from a group including at least two different prime numbers that are greater than one, and wherein the group is selected depending on a desired dynamic range of the B0 field map and/or a maximum tolerated measurement error for the measurements. | 03-19-2015 |
20150084631 | MRI SCANNER - Systems and methods for improving patient comfort and throughput of magnetic resonance imaging by providing at least one patient imaging area outside a bore of a magnet of a magnetic resonance imaging device. An embodiment of an apparatus for providing at least one patient imaging area outside the bore comprises a first shim disposed external to and spaced apart from a first opening of the bore to form a first patient imaging area between the first shim and the first opening, wherein the first shim is configured to direct a magnetic field of the magnet into the first patient imaging area to provide a first magnetic field in the first patient imaging area. Methods of magnetic resonance imaging outside the bore are also disclosed. | 03-26-2015 |
20150084632 | DNP Apparatus - A DNP apparatus includes a cryostat ( | 03-26-2015 |
20150091573 | HYPERPOLARIZED MEDIA TRANSPORT VESSEL - A system and method for transporting a hyperpolarized substance is disclosed. A transport vessel for transporting such a hyperpolarized substance includes a vessel housing, a chamber formed within the vessel housing that is configured to receive a container holding a hyperpolarized substance, and an electromagnet configured to generate a magnetic containment field about the chamber when a current is supplied thereto, the magnetic containment field comprising a homogeneous magnetic field. The transport vessel also includes a non-magnetic power source to supply the current to the electromagnet and a control circuit configured to selectively interrupt the supply of current to the electromagnet so as to control generation of the magnetic containment field, with the transport vessel being magnetically inert when the supply of current to the electromagnet is interrupted by the control circuit. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091574 | Scaling of Local Coils of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner - A scaling unit ( | 04-02-2015 |
20150097564 | Device Having at Least One Channel and at Least Two Liquids - The embodiments relate to devices having at least one channel and at least two liquids, to a housing element and to a medical imaging apparatus. In order for the device to achieve a design effect by liquids, it is proposed that the device includes at least one channel, wherein the at least one channel has at least one first liquid including a first density and at least one second liquid including a second density, wherein the first density is different from the second density, wherein the at least one first liquid and the at least one second liquid are arranged at least partially inside the at least one channel and the at least one first liquid has a plurality of structures that are demarcated from the at least one second liquid and which, when acted upon by a force, execute a movement inside the at least one channel. | 04-09-2015 |
20150102811 | MRI APPARATUS - An MRI apparatus comprising: an imaging unit configured to carry out sequential imaging; an SAR acquisition unit configured to acquire an actual SAR measurement value at a predetermined timing during the sequential imaging; and a prediction unit configured to update a subsequent predicted SAE value each time the actual SAR measurement value is acquired. | 04-16-2015 |
20150108980 | APPARATUS FOR REDUCING VIBRATIONS IN A PULSE TUBE REFRIGERATOR SUCH AS FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEMS - A pulse tube refrigerator (PTR) comprising a pedestal head and a regenerator tube assembly is provided having particular application in cooling a Magnetic Resonance Imaging system. The PTR comprises a pedestal head and at least one cooled stage, the at least one cooled stage being mounted to a distal end, with respect to the pedestal head, of each of an associated regenerator tube and an associated pulse tube, the associated regenerator tube and associated pulse tube together providing pressurised coolant gas to the at least one cooled stage, wherein the associated regenerator tube and the associated pulse tube are elongate along substantially parallel axes; and further arranged, wherein, the displacements of the distal ends of each of the associated regenerator tube and the associated pulse tube in response to the cyclical changes in coolant pressure, are substantially the same when the pulse tube refrigerator is in use. | 04-23-2015 |
20150108981 | METHOD AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZATION OF A MAGNETIC RESONANCE SEQUENCE - In a method to optimize a magnetic resonance sequence of a magnetic resonance apparatus and a magnetic resonance apparatus operated according to such a method, optimization of the timing of the magnetic resonance sequence is implemented by adopting a magnetic resonance sequence as a starting sequence includes a first time interval set of one or more first time intervals and a second time interval set of one or more second time intervals, wherein the first time intervals of the first time interval set are to be left unmodified with regard to an optimization of the duration. The magnetic resonance sequence is automatically analyzed to identify the first time intervals of the first time interval set and the second time intervals of the second time interval set in the magnetic resonance sequence. The duration of at least one second time interval of the second time interval set is then automatically optimized. | 04-23-2015 |
20150123661 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a predicting unit and an imaging control unit. The predicting unit predicts a temperature change in a gradient coil at the time a pulse sequence is executed, based on temperature of the gradient coil and current waveform information on a gradient magnetic field pulse, before the pulse sequence is executed. The imaging control unit controls execution of the pulse sequence in accordance with a result of the prediction. The predicting unit predicts the temperature change by separating heat generation in the gradient coil into a component equivalent to heat generation as an electrical resistance of the gradient coil and a component equivalent to heat generation as an inductive circuit induced by switching of the gradient coil. | 05-07-2015 |
20150123662 | RF PULSES FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE - The present invention provides a method and system to reduce the problem of signal dropout in data acquired using gradient-echo and asymmetric spin-echo magnetic resonance techniques, caused by linear susceptibility gradients in the direction of slice-selection. Specifically an algorithm is used to determine the optimal parameters of a tailored radiofrequency pulse along with the accompanying slice-selection and slice-refocusing gradients to correct this signal dropout. | 05-07-2015 |
20150137812 | SHUTTING ASSEMBLY FOR CLOSING AN ENTRANCE OF AN MRI DEVICE - A shutting assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging device (MRD) bore aperture, comprising at least one first movable portion and at least one second portion affixed to the MRD, wherein the shutting assembly further comprising a normally closed or normally open sliding mechanism. The sliding mechanism couples at least one first moveable portion to at least one second portion affixed to the MRD, thereby enabling a reciprocal movement of at least one first moveable portion parallel to the MRD bore aperture in an upwards and downwards directions in respect to at least one second portion affixed to the MRD. | 05-21-2015 |
20150293201 | Medical Imaging System - A medical imaging system includes a detector unit, and a patient receiving area at least partly surrounded by the detector unit. The detector unit defines an imaging area within the patient receiving area. The medical imaging system also includes a movement detection unit for detecting a movement such as a heart movement and/or a breathing movement of a patient able to be positioned within the patient receiving area. The movement detection unit includes a radar unit with a radar transmit unit and a radar receive unit. The radar transmit unit includes at least one transmit antenna, and the radar receive unit includes at least one receive antenna. The at least one transmit antenna and/or the at least one receive antenna is disposed outside the imaging area. | 10-15-2015 |
20150309131 | Knee Coil - A local coil for an imaging magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system for knee imaging includes a shield configured to be arranged at a knee. | 10-29-2015 |
20150316628 | Device for sequential examination of a measurement object by means of MPI and MRI methods - A device for alternating examination of a measurement object ( | 11-05-2015 |
20150323617 | HEAD-UP DISPLAY WITH EYE-TRACKER FOR MRI APPLICATIONS - A head-up display and eye-tracker system, suitable for use with a patient in an MRI tube during an MRI procedure. An electronic display assembly includes an outer display tube housing for housing an electronic display device for generating images, the outer tube housing fabricated of an electrically conductive, non-ferrous material. An eye-tracker camera assembly includes an outer camera tube housing for housing an electronic camera sensor, the outer tube camera housing fabricated of an electrically conductive, non-ferrous material. An eyepiece assembly includes an outer housing. A beam splitter assembly includes a beam splitter block having a receptacle holding a beam splitter, the block formed of an electrically conductive, non-ferrous material. The beam splitter reflects light from the display onto the patient's eye, and allows light reflected from the patient's eye to pass to the camera sensor. In another embodiment as a display system, the eye-tracker camera assembly is omitted. | 11-12-2015 |
20150323622 | PARALLEL PLATE TRANSMISSION LINE FOR BROADBAND NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A parallel plate waveguide forms a volume coil used for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy. The waveguide includes a first conductor arranged on a first side of the waveguide and a second conductor arranged on a second side of the waveguide. Excitation of the first conductor and the second conductor creates a transverse electromagnetic field between the first conductor and the second conductor which causes a target within the volume coil to emit radio frequency signals used for producing an image of the target. | 11-12-2015 |
20150338479 | NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANALYSIS PROBE, DEVICE AND METHOD - An NMR analysis device, method and probe, including a frame, a sample-holder ( | 11-26-2015 |
20150338480 | NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANALYSIS PROBE, DEVICE AND METHOD - An NMR analysis device comprising an NMR analysis probe and a cryostat linked by a cryogenic line, the probe a frame, a sample-holder having a rotor, suitable for receiving a sample of material to be analysed, a bearing for rotationally guiding the sample-holder relative to the frame, a compression module and a cryorefrigerator arranged in the cryostat, upstream of the compression module, and a first element for channelling a third gaseous flow of fluid to a turbine and a second element for channelling a second gaseous flow of fluid to the bearing, the bearing being of aerostatic or aerodynamic type. | 11-26-2015 |
20160015326 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - In one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to sequentially execute plural imaging sequences includes: processing circuitry configured to calculate a predicted value of Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy which is an accumulated SAR (Specific Absorption Ratio) value over the plural imaging sequences; and a display configured to display information on the predicted value with respect to a predetermined safety reference value of the Long MR Examination specific absorbed energy. | 01-21-2016 |
20160033590 | METHOD FOR THE GENERATION OF RADICALS FOR DYNAMIC NUCLEAR POLARIZATION AND USES THEREOF FOR NMR, MRS AND MRI - A method for the preparation of a sample comprising highly polarized nuclear spins is proposed, comprising at least the following steps:
| 02-04-2016 |
20160033593 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence controlling circuitry and image generating circuitry. The sequence controlling circuitry acquires magnetic resonance signals in an imaging region. The image generating circuitry generates an image. The sequence controlling circuitry sets timings of RF pulses such that a first time and a second time are different. Here, the first time is a time since an irradiation of a first RF pulse without selection of region until a start of acquisition. The second time is a time since an irradiation of a second RF pulse with selection of the labeling region until the start of acquisition. The second time is also a time for a liquid present in the labeling region to reach a desired position in the imaging region. The first time is also a time for longitudinal magnetization components of a background tissue to become substantially zero. | 02-04-2016 |
20160053909 | LINEAR DIGITAL PROPORTIONAL PIEZOELECTRIC VALVE - An electrically controlled valve ( | 02-25-2016 |
20160054399 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes an installer provided on a gantry and configured to be capable of installing thereon an electronic apparatus. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to the embodiment includes a drawing structure configured to draw out the electronic apparatus installed on the installer to a position that is away from the gantry by a certain distance in excitation of a static magnetic field magnet. | 02-25-2016 |
20160054415 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique for reducing the degradation of the image quality due to the phase difference between scanning trajectories (blades) in measurement using a non-orthogonal sampling method. Therefore, in the present invention, correction for reducing the phase difference between a plurality of scanning trajectories (blades) measured by using a non-orthogonal sampling method is performed at the time of image reconstruction. For example, the reduction of the phase difference is performed using a method of matching the phases at the intersections between blades, matching the phases of all blades at positions determined by considering the shift amount in the frequency direction, or canceling out the phase change amount of each blade obtained by calculation. | 02-25-2016 |
20160069967 | APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR IMAGING AN INTUBATED PATIENT - The present application discloses a gradient coil apparatus for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system that comprises a cylindrical gradient coil assembly having a length along an axis and comprising an X-gradient coil, a Y-gradient coil and a Z-gradient coil. The gradient coil assembly further comprises an intubation channel, wherein the intubation channel extends radially from the axis and along at least a portion of the length. | 03-10-2016 |
20160097831 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - An MRI system according to an embodiment includes an MRI sequence controller and an MRI system controller. Serving as a prescan unit, the MRI sequence controller performs a prescan for acquiring a sensitivity distribution of a coil. Serving as a main scan unit, the MRI sequence controller performs a main scan for acquiring signals of a magnetic resonance image. Serving as a corrector, the MRI system controller corrects the sensitivity distribution in accordance with a distortion that is contained in the magnetic resonance image and that results from the performing of the main scan. Serving as a generator, the MRI system controller generates an output magnetic resonance image using the corrected sensitivity distribution. | 04-07-2016 |
20160131727 | PULSE SEQUENCES FOR LOW FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE - A low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The system includes a plurality of magnetics components comprising at least one first magnetics component configured to produce a low-field main magnetic field B | 05-12-2016 |
20160161576 | Microwave resonator with distributed bragg reflector (=DBR) - An NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) probe head has a microwave resonator with at least two elements which are reflective in the microwave range, at least one of which is focusing. The reflective elements at least partly delimit a resonance volume of the microwave resonator. At least one of the reflective elements is a DBR (“Distributed Bragg Reflector”), and the NMR probe head has at least one NMR coil integrated into the DBR. The NMR detection coil can thereby be positioned particularly near to the sample and the distortions of the static field by resonator components are reduced, such that the detection sensitivity and the spectral resolution of the experiment are significantly improved. | 06-09-2016 |
20160187437 | Magnetic Resonance Measurement Apparatus with Selective Frequency Conversion of Transmission and/or Reception Signal - In a magnetic resonance measurement apparatus, when a frequency of an observation nucleus falls within a high frequency band, a frequency conversion scheme is selected. In this case, an intermediate frequency signal is generated as an original signal, which is then frequency-converted to generate an RF transmission signal. An RF reception signal is converted into an intermediate frequency signal by frequency conversion, and is sampled. When the frequency of the observation nucleus falls within a low frequency band, a non-conversion scheme is selected. In this case, an RF transmission signal is generated as the original signal, and an RF reception signal is sampled. | 06-30-2016 |