Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080242973 | HEART IMAGING WITH ADAPTIVE INVERSION TIME - In a method for acquisition of magnetic resonance images of the heart, MR signals of the heart are acquired using an imaging sequence, wherein the magnetization is inverted by an RF inversion pulse before the acquisition of the MR signals; and of the heart activity is detected, and the point in time of the switching of the RF inversion pulse dependent on the detected heart activity. | 10-02-2008 |
20080262339 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Amyloid Plaque in the Brain - Amyloid plaque in the brain of a subject is imaged in an MRI system with or without the use of a contrast agent. Contrast is achieved using a spin-echo pulse sequence that is both respiratory gated and cardiac gated to reduce motion artifacts at the very high image resolution required to see plaque. A preparatory pulse sequence is used to insure longitudinal magnetization remains constant for all the acquired views even if the effective TR changes during the scan due to irregular breathing. | 10-23-2008 |
20080281186 | Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and control method thereof - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a collection unit which applies a uniform static magnetic field to a subject and also applies a radio-frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field to the subject in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence to collect a magnetic resonance signal from the subject, a imaging unit which images the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal collected by the collection unit, a detection unit which detects a respiratory level of the subject, an informing unit which informs the subject of whether the detected respiratory level falls within an allowable range, and a unit which controls the collection unit and the imaging unit in such a manner that the magnetic resonance signal for imaging is collected and the subject is imaged based on the thus collected magnetic resonance signal for imaging when the detected respiratory level falls within the allowable range. | 11-13-2008 |
20080319306 | Capture of Mri Images - A method of producing an MRI image of an object in cyclic motion by acquiring data in k-space according to the measured position of the object, and an analysis of data previously acquired. The invention also provides a magnetic resonance imaging heart monitor configured to use the method. | 12-25-2008 |
20090018433 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes an acoustic control unit and an image data acquisition unit. The acoustic control unit applies a gradient magnetic field for controlling a sound in synchronized with a signal representing a respiratory body motion. The image data acquisition unit acquires imaging data by imaging subsequently to controlling the sound and generates image data based on the imaging data. | 01-15-2009 |
20090062640 | MRI APPARATUS - An MRI apparatus for imaging of a bodily fluid flowing inside a subject includes a gradient coil which applies gradient pulses to the subject, a transmission coil which transmits RF pulses to the subject, and a control part which controls the gradient coil and the transmission coil. The control part controls the gradient coil and the transmission coil in order to: saturate longitudinal magnetization of the bodily fluid in a field of saturation positioned on an upstream flow of the bodily fluid during a saturation period, invert the direction of longitudinal magnetization of the bodily fluid in an imaging field of view positioned on an downstream flow of the bodily fluid during an inversion period following the saturation period, and acquire MR signals from the bodily fluid in the imaging field of view during a data acquisition period following the inversion period. | 03-05-2009 |
20090069668 | METHOD AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM TO OPTIMIZE MR IMAGES - In a method and magnetic resonance MR system for the optimization of angiographic MR images of an examination subject, in which arteries can be presented separately from veins in the angiographic magnetic resonance images, multiple MR overview images are acquired, with at least one imaging parameter being varied in the acquisitions of the MR overview images, at least one optimized imaging parameter is automatically calculated using a quality criterion, and the optimized imaging parameter is provided for the acquisition of the angiographic magnetic resonance images in which arteries can be shown separately from the veins. | 03-12-2009 |
20090112083 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CORRELATING TOMOGRAPHICALLY CONTROLLED INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES WITH PATIENT POSITION IN THE RESPIRATORY CYCLE - In a method and an imaging system for implementing a CT-assisted or MRT-assisted minimally-invasive interventional procedure at an anatomical location inside the body of a patient, the inspiratory or respiratory position of the patient within the respiratory cycle of the patient is continuously detected and a measurement value, identifying a current position of the patient within the respiratory cycle, is detected at a point in time that a CT or MRT slice image of the anatomical location is obtained. This measurement value is stored together with the image data of the slice image so that the measurement value and the image data can be retrieved together and displayed together. | 04-30-2009 |
20090270719 | MRI APPARATUS - An MRI apparatus which images a subject in such that body fluid that flows is emphasized over background tissues, includes a first coil control device that causes a transmission coil and a gradient coil to execute a first pulse sequence for causing longitudinal magnetization components of the background tissues to differ from a longitudinal magnetization component of the body fluid, a second coil control device that causes the transmission coil and the gradient coil to execute a second pulse sequence that inverts the longitudinal magnetization components of the body fluid and the background tissues a plurality of times after the execution of the first pulse sequence, and a third coil control device that causes the transmission coil and the gradient coil to execute a third pulse sequence for acquiring each MR signal of the body fluid after the execution of the second pulse sequence. | 10-29-2009 |
20090270720 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND RF PULSE APPLYING METHOD - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a scan section for executing a navigator sequence which transmits an RF pulse to a subject to obtain each magnetic resonance signal as navigator data. Upon execution of the navigator sequence, the scan section excites both a navigator area having two regions from which intensities of different navigator data signals are obtained, said two regions containing a body-moved region of the subject, and a region different from the two regions simultaneously, and transmits the RF pulse in such a manner that the phase of navigator data obtained from the different region differs from the phase of at least one region of navigator data obtained from the two regions. | 10-29-2009 |
20090275822 | MULTI-CONTRAST DELAYED ENHANCEMENT CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A series of MR image frames are acquired that depict a subject's heart at successive cardiac phases. Delayed enhancement of infarcted myocardium is depicted in some of the image frames by administering a contrast agent prior to data acquisition. Data acquisition is performed in a single breath hold by producing an RF inversion pulse followed by segments of SSFP pulse sequences during a succession of cardiac gated heart beats. The acquired MR image frames depict contrast between blood, viable myocardium and nonviable myocardium, and they depict left ventricle wall thickness and wall thickening throughout the cardiac cycle. | 11-05-2009 |
20090326367 | Magnetic resonance imager, method and program which continuously applies steady-state free precession to k-space - A magnetic resonance imager for forming images of a moving portion of a patient includes imaging coils. The imager includes a computer that causes the imaging coils to apply continuously steady-state free precession to k-space of a magnetic resonance image series of the patient and acquire the image series, and generates images from the image series. A method for forming images of a moving portion of a patient includes the steps of applying continuously steady-state free precession to k-space of a magnetic resonance image series of a patient. There is the step of acquiring the image series. There is the step of generating images from the image series. A method for forming images of a patient includes the steps of triggering a steady-state free precision imaging sequence to an ECG r wave of cardiac cycles of the patient. There is the step of performing the steady-state free precision imaging sequence with imaging coils of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner such that data for a series of k-space data sets associated with the imaging sequence are acquired in a manner that is time resolved through the cardiac cycle, with data acquired over a number of consecutive cardiac cycles. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium to form an image of a patient with an MRI. | 12-31-2009 |
20100030061 | NAVIGATION SYSTEM FOR CARDIAC THERAPIES USING GATING - An image guided navigation system for navigating a region of a patient which is gated using ECG signals to confirm diastole. The navigation system includes an imaging device, a tracking device, a controller, and a display. The imaging device generates images of the region of a patient. The tracking device tracks the location of the instrument in a region of the patient. The controller superimposes an icon representative of the instrument onto the images generated from the imaging device based upon the location of the instrument. The display displays the image with the superimposed instrument. The images and a registration process may be synchronized to a physiological event. | 02-04-2010 |
20100041980 | MRI Method - A method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging scanner for imaging the heart of a patient comprising inducing apnoea in the patient; sensing an electrical heart waveform; in response thereto moving the chest wall of the patient to a desired location; and triggering the scanner to image. | 02-18-2010 |
20100087729 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - When multiple types of imaging are performed while moving a table on which a subject to be examined is placed, an imaging efficiency is improved and a high-quality image is obtained within a short time. Therefore, within a predetermined time interval such as an identical period of a periodic living body motion, a predetermined number of echo signals from each of the multiple types of imaging sequences are acquired and the table on which the subject to be examined is placed is moved. Along with the movement of the table, data items within the same range in the Ky-direction as to each of the imaging sequences are acquired, the moving speed of the table is controlled in such a manner that the acquired data items become continuous in the x-direction, and images are reconstructed based on the data items obtained respectively from the imaging sequences. | 04-08-2010 |
20100094121 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a collection unit which collects a magnetic resonance signal from the subject by applying a uniform static magnetic field to a subject and also applies a radio-frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field to the subject in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence, a reconstruction unit which reconstructs an image concerning the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal collected by the collection unit, a detection unit which detects a respiration level of the subject, a control unit which controls the reconstruction unit to reconstruct the image based on the magnetic resonance signal collected by the collection unit in a state wherein a peak of the detected respiration level falls within an allowable range, and a change unit which changes the allowable range based on a change in a plurality of peak values of a plurality detected respiration levels. | 04-15-2010 |
20100106006 | TIMING TECHNIQUES FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - The disclosure is directed to techniques in which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is coordinated with the operation of an implantable medical device (IMD). By using an IMD to sense conditions, MRI can be improved because the sensed conditions can accurately define timing for application of electromagnetic radiation bursts. Moreover, by applying stimulation pulses specifically to coordinate the electromagnetic radiation bursts, the MRI may also be improved. | 04-29-2010 |
20100198050 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus collects raw data about a subject in a synchronized manner with an electrocardiographic signal of the subject. An Electrocardiogram (ECG) gating unit detects an irregular synchronization interval with respect to the electrocardiographic signal. When the ECG gating unit detects an irregular synchronization interval, a real-time sequencer controls a gradient magnetic-field power source, a transmitting unit, and the like so as to reacquire raw data that is acquired during the irregular synchronization interval. | 08-05-2010 |
20100222666 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BREATH-HELD MR DATA ACQUISITION USING INTERLEAVED ACQUISITION - A method and apparatus are presented for acquiring MR cardiac images in a time equivalent to a single breath-hold. MR data acquisition is segmented across multiple cardiac cycles. MR data acquisition is interleaved from each phase of a first cardiac cycle with MR data from each phase of a subsequent cardiac cycle. Preferably, low spatial frequency data are interleaved between multiple cardiac cycles, and the subsequent cardiac cycle acquisition includes sequential acquisition of high spatial frequency data towards the end of the acquisition window. An MR image can then be reconstructed with data acquired from each of the acquisitions that reduce ghosting and artifacts. Volume images of the heart can be produced within a single breath-hold. Images can be acquired throughout the cardiac cycle to measure ventricular volumes and ejection fractions. Single phase volume acquisitions can also be performed to assess myocardial infarction. | 09-02-2010 |
20100234723 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE LMETHOD AND APPARATUS WITH GATED SHIMMING OF THE BASIC MAGNETIC FIELD - In the acquisition of magnetic resonance imaging or spectroscopic data, 2D PACE is employed to identify an acceptance window within which the magnetic resonance data are acquired, and to trigger the acquisition of the magnetic resonance data at the same position of the patient's diaphragm in each respiratory cycle. The patient is thereby allowed to freely breath during the data acquisition procedure, but the acquisition of the magnetic resonance data is always able to take place with the patient's diaphragm in the same physical position in each respiratory cycle. | 09-16-2010 |
20100249574 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a data acquisition unit and an image generating unit. The data acquisition unit sets a delay time from a reference wave based on heart rate information or peripheral pulse wave information previously acquired from an object and acquires MR signals by an imaging scan with the set delay time in synchronized with a beat. The delay time represents a time phase of a data acquisition timing in imaging in synchronized with the beat. The image generating unit generates a blood flow image based on the magnetic resonance signals. | 09-30-2010 |
20100312098 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a first data acquisition unit, a second data acquisition unit and an image data generating unit. The first data acquisition unit acquires first data from a slice to be a target after a first delay time from a reference of a first heart rate synchronized with an electrocardiogram. The second data acquisition unit acquires second data from the slice after a second delay time from a reference of a second heart rate which is different from the first heart rate. The image data generating unit generates image data with image reconstruction processing using the first data and the second data. | 12-09-2010 |
20110028829 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NON-CONTRAST ENHANCED PULMONARY VEIN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A system and method for non-contrast enhanced pulmonary vein magnetic resonance imaging substantially suppresses the signal from cardiac tissue adjacent to the left atrium and pulmonary vein is provided. Significant conspicuity of the left atrium and pulmonary vein versus adjacent anatomical structures is produced. In this manner, more accurate measurements of pulmonary vein ostia size are facilitated, as well as more accurate registration of imaging volumes with a radiofrequency ablation catheter during pulmonary vein isolation procedures. In addition, more robust three-dimensional volume views of the left atrium and pulmonary vein are produced without the administration of contrast agents. | 02-03-2011 |
20110046473 | EEG TRIGGERED FMRI SIGNAL ACQUISITION - Neuro-response data including Electroencephalography (EEG) and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data is collected, filtered and/or analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of stimulus materials such as marketing and entertainment materials. A data collection mechanism obtains fMRI signals indicating a hemodynamic response to marketing or entertainment stimuli. In certain embodiments, such signals include region-specific blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signals that correlate with region-specific neural activity. fMRI signal acquisition is triggered by one or more EEG signatures indicating neural activity in response to exposure to stimulus materials. | 02-24-2011 |
20110046474 | METHOD TO CORRECT INTERFERENCE SIGNALS IN CARDIAC NOISE-TRIGGERING OF MEDICAL DATA ACQUISITION, AND MEDICAL SYSTEM OPERATING ACCORDING TO THE METHOD - In a method and medical data acquisition system for the correction of interference signals (in particular those caused by gradient coils) in a magnetic resonance apparatus given the determination of a point in time in the cardiac cycle of a patient by the acquisition of cardiac noises with a sound sensor arranged on the patient, a calculated and/or pre-measured interference signal that describes the interference noise of the gradient coils is obtained and is subtracted from a raw signal measured by the sound sensor. | 02-24-2011 |
20110071382 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - According to one of the aspects of an MRI apparatus of the present invention, the MRI apparatus includes an imaging data acquiring unit and a blood flow information generating unit. The imaging data acquiring unit acquires imaging data from an imaging region including myocardium, without using a contrast medium, by applying a spatial selective excitation pulse to a region including at least a part of an ascending aorta for distinguishably displaying inflowing blood flowing into the imaging region. The blood flow information generating unit generates blood flow image data based on the imaging data. | 03-24-2011 |
20110092802 | Active implant communications with medical imaging scanner - A bi-directional communications link between an active implanted medical device (AIMD) and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine enables information to be exchanged to determine whether an operational mode of the AIMD and MRI is acceptable. For example, the bi-directional communications link enables information to be exchanged to determine whether the AIMD and MRI machine are acceptably operating within at least one operational limit. An operation of the MRI machine may be permitted if the operation is acceptably within the operational limit and may be stopped if not. | 04-21-2011 |
20110105890 | MRI OPERATING METHOD - A magnetic-resonance imager is operated by, within the time of a R-R interval of the heart, carrying out a preparation sequence for suppressing signal contributions from the blood is carried out, in particular by a saturation sequence. At least the first refocusing pulse is generated simultaneously with a layer-selective gradient magnetic field that acts orthogonally to the layer-selective gradient magnetic field at the time of the generation of the RF excitation pulse. In addition the measuring value acquisition and image generation takes place by means of subsampling the data space and/or partially sampling the data space. | 05-05-2011 |
20110152668 | METHOD TO DETECT A BREATHING MOVEMENT OF AN EXAMINATION SUBJECT CORRESPONDING TO SIGNAL DATA BY MAGNETIC RESONANCE - In a method for the detection of signal data corresponding to a breathing movement of an examination subject by means of magnetic resonance (MR) first and second data sets are loaded, that each include complex k-space data acquired with a navigator sequence from a common excitation volume of the examination subject. The first and second data sets are processed to identify breathing movement at the acquisition time of at least one of the data sets, by comprising a transformation of the data sets in Cartesian space and calculating a phase difference between respective complex data pointes of the data sets having the same spatial position. The processing result is stored together with a time value that depends on a point in time of the acquisition of the first data set and/or the second data set. The data acquisition, processing and storage are repeated until a series of results has been stored that maps a breathing movement of interest, and in repetition at least one of the two data sets is acquired at a different point in time than the last two data sets. | 06-23-2011 |
20110152669 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus which performs myocardial perfusion imaging of an object, the apparatus comprises an imaging unit which acquires image data by imaging a heart of the object in synchronism with a biological signal from the object, and an image generating unit which generates an image concerning the heart of the object based on the image data, wherein the imaging unit applies a probe pulse for detecting body motion of the object before imaging of the heart, and applies a spatial nonselective saturation pulse before application of the probe pulse, and a local selective pulse for flipping back a flip angle of the spatial nonselective saturation pulse with regard to a region to which the probe pulse is applied. | 06-23-2011 |
20110178392 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store data of a series of slice images associated with a region including a target region of an object, a first rest period specifying unit configured to specify a first rest period based on a change between images of the series of slice images, and a second rest period specifying unit configured to specify a second rest period shorter than the first rest period by tracking the target region on a plurality of slice images corresponding to the specified first rest period or a rest period enlarged from the first rest period. | 07-21-2011 |
20110218424 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a collection unit that applies a uniform static magnetic field to a subject and also applies a radio-frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field to the subject in accordance with a predetermined pulse sequence to collect a magnetic resonance signal from the subject, an imaging unit that images the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal collected by the collection unit, a detection unit that detects a respiratory level of the subject, an informing unit that informs the subject of whether the detected respiratory level falls within an allowable range, and a unit that controls the collection unit and the imaging unit in such a manner that the magnetic resonance signal for imaging is collected and the subject is imaged based on the thus collected magnetic resonance signal for imaging when the detected respiratory level falls within the allowable range. | 09-08-2011 |
20110237931 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND SYNCHRONOUS IMAGING METHOD - An imaging time is shortened by maintaining a desired image contrast in imaging synchronized with the periodic body movement information regarding the subject. In order to do so, in synchronous measurement of an echo signal synchronized with the trigger information detected from the periodic body movement information regarding the subject with periodic body movement, at least one of a first period before a measurement period of an echo signal and a second period after the measurement period of the echo signal is set, a K space is divided into a plurality of partial regions, and at least one of the first and second periods is set to be different in measurement of an echo signal corresponding to a partial region at a low spatial frequency side and measurement of an echo signal corresponding to a partial region at a high spatial frequency side. | 09-29-2011 |
20110275928 | BLOOD SIGNAL SUPPRESSED ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Methods for achieving suppression of blood pool signal to image contrast-enhanced organs and vascular walls using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technology. After administration of e.g., an intravenous contrast agent, an RF pulse sequence is applied that includes a preparatory section designed to modify signal from organ tissue differently than blood pool signal, followed by an inversion RF pulse. MR signals are then allowed to evolve during a wait time that is sufficiently long to permit tissue species with dissimilar T1 relaxation times to separate in signal yet short enough so that blood signal has greater negative magnetization than other tissues of interest. MRI data is then acquired with phase sensitive reconstruction so that blood pool signal is suppressed compared with the tissues of interest. | 11-10-2011 |
20120041299 | MR IMAGING PROVIDING TISSUE/BLOOD CONTRAST IMAGE - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system obtains an MR image of an object. The system detects an ECG signal and performs a pulse sequence of RF gradient magnetic fields toward the object. Imaging defined by the pulse sequence is longer in temporal length than one heartbeat. The system further acquires an MR signal from the object in response to performance of the pulse sequence and produces the MR image based on the acquired MR signal. Also possible are: a plurality of divided MT pulses instead of the conventional single MT pulse, an SE-system pulse sequence having a shorter echo train spacing, and the generation of sounds by applying gradient pulses incorporated in an imaging pulse sequence so as to automatically instruct a patient to perform an intermittent breath hold. | 02-16-2012 |
20120078083 | RESPIRATORY MODE ("R-MODE") - ACQUISITION AND DISPLAY OF CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGES TO SHOW RESPIRATORY EFFECTS - A computer implemented method for providing cardiovascular images over a respiratory cycle through a computer system is provided. A plurality of cardiovascular images is obtained. A cardiac phase is measured for each cardiovascular image of the plurality of cardiovascular images to associate each cardiovascular image to a cardiac phase. A respiratory phase is measured for each cardiovascular image of the plurality of cardiovascular images to associate each cardiovascular image to a respiratory phase. A first group of cardiovascular images with an associated first cardiac phase of the plurality of cardiovascular images is sorted in order of respiratory phases. The first group of cardiovascular images with the associated first cardiac phase of the plurality of cardiovascular images is displayed in order of respiratory phases. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078084 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SHORTENED LOOK LOCKER INVERSION RECOVERY (Sh-MOLLI) CARDIAC GATED MAPPING OF T1 - A shortened version of the MOLLI sequence (Sh-MOLLI) is described which generates rapid and high-resolution myocardial spin-lattice (T1) maps. The Sh-MOLLI technique is based on a significant abbreviation of pre-existing TI sampling scheme combined with the use of processing logic to bypass the major side effects of the above sampling scheme abbreviation and distinguish between long and short T1 relaxation times in order to conditionally utilize available TI samples for non-linear T1 fitting. | 03-29-2012 |
20120089010 | HYPERPOLARIZED CONTRAST AGENT DISPENSER FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAING - A dispenser ( | 04-12-2012 |
20120095326 | Velocity measurement of MR-Imaged fluid flows - Velocity of MR-imaged fluid flows is measured. Data representing a measure of distance traveled by flowing fluid appearing in at least two MR images of a subject's tissue taken at different respective imaging times is generated. Data representing at least one fluid velocity measurement of the flowing fluid is generated by calculating at least one instance of distance traveled by the fluid divided by elapsed time during travel based on different respective imaging times. Data representing at least one fluid velocity measurement is then output to at least one of: (a) a display screen, (b) a non-transitory data storage medium, and (c) a remotely located site. | 04-19-2012 |
20120101367 | BLOOD SIGNAL SUPPRESSED CONTRAST ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Methods for achieving suppression of blood pool signal to image contrast-enhanced organs and vascular walls using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging technology. MRI data is then acquired with phase sensitive reconstruction so that blood pool signal is suppressed compared with the tissues of interest. | 04-26-2012 |
20120232378 | Look-Locker IR-SSFP for Cardiac MR Imaging with Simultaneous Generation of Cardiac T1 Maps, Cine Images and IR-Prepared Images - The present invention is directed to a method for use in conducting cardiac MR imaging which allows for reconstruction of T1 maps, cine images and IR-prepared images from one raw data set, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) acquisition of raw data by use of an ECG-triggered, segmented, inversion recovery (IR)-prepared Look-Locker type pulse sequence for data acquisition, wherein the pulse sequence encompasses more than one shot, wherein each shot comprises: i) an ECG-triggered inversion pulse; ii) SSFP cine data acquisition of radial segmented profiles over more than one RR-interval for a predefined acquisition duration AD; and iii) a relaxation duration RD, during which no data is acquired; b) retrospective gating of raw data by sorting acquired raw data for each RR-interval into a pre-determined number of heart phases by definition of specific time windows within the RR-intervals and sampling of raw data acquired during the time windows respectively; c) image reconstruction, wherein the retrospectively gated raw data is used for reconstruction of T1 maps, cine images and/or IR-prepared images. | 09-13-2012 |
20120245453 | RESPIRATORY INTERVAL-BASED CORRELATION AND PROCESSING OF DYNAMIC IMAGING DATA - A method of dynamic imaging and resolving respiratory motion includes acquiring volume data for a volume over a plurality of respiratory cycles, acquiring respiratory data representative of respiration over the plurality of respiratory cycles, dividing each respiratory cycle of the plurality of respiratory cycles into a set of respiratory intervals based on the respiratory data, and displaying a respective composite three-dimensional image of the volume for each respiratory interval based on the volume data acquired during the respiratory interval from each respiratory cycle of the plurality of respiratory cycles. | 09-27-2012 |
20120253178 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRIGGERING AN IMAGING PROCESS BASED ON NON-PERIODICITY IN BREATHING - A method of triggering an imaging process includes obtaining breathing signals, analyzing the breathing signals to identify a non-periodicity in a subject's breathing, and generating a signal to cause an imaging process to begin in response to the identified non-periodicity. A computer product having a set of instructions stored in a non-transitory medium, wherein an execution of the instructions causes a method to be performed, the method includes obtaining breathing signals, analyzing the breathing signals to identify a non-periodicity in a subject's breathing, and generating a signal to cause an imaging process to begin in response to the identified non-periodicity. A system for triggering an imaging process includes a processor that is configured for obtaining breathing signals, analyzing the breathing signals to identify a non-periodicity in a subject's breathing, and generating a signal to cause an imaging process to begin in response to the identified non-periodicity. | 10-04-2012 |
20120259202 | RELAXATION-CORRECTED ECG-TRIGGERING AND NAVIGATOR-GATING TECHNIQUE - A system and method for recording magnetic resonance images with reduced relaxation-related artifacts. The system and method improve the conventional methods for acquiring magnetic resonance images of in vivo tissue by augmenting the procedures for eliminating artifacts caused by motion with procedures for eliminating artifacts caused by spin of the magnetic resonance-active nuclei in the specimen of interest. One procedure to eliminate such spin inhomogeneities is to require a delay defined by the time N*T | 10-11-2012 |
20120271153 | Measuring device and magnetic resonance device comprising a measuring device - A measuring device is provided. The measuring device has at least one sensor unit for capturing a cardiac signal, a postprocessing unit and a signal transfer unit for signal transfer between the at least one sensor unit and the postprocessing unit. The at least one sensor unit has at least one acoustic sensor element. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271154 | MEASURING DEVICE AND A MAGNETIC RESONANCE DEVICE WITH THE MEASURING DEVICE - A measuring device for a magnetic resonance device is provided. The measuring device has a sensor unit. The sensor unit includes at least one acoustic sensor element for detecting heart sounds of a patient. The sensor unit also includes a resonating body unit. The resonating body unit has a hollow space for filtering interfering signals emitted by the magnetic resonance device from the heart sounds of the patient. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271155 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRIGGERED ACQUISITION OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE MEASUREMENT DATA - In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus, a) data points of a physiological signal are detected, b) a trigger condition is evaluated depending on the detected physiological data points, c) a preparation module is executed to suppress unwanted signals in the time period in which the trigger condition has not yet been satisfied, d) after satisfying the trigger condition, an acquisition phase of predetermined duration is started, that includes at least two similar preparation modules to suppress unwanted signals and a respective following acquisition module to acquire measurement data, and e) after the acquisition phase, a) through d) are repeated until all desired measurement data have been acquired, with a time interval between two successive preparation modules being the same after a first execution of a preparation module in c) until the end of the acquisition phase in a subsequent d). | 10-25-2012 |
20120283549 | EFFICIENT MULTI-STATION MRI - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes at least one controller configured to first acquire at least MRI locator image data for different portions of patient anatomy at each of different imaging stations for a defined multi-station locator sequence. An operator may interface with a respectively corresponding displayed locator image for each imaging station to set diagnostic scan sequence parameters for subsequent diagnostic MRI scans of corresponding portions of patient anatomy. Diagnostic MRI scan data is automatically acquired at each of the imaging stations in a multi-station diagnostic scan sequence that, if desired, can be seamlessly continued without operator interruption once begun. | 11-08-2012 |
20120289817 | OPTICAL RESPIRATION STATUS SENSOR - A subject monitor includes a belt ( | 11-15-2012 |
20120302871 | DETERMINING VELOCITY OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID BY MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - A velocity-image creating unit creates a velocity image that indicates a distribution of velocity components with respect to each of a plurality of images obtained by repeating a plurality of number of times Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) that is capable of obtaining velocity components of a Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) flowing inside a subject. A velocity-variance image creating unit calculates variance of velocity components along the time sequence by same position on velocity images by using a plurality of created velocity images. A superimposed-image processing unit then superimposes the distribution of the variance of the velocity components according to the velocity-variance image on an average absolute-value image, and an image display unit displays a superimposed image. | 11-29-2012 |
20130006096 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACCELERATED FOCUSED ULTRASOUND IMAGING - Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, more particularly, to cardiac cine MRI in which the cardiac sequences are gated retrospectively. In some embodiments, UNFOLD or related temporally- based imaging (e.g., UNFOLD-SENSE) is combined with retrospective gating to produce, for example, better images of the heart in the late diastolic part of the cardiac cycle. | 01-03-2013 |
20130012806 | CARDIAC DIAGNOSTICS USING WALL MOTION AND PERFUSION CARDIAC MRI IMAGING AND SYSTEMS FOR CARDIAC DIAGNOSTICS - Cardiac information of a patient is displayed by obtaining a plurality of MRI cine loops of the heart of the patient at a plurality of heart rates, the plurality of cine loops including both wall motion cine loops and at least one perfusion cine loops and simultaneously displaying both the wall motion cine loops and the at least one perfusion cine loop. | 01-10-2013 |
20130035588 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FOR THERAPY PLANNING - Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used for therapy planning. The motion or position of the treatment region is tracked over time for many cycles using MRI. For temporal resolution, the tracking is done in planes through the tumor at different orientations rather than using three-dimensional scanning. The tracking may be used for calculating a spatial probability density function for the target. Alternatively or additionally, spatiotemporal information derived from the surrogate is compared directly to that from the tracked object to determine the accuracy or robustness of the surrogate-to-target 3D correlation Gating or tracking based on this surrogate may be performed where the comparison indicates that the surrogate is sufficiently reliable (accurate). | 02-07-2013 |
20130053683 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI) SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system obtains a magnetic resonance image of a patient by obtaining a body profile of the patient, transferring the patient inside a magnet of the MRI system based on the obtained body profile, and using a magnetic field of an RF coil based on the obtained body profile. | 02-28-2013 |
20130085375 | Optimal Respiratory Gating In Medical Imaging - Methods and computer-readable mediums are provided for obtaining an optimally gated medical image. For example, in one embodiment, a method is provided that acquires medical images in list mode. The method also acquires a respiration correlated signal S(t). Thereafter, a final upper strain threshold value and a final lower strain threshold value pair that has a narrowest interval are selected. The medical images are synchronized with the respiration correlated signal S(t). The synchronized images and signal are used to create an optimally gated medical image. In various embodiments, the disclosed optimal gating can be utilized in PET systems and in other embodiments the disclosed optimal gating can be utilized in SPECT systems. In yet other embodiments, the optimally gated images can be matched to MRI systems and in still other embodiments, the optimally gated images can be matched to CT systems. | 04-04-2013 |
20130085376 | MEDICAL IMAGING METHOD AND A SYSTEM TO SYNCHRONIZE A BREATHING COMMAND WITH THE PATIENT'S BREATHING CYCLE - In a medical imaging method to synchronize a breathing command with a breathing cycle of a patient breathing parameters of a breathing cycle of the patient are detected, a reconstructed breathing cycle of the patient is reconstructed using the detected breathing parameters, a breathing command is generated in coordination with a medical imaging measurement, and the breathing command is automatically emitted as an output to the patient. | 04-04-2013 |
20130102881 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes a determining unit and an imaging unit. When a fluid traveling through a subject is imaged for multiple times at different phases, the determining unit determines a period on the time axis within which imaging is performed at intervals satisfying a predetermined temporal resolution. The imaging unit performs imaging for multiple times by the temporal resolution within the period. | 04-25-2013 |
20130116545 | System for Cardiac MR & MR Cine Imaging Using Parallel Image Processing - A system for cardiac MR imaging receives a heart rate signal representing heart electrical activity. The system, over multiple successive heart cycles, uses multiple MR imaging RF coils in gradient echo imaging a patient heart, synchronized with the heart rate signal and uses an inversion recovery pulse for inverting myocardium tissue MR signal for an individual heart cycle, to acquire, within multiple individual successive portions of an individual heart cycle, corresponding successive multiple patient heart images. An individual image of an individual heart cycle portion is derived from multiple heart image representative data sets comprising a reduced set of k-space data elements acquired using corresponding multiple coils of the RF imaging coils. An image generator generates an MR image of an individual heart cycle portion using the multiple heart image representative data sets comprising the reduced set of k-space data elements. | 05-09-2013 |
20130137967 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR DETERMINING TRIGGER TIMING OF CE-MRA SCAN - The present invention discloses an apparatus and a method for determining a trigger timing of a CE-MRA scan. The apparatus comprises: a blood flow velocity acquisition unit configured to acquire a blood flow velocity of a target vessel; and a trigger timing determination unit configured to determine the trigger timing for performing the CE-MAR scan on a CE-MRA scan region according to the blood flow velocity and a predetermined image acquisition condition during a monitoring scan. The apparatus and method take the blood flow velocity into consideration, and can determine the trigger timing of the CE-MRA scan automatically and accurately. | 05-30-2013 |
20130178732 | ULTRASONIC SENSOR FOR A CARDIOTOCOGRAPH - An ultrasonic sensor according to the invention comprises at least one ultrasonic transducer, at least one resistor connected to the ultrasonic transducer and a housing accommodating the ultrasonic transducer and the resistor. The ultrasonic sensor is configured in such a way, that it is not or only slightly ferromagnetic, so that the ultrasonic sensor acts neutrally with respect to an external magnetic field (for example in an MRT). | 07-11-2013 |
20130184561 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PHASE CONTRAST IMAGING WITH IMPROVED EFFICIENCY - A system and method is provided for magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) that includes performing a pulse sequence using the MRI system, the pulse sequence including a phase-based flow encoding to collect a time-series of image data from the portion of the vasculature of the subject and identifying at least a portion of the time series of image data corresponding to a period of reduced flow through the portion of the vasculature. The portion of the time series of image data is subtracted from the time series of image data to create a time series of images of the portion of the vasculature having background tissue surrounding the portion of the vasculature substantially suppressed. | 07-18-2013 |
20130211234 | System and Method For Magnetic Resonance Imaging With an Adaptive Gating Window Having Constant Gating Efficiency - A system and method for producing an image of a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system using an adaptive gating window with constant gating efficiency is provided. Navigator data is acquired from the subject and used to produce a gating window having a defined gating efficiency value. Image data is acquired with the MRI system while measuring a position of an anatomical location within the subject. Image data is accepted or rejected based on whether the measured anatomical location is within the gating window. The gating window is updated using the measured position of the anatomical location such that a substantially constant gating efficiency value is maintained. Imaging is repeated with the updated gating window, after which the gating window is again updated. When the desired amount of image data has been acquired, an image of the subject is reconstructed. | 08-15-2013 |
20130211235 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GATING AN IMAGING DEVICE - A method and system for automatically gating an imaging device is disclosed. Physiological process information of a patient may be derived from a plethysmographic signal, for example, by analyzing the plethysmographic signal transformed by a continuous wavelet transform. Other techniques for deriving physiological process information of a patient include, for example, analyzing a scalogram derived from the continuous wavelet transform. The physiological process information may be used to automatically gate imaging data acquired from an imaging device in order to synchronize the imaging data with the physiological process information. | 08-15-2013 |
20130211236 | MR DATA ACQUISITION USING PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING - Systems, devices and methods for performing a magnetic resonance imaging scan of a patient. For example, a method of performing a magnetic resonance imaging scan on a patient can include monitoring a physiological signal level of the patient, analyzing the monitored physiological signal level, and providing instructions to the patient and/or changing the environmental conditions exposed to the patient. The instructions and/or the change of the environmental conditions of the patient can be based on the monitored physiological signal level. The instructions can include an acoustic command and/or a visual command. The changing of the environmental conditions can include visual simulation, acoustic stimulation and/or air conditioning change. | 08-15-2013 |
20130225976 | EFFICIENT MULTI-STATION MRI - A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes at least one controller configured to first acquire at least MRI locator image data for different portions of patient anatomy at each of different imaging stations for a defined multi-station locator sequence. An operator may interface with a respectively corresponding displayed locator image for each imaging station to set diagnostic scan sequence parameters for subsequent diagnostic MRI scans of corresponding portions of patient anatomy. Diagnostic MRI scan data is automatically acquired at each of the imaging stations in a multi-station diagnostic scan sequence that, if desired, can be seamlessly continued without operator interruption once begun. | 08-29-2013 |
20130281828 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING A SET OF MEASURED DATA RELATING TO A BREATHING OBJECT OF INTEREST - For generating a three-dimensional magnetic resonance image of a respirating examination subject, the respiration of the examination subject is divided into a number of predefined clusters. Based on a measured respiratory position of the examination subject, one of these clusters is selected. The scanned k-space range is divided into a number of data acquisition shots which, by means of a particular k-space trajectory, each fill a number of k-space lines. The different shots are acquired for the different clusters until all shots of the measurement data set are assigned together to at least two adjacent clusters. The magnetic resonance image is reconstructed from those shots that are assigned to at least two adjacent clusters. | 10-24-2013 |
20130338486 | DIFFUSION TENSOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - In a diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging method for imaging a myocardial fiber structure, the diaphragm position of a subject is detected and a determination is made as to whether the diaphragm position of the subject falls into the acceptance region or not. If it does not, continue the diaphragm position of the examination subject is continued to be detected. If and when the diaphragm position is in the acceptance region, an echo planar imaging sequence with stimulated echo is executed with two electrocardiogram triggers, so as to acquire diffusion tensor image data of the myocardial fiber structure. The cardiac DTI image data thus can be obtained under free respiration of the subject, and the influence of respiratory movement is reduced and the scanning time is shortened. | 12-19-2013 |
20130338487 | Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus - A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus performs myocardial perfusion imaging of an object. An imaging unit acquires image data by imaging a heart of the object in synchronism with a biological signal from the object. An image generating unit generates an image concerning the heart of the object based on the image data. The imaging unit applies a probe pulse for detecting body motion of the object before imaging of the heart, and applies a spatial non-selective saturation pulse before application of the probe pulse, and a local selective pulse for flipping back a flip angle of the spatial non-selective saturation pulse with regard to a region to which the probe pulse is applied. | 12-19-2013 |
20140024924 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DEVICE AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD - The present invention allows a subject to hold breathing at any position, and it is confirmed whether or not the breath holding is really performed in the middle of imaging to reflect its result to the imaging sequence. An image | 01-23-2014 |
20140039296 | METHOD, SYSTEM AND CONTROL UNIT FOR A MONITORING-DEPENDENT IMAGING EXAMINATION - In a method, control unit and system to acquire an image of a patient, possibly undergoing an examination according to a current examination plan with an imaging device, a vital function of the patient is monitored via a monitoring unit, and the overrun of a limit value by the monitored vital function is communicated to a determination unit by the monitoring unit, using the vital function, the determination unit selects a new examination plan that is suitable to detect a possible cause of the overrun of the vital function. An image of the patient is then acquired with the imaging device according to the new examination plan. | 02-06-2014 |
20140039297 | MOTION TRIGGERED MR IMAGING USING APT/CEST - The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of a moving portion of a body ( | 02-06-2014 |
20140051977 | Optimal Respiratory Gating In Medical Imaging - Methods and computer-readable mediums are provided for obtaining an optimally gated medical image. For example, in one embodiment, a method is provided that acquires medical images in list mode. The method also acquires a respiration correlated signal S(t). Thereafter, a final upper strain threshold value and a final lower strain threshold value pair that has a narrowest interval are selected. The medical images are synchronized with the respiration correlated signal S(t). The synchronized images and signal are used to create an optimally gated medical image. In various embodiments, the disclosed optimal gating can be utilized in PET systems and in other embodiments the disclosed optimal gating can be utilized in SPECT systems. In yet other embodiments, the optimally gated images can be matched to MRI systems and in still other embodiments, the optimally gated images can be matched to CT systems. | 02-20-2014 |
20140051978 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM FOR NON-CONTRAST MRA AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE SIGNAL ACQUISITION METHOD EMPLOYED BY THE SAME - A magnetic resonance imaging system uses a first RF coil for acquiring a magnetic resonance signal from a subject, and a device for estimating a cardiac phase of the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal acquired by the first RF coil. The first RF coil, for example, can be an RF coil exclusive to cardiac phase estimation. The magnetic resonance imaging system also uses a second RF coil for acquiring a magnetic resonance signal based on the estimated cardiac phase, and a device for reconstructing a magnetic resonance image of the subject based on the magnetic resonance signal acquired by the second RF coil. Thus, MRA can be performed by estimating a cardiac phase. | 02-20-2014 |
20140051979 | RELAXATION-CORRECTED ECG-TRIGGERING AND NAVIGATOR-GATING TECHNIQUE - A system and method for recording magnetic resonance images with reduced relaxation-related artifacts. The system and method improve the conventional methods for acquiring magnetic resonance images of in vivo tissue by augmenting the procedures for eliminating artifacts caused by motion with procedures for eliminating artifacts caused by spin of the magnetic resonance-active nuclei in the specimen of interest. One procedure to eliminate such spin inhomogeneities is to require a delay defined by the time N*T | 02-20-2014 |
20140066749 | MEDICAL GATING USING POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE DEVICES - A medical apparatus includes: a breathing device comprising an air pressure generator for generating air pressure, a tube for delivering the air pressure to a patient, and a sensor configured to sense a characteristic associated with a breathing of the patient; and a processing unit configured to receive an output from the sensor, and generate a control signal for controlling a medical device based at least in part on the output from the sensor. | 03-06-2014 |
20140081123 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY AND VENOGRAPHY - Techniques and systems for non-contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography and venography (MRAV) are described. For example, within one cardiac cycle of a subject, a single shot acquisition of non-suppressed arterial MR signals and a single shot acquisition of non-suppressed venous MR signals are employed. Radio frequency (RF) saturation pulses may be applied to one or more slabs such that MR signals indicative of venous blood that flows into the arterial imaging slice are substantially suppressed and MR signals indicative of arterial blood that flows in the venous imaging slice are substantially suppressed. The RF saturation pulses and the single shot acquisitions may be timed such that one or more of the single shot acquisitions occur during substantially steady state inflow of blood into the respective imaging slice. In this manner, k-space data may be acquired from arterial specific and venous specific imaging slices occurring within a single cardiac cycle. | 03-20-2014 |
20140081124 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND BREATH-HOLDING IMAGING METHOD - In order to make it possible to set the optimal breath-holding imaging conditions according to the subject without extension of an imaging time or the sacrifice of image quality, one scan is divided into one or more breath-holding measurements and free-breathing measurements on the basis of the imaging conditions of a breath-holding measurement, which are input and set according to the subject, and a region of the k space measured in the breath-holding measurement is controlled. Preferably, in the breath-holding measurement, low-frequency data of the k space is measured. Moreover, preferably, imaging conditions of the breath-holding measurement include the number of times of breath holding or a breath-holding time, and the operator can set any of these values. | 03-20-2014 |
20140088407 | Magnetic Resonance Angiography using Velocity-Selective Magnetization Preparation - Selective excitation of spin magnetizations based on their velocities can be a useful tool for generating image contrast in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. Particularly in MR angiography, velocity-selective (VS) excitation can highlight arterial blood only by utilizing its significantly different velocity from stationary tissues and venous blood in the background. This invention describes the principle and design of MRI pulse sequences based on VS magnetization preparation. Its use for non-contrast enhanced MR angiography is demonstrated. The VS MRA compared to prior methods allows for large angiographic field-of-view and can generate positive angiographic contrast directly using single acquisition without subtraction. | 03-27-2014 |
20140100443 | System and Method For Imaging of the Vascular Components with Temporal Information and Suppressed Blood Pools Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging - A system and method is provided that includes a) monitoring a cardiac cycle of the subject to identify a predetermined point and, b) upon identifying the predetermined point, performing the steps of i) performing at least one of a desired number of magnetization suppressing preparations to suppress signal from blood flow through at least the region of interest, ii) acquiring a first set of imaging data from the region of interest, and iii) repeating step i) and step ii) to acquire at least a second set of imaging data from the region of interest. The method further includes c) repeating step b) a predetermined number of times over a series of cardiac cycles to acquire respective sets of medical imaging data of the region of interest and d) reconstructing first set of imaging data and the second set of imaging data into a time-resolved series of images. | 04-10-2014 |
20140121496 | Automatic System for Timing In Imaging - An imaging system automatically determines a cardiac timing parameter for acquiring a cardiac image in a heart phase. An interface receives data identifying a heart image orientation for image acquisition. A repository of data associates, for acquisition of an image in a particular heart phase, different image orientations with corresponding different data items identifying respective corresponding particular acquisition points within an individual heart cycle relative to a start point of the heart cycle. An acquisition timing processor determines from the repository of data, a particular acquisition point within an individual heart cycle relative to the start point of the heart cycle, in response to the received data identifying the heart image orientation and uses the determined particular acquisition point to provide a synchronization signal for triggering acquisition of an image at the particular heart phase. | 05-01-2014 |
20140171783 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING PATIENT PHYSIOLOGICAL INFORMATION DURING AN MRI SCAN - A system and method for monitoring patient physiological information during an MRI scan sequence is provided. The system includes a monitoring device configured to sense physiological information from a patient. The physiological information may include electrocardiograph signals, electro-anatomical mapping signals, or other information concerning a physiological condition of the patient. The system further includes a control circuit connected to receive signals from the monitoring device and to coordinate output of the electrode during an MRI scan. | 06-19-2014 |
20140200436 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED CARDIAC IMAGING OF SUBJECTS WITH ADVERSE CARDIAC CONDITIONS - A system and method for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire images of a subject having inconsistencies in a cardiac cycle of the subject. The process includes receiving an identification of a predetermined point in a cardiac cycle of the subject and, thereupon, performing a saturation module configured to dephase magnetization within a region of interest (ROI) from before the predetermined point. The process also includes performing an inversion module configured to invert spins within the ROI and acquiring medical imaging data from the subject. A delay is inserted between the performance of the saturation module and the performance of the inversion module, wherein a duration of the delay is configured, with the saturation module, to control evidence in the medical imaging data of inconsistencies in the cardiac cycle of the subject by controlling a magnetization history of tissue in the ROI. | 07-17-2014 |
20140275970 | Method and Apparatus for MRI Compatible Communications - An MRI compatible communication system is disclosed. An interface module manages communications between devices within and external to the MRI scan room. The interface module also translates messages between varying wireless communication standards and protocols for retransmission to other devices. The communication system is configurable to transmit and/or receive data between physiological sensors, the MRI controller, patient monitoring devices, patient entertainment devices, and other computers. The interface module is configurable to be placed either in the control room or in the scan room. | 09-18-2014 |
20140323850 | METHOD AND EKG TRIGGER DEVICE FOR CORRECTING AN EKG SIGNAL IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGE ACQUISITION - In a method to correct an EKG signal, the EKG signal is acquired, and used for R-spike triggering, during a magnetic resonance (MR) image acquisition sequence that produces interference signals in the EKG signal generated by gradient jumps, wherein the gradient jumps repeat at a fixed time interval, and wherein the duration of a cardiac cycle measured via the EKG signal is at least five times the time interval. During at least a first cardiac cycle, immediately after detection of the R-spike in the EKG signal no detection of the R-spike for triggering takes place for a dead time that is shorter than the duration of the cardiac cycle and during which the MR sequence is already running, and the EKG signal is acquired in that dead time as a reference signal. The reference signal is analyzed to extract interference signals that respectively repeat after the time interval, which are used to determine a correction signal having a duration equal to the time interval. During the further execution of the MR sequence, the correction signal, which is synchronously repeated in the time interval, at least outside of the dead time, is used to correct the measured EKG signal. | 10-30-2014 |
20140350385 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GATED MAPPING OF T1 VALUES IN ABDOMINAL VISCERAL ORGANS - The present disclosure provides systems and methods for universal mapping of T1 in abdominal organs using cardiac gating. A region of interest is selected for mapping or imaging. A determination is made whether any one or more of heart associated motion, high heart rate and irregular heart beat are detected in the region of interest. A multi-pathway gating of T1 maps is then employed providing a universal method of T1 mapping of moving as well as non-moving visceral organs. | 11-27-2014 |
20140378822 | EVALUATION OF CARDIAC STRUCTURE - A method of optimizing scan parameters for LGE-MRI. At least one cardiac MRI TI scout scan is performed by applying an inversion pulse every predetermined heart beat of a patient. An initial value of an inversion time TI | 12-25-2014 |
20150011867 | Retrospectively Correlated Turbo Spin Echo Imaging - Systems and methods which generate a sequence of images using turbo spin echo magnetic resonance imaging which are retrospectively correlated with periodic motion occurring within a subject being imaged are described. In one embodiment, k-space measurements (or the measurements from which images are formed) are captured during, and correlated with, different phases in a cardiac cycle of the subject. With this sequence, the images that are produced are able to show, and/or compensate for, motion correlated with the cardiac cycle of the subject. | 01-08-2015 |
20150038829 | Methods, Systems and Appartuses for Using Flexible Triggered Segmentation to Optimize Magnetic Resonance Imaging - A method for using flexible triggered segmentation to optimize magnetic resonance imaging includes partitioning a k-space table into a plurality of k-space segments, each respective k-space segment comprising one or more phase-encoding steps from a plurality of slice-encoding lines. A cardiac cycle is monitored using an electrical signal tracking system and used to trigger acquisition of the plurality of k-space segments over a plurality of acquisition windows. | 02-05-2015 |
20150045654 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CONTENT RELATED TO CAPTURE OF MEDICAL IMAGE - Disclosed is a method of providing content related to capture of a medical image of an object. The method includes acquiring at least one of information related to a state of the object and information related to a capture protocol, determining content to be provided to the object on a basis of the acquired information, and outputting the determined content. | 02-12-2015 |
20150073263 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION METHOD WITH RESPIRATORY MOT DETECTION DURING SAMPLING OF CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL K-SPACE AREAS - A method of generating a magnetic resonance image of a subject comprising the acquisition of k-space samples by sampling an elliptical central area of k-space, wherein the k-space has a plurality of points, each point being representative of a potential sample and partially sampling an elliptical peripheral area of k-space, wherein the peripheral area surrounds the central area. The method further comprises the detection of respiratory motion of the subject and reconstruction of the magnetic resonance image of the subject using the k-space samples acquired before the detection of respiratory motion. | 03-12-2015 |
20150087964 | METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING A MEDICAL IMAGING ACQUISITION - In a method for the optimization of an imaging acquisition of an object by a medical imaging apparatus, a first time period is determined, within which a calibration process of the medical imaging apparatus is executed, a second time period is determined, within which a breathing process for at least one breathing command of a recording protocol is executed, wherein the breathing process is executed at least in part at the same time as the calibration process, and a point in time for an initiation of the imaging acquisition is determined, such that at this point in time, the calibration process and the breathing process have been completed. | 03-26-2015 |
20150094562 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING WITH DYNAMIC INVERSION PREPARATION - A magnetic field may be applied to a subject having a plurality of tissues, including first and second tissues, causing a net longitudinal magnetization in the tissues. An inversion radio frequency pulse may be generated to invert the longitudinal magnetization from the tissues. Heart-rate timing information associated with a current ECG of the subject may be measured, and an inversion time TI may be dynamically calculated based at least in part on the heart-rate timing information. An excitation radio frequency pulse may then be generated. The generation of the excitation radio frequency pulse may occur a period of time after the generation of the inversion radio frequency pulse, and the period of time may be based on the dynamically calculated inversion time TI. Magnetic resonance imaging data may then be acquired. | 04-02-2015 |
20150094563 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM AND PROGRAM - A magnetic resonance system configured to repeatedly execute imaging sequences each having a first RF pulse for flipping each spin in a region containing blood, and a data acquisition sequence acquiring data of the blood from the region is provided. The magnetic resonance system includes a storage unit configured to store a correspondence relation between a contrast between the blood and a background tissue, a first time taken from the first RF pulse to the data acquisition sequence, and a second time taken from a completion of an imaging sequence to a start of a next imaging sequence, first determining means configured to determine the first time used, and second determining means configured to determine the second time used. | 04-02-2015 |
20150119696 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OPERATION THEREOF - In a method to operate a magnetic resonance device to acquire magnetic resonance data of an acquisition region of a patient that is moving due to respiration, a breath hold command is automatically given to the patient by an output unit of the magnetic resonance apparatus before acquisition of the magnetic resonance data, and the acquisition of the magnetic resonance data is begun automatically given a trigger signal determined from measurement data of the patient, the trigger signal indicating that breath is being held. | 04-30-2015 |
20150126850 | Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Asymmetric Radial Sampling and Compressed-Sensing Reconstruction - A method for acquiring cine images using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes selecting an asymmetric radial sampling scheme providing an asymmetric view of k-space corresponding to a desired image resolution. Radial k-space data is acquired using the asymmetric radial sampling scheme, wherein slice-orientation of the radial k-space data is continuously modified while acquiring the radial k-space data. A plurality of cine images are reconstructed from the radial k-space data using a compressed-sensing method. | 05-07-2015 |
20150366517 | METHOD AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS DEFINING A SEQUENCE PROTOCOL FOR THE MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS - In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus for defining a sequence protocol for the magnetic resonance apparatus, at least one parameter of the sequence protocol is determined, which is able to be changed automatically, and a provisional sequence protocol is then determined. MR data of an examination object are acquired, from which an overview image of the examination object is created. The provisional sequence protocol is adapted dependent on the overview image. A check is made as to whether the adapted sequence protocol exceeds a predefined stimulation threshold beyond which nerve stimulation of the examination object is too large. If the adapted sequence protocol exceeds the threshold, the at least one parameter is automatically changed such that the changed sequence protocol no longer exceeds the threshold. The changed sequence protocol corresponds to the sequence protocol to be determined. | 12-24-2015 |
20150374237 | METHOD FOR ACCURATE AND ROBUST CARDIAC MOTION SELF-GATING IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - Self-gating methods and Systems are provided for cardiac imaging analysis. In particular, non-phased coded self-gating data are collected separately from imaging data. The method uses multiple coil arrays to repeatedly acquire self-gating signals that are separate from image acquisitions. Learning-based algorithms are used in data processing to detect a triggering event, such as the onset of a heartbeat. | 12-31-2015 |
20160000384 | ELASTICITY MEASUREMENT WITH TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING - In a method and apparatus for determining the elasticity of a material of an examination object, which is included in a subarea of an acquired image volume, data from the image volume are acquired with a tomographic imaging method in at least two different time phases during a body movement of the examination object. At least two recorded images are registered with one another. A deformation field of the material included in the subarea of the acquired image volume is determined from the images which are registered with one another. The local elasticity of the material of the image volume included in the subarea of the acquired image volume is determined on the basis of the determined deformation field. | 01-07-2016 |
20160003927 | POWER MEASUREMENT ON MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING COIL AT DIFFERENT FREQUENCY THAN LARMOR FREQUENCY - The system of the invention utilizes a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) coil to measure power at a different frequency than the MRI frequency to produce MRI images. The different frequency such as harmonic frequency of the MR coil is applied to the coil and the reflected power is measured by the power sensor. Changes due to respiratory, cardiac, or overall motion are then analyzed, as desired. During imaging, the coil is connected to the MRI system and disconnected from the setup described, including the power sensor and its associated data processing, amplifier, signal generator, and directional coupler. Disconnect is provided in a one-step process by the switching circuit. Using the reflected power of a different frequency than the resonant frequencies of an MR coil improves signal information because it does not interfere with MR imaging process, is independent of patient and position, depicts the mechanical motion of the chest or organs near to the coil, and also measures irregular physiological activities with enough temporal resolution to describe these physiological changes. | 01-07-2016 |
20160007853 | METHOD, APPARATUS, AND ARTICLE FOR OPTIMIZED MYOCARDIAL T1 MAPPING | 01-14-2016 |
20160015352 | Wireless Physiological Data Acquisition System - A physiologic transmitter manages multiple communications between physiologic data acquisition devices attached to the patient and a receiver attached to an MRI or CT scanner. The transmitter's processor is able to generate waveform data and trigger data based upon the acquired physiologic data and transmit the data to a physiologic receiver attached to the host scanner. The receiver then is able to deliver a trigger signal to the host scanner for imaging the patient during a selected time frame based upon cardiac and/or respiratory cycles of the patient. | 01-21-2016 |
20160038054 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ACQUIRE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES IN A SESSION, WITH ACQUISITION OF A CONSISTENTLY VALID REFERENCE SCAN - In a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method and apparatus, multiple diagnostic scans are obtained of an examination subject during an imaging session. An initial reference scan of the subject is obtained at the beginning of the session and, as the session proceeds, an automatic determination is made before each diagnostic scan is obtained as to whether the immediately preceding reference scan is still valid, primarily be checking whether an amount of patient movement has occurred that renders the immediately preceding reference scan invalid. Either a new reference scan is obtained before the next diagnostic scan, or, if still valid, the immediately preceding reference scan is used for the next diagnostic scan. | 02-11-2016 |
20160071292 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING A MULTI-SLICE DATA SET OF A HEART - In a method and apparatus for generating a three-dimensional multi-slice data set of a heart, a first image sequence with a number of two-dimensional images is acquired in a first slice of the heart during a duration of at least one heartbeat interval, and a second image sequence with a number of two-dimensional images is acquired in a second slice of the heart during the duration of a number of heartbeat intervals. The second image sequence is excised by selecting the two-dimensional images thereof that lie in a heartbeat interval closest to the duration of the heartbeat interval in the first slice. The three-dimensional multi-slice data set is generated by combining the first image sequence and the excised second image sequence. | 03-10-2016 |
20160113592 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACQUISITION SETUP AND ANATOMY LANDMARKING OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEMS - A system and method for acquisition setup and anatomy landmarking for MRI systems are described. A gesture sensing input device generates user motion data. A gesture application identifies a gesture based on the user motion data. A display device displays patient setup information in response to the gesture. An acquisition application generates a setup for an MRI system for a patient based on the gesture and the user motion data. | 04-28-2016 |
20160128643 | SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD - In one embodiment, a signal processing apparatus includes a storage circuit and processing circuitry configured to (a) generate detection parameters for detecting a specific signal included in a biosignal relevant to a heartbeat, based on a waveform of the biosignal, (b) store the detection parameters in the storage circuit, (c) detect the specific signal by using the detection parameters, and (d) generate a synchronization signal for performing heartbeat synchronization imaging based on the specific signal. | 05-12-2016 |
20160161585 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS AND PROGRAM - To select a channel adapted to detection of the position of a liver. The position “m” of the border between the liver and the lung is obtained from a profile. A sum S | 06-09-2016 |
20160198970 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING DIASTASIS TIMING USING AN MRI SEPTAL SCOUT | 07-14-2016 |
20170231522 | Magnetic Resonance Method And Apparatus For Quantitative Time-Resolved Assessment Of Tissue Displacement And Related Biomarker Parameters With Blood Suppression In The Whole Cardiac Cycle | 08-17-2017 |