A method of acquiring image data with an MRI system from an object using a sequence of tip-down and tip-up RF pulses is described. A slice-selective first pulse α rotates the in-slice spins from the longitudinal axis (z) toward a transverse plane (x, y). Image data is acquired from the in-slice spins during a free precession interval (T.sub.free) in which the in-slice spins precess along the transverse plane (x, y). A spatially tailored, non-slice-selective second pulse β({right arrow over (r)}) is applied for rotating the in-slice spins from the transverse plane (x, y) to at least substantially along the longitudinal axis (z). A third pulse S may be applied to the in-slice and out-of-slice spins to eliminate (spoil) residual transverse signal from out-of-slice spins.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method includes defining a plurality of sub-volumes so that each of the sub-volumes includes a plurality of sequential slices of a plurality of slices that make up a volume of a subject, wherein the sub-volumes are divided into a plurality of groups so that any neighboring sub-volumes belong to different groups; applying radio-frequency (RF) pulses including a plurality of frequency components and a selection gradient to the subject to simultaneously excite a plurality of sub-volumes in each of the groups; performing three-dimensional (3D) encoding on each of the excited sub-volumes so that only some slices of the plurality of slices in each of the excited sub-volumes are encoded in a slice direction; acquiring magnetic resonance signals from the encoded sub-volumes; and reconstructing the acquired magnetic resonance signals into image data corresponding to each of the plurality of slices in each of the encoded sub-volumes.

A local coil for an MRI imaging system includes an antenna containing a first detuning circuit and a second detuning circuit, and a connection connected to the antenna between a first connection point on the antenna and a second connection point on the antenna. The connection is configured to be short-circuited by at least one diode. The first connection point and the second connection point are situated spatially between a first partial region and a second partial region of the antenna.

A diagnostic device capable of accurately diagnosing the soundness of a resolver circuit is provided. A shifter receives excitation signal and excitation signal; shifts the level of excitation signal, excitation signal, or both; and performs level shifting such that a period of time that starts with one of two times in which, in the vicinity of the peak value of excitation signal, excitation signal and excitation signal are at the same value and ends with the other of the two times is less than a prescribed threshold. A trigger generation circuit generates a trigger during said period of time. A control unit determines whether there is an abnormality in the resolver circuit on the basis of the trigger.

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes an execution unit and a generation unit. The execution unit executes first data collection after a predetermined inversion time elapses from a time when a labeling pulse is applied to a fluid flowing into an imaging region of a subject and a second data collection without application of the labeling pulse. The generation unit generates a differential image by using the first data and the second data. Here, the generation unit generates the differential image by a different differential method according to a relationship between the inversion time and a longitudinal relaxation time of the fluid.

This disclosure may relate to a system and method for calculating the mud angle from a downhole device. A method for estimating a mud angle may comprise: disposing a downhole tool into a borehole; extending an arm of the downhole tool to a first location, wherein a pad is disposed on the arm; taking a first impedance measurement with at least one button electrode, wherein the button electrode is disposed in a button array, wherein the button array is disposed on the pad; extending the arm to a second location; taking a second impedance measurement with the at least one button electrode; transmitting the first measurement and the second measurement to an information handling system; and estimating the mud angle from the first impedance measurement and the second impedance measurement with an information handling system.

An imaging system of microbubble therapy cooperated with an ultrasound device for monitoring a cavitation on microbubbles in a vessel of an affected part is disclosed in the present invention, in which the cavitation is occurred by applying an ultrasound to disrupt the microbubbles. The system comprises an image acquiring module and a controlling module. The image acquiring module comprises at least one magnetic resonance device for acquiring a plurality of magnetic resonance images of the cavitation, and the controlling module provided for controlling an acquiring time of the magnetic resonance device and an irradiation time of the ultrasonic device through a controlling mode. An image evaluation method using the same is also disclosed herein and comprises steps as the following. First, injecting the microbubbles into the vessel of the affected part is performed. And then, a plurality of magnetic resonance images by a magnetic resonance device and in an acquiring time is acquired. The microbubbles are irradiated for an irradiation time by an ultrasound. Finally, changes of the magnetic resonance images will be monitored, in which an irradiation path of the ultrasound may be perpendicular to a direction of flow in the vessel and the irradiation time is within the acquiring time.

A mutually calibrated magnetic imaging array system is described. The system includes a non-target magnetic source rigidly attached to a magnetometer, and an attached control unit to measure and adjust several parameters of a magnetic imaging array. A non-target magnetic field source is used to generate a well-defined and distinguishable spatial magnetic field distribution. The source is rigidly attached directly to a magnetometer, while the relative positions of the magnetometers are unknown. The magnetic imaging array is used to measure the strength of the non-target source magnetic fields and the information is used to calibrate several parameters of the array, such as, but not limited to, effective magnetometer positions and orientations with respect to each other and cross-talk between the magnetometers. The system, and method described herein eliminates the need for a separate calibration phantom.

The present disclosure relates to a radio frequency resonator and a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising the same. A radio frequency resonator for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure comprises: a microstrip substrate; a conductive pattern portion for resonance that is formed on one surface of the microstrip substrate and increases an intensity of a magnetic field which is generated by resonating an RF signal; and a ground conductive board that is formed on the other surface of the microstrip substrate. According to the present disclosure, there is provided a radio frequency resonator for a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus capable of generating an intense magnetic field.

Provided is an MRI apparatus. In the MRI apparatus, a data collection unit repetitively performs a tag mode of applying an RF wave to at least an upstream portion of an imaging area to perform fluid labeling of a fluid flown into the imaging area and, after a lapse of an inversion time from application of the RF wave, performing magnetic resonance data collection, while changing the inversion time. An image reconstruction unit reconstructs a plurality of tag images corresponding to a plurality of different inversion times based on the magnetic resonance data collected in the tag mode. A reference image generation unit generates a reference image based on the plurality of the tag images. A fluid image generation unit generates a subtraction image between each of the tag images and the reference image as a fluid image.