A motion compensation system for tracking and compensating for patient motion during a medical imaging scan comprises an optical marker comprising an optically visible pattern and a mounting portion; a first optical detector positioned to digitally image the optically visible pattern along a first line of sight; a second optical detector positioned to digitally image the optically visible pattern along a second line of sight; a tracking engine configured to determine a pose of the object in six degrees of freedom by analyzing images from the first and second optical detectors; and a controller interface configured to generate tracking information based on the pose and to electronically transmit the tracking information to a scanner controller to enable compensation within a medical imaging scanner for object motion.

Devices and methods are provided for shutting down a magnet system. The device includes a portable housing, a communication unit, and a switch on the portable housing. The portable housing encloses a field shutdown initiation circuitry. The communication unit is disposed at least partially in the portable housing and the communication unit is configured to establish communication between the field shutdown initiation circuitry and the magnet system. The switch is configured to turn on the field shutdown initiation circuitry to initiate a magnet field shutdown in the magnet system.

A magnetic resonance method and system are provided for magnetic resonance (MR) image-guided insertion of an object into a biological tissue along a predetermined trajectory. The trajectory provides a path between a starting point and a target site within the tissue. Sufficiently high resolution images can be generated in real time to precisely guide the needle placement. A compressed sensing approach is used to generate the images based on minimization of a cost function, where the cost function is based on the predetermined needle path, artifact effects associated with the needle, the negligible changes in the images away from the trajectory, and the limited differences between successive images. The improved combination of spatial and temporal resolution facilitates an insertion procedure that can be continuously adjusted to accurately follow a predetermined trajectory in the tissue, without interruptions to obtain verification images.

Systems and methods for sensing external magnetic fields in implantable medical devices are provided. One aspect of this disclosure relates to an apparatus for sensing magnetic fields. An apparatus embodiment includes a sensing circuit with at least one inductor having a magnetic core that saturates in the presence of a magnetic field having a prescribed flux density. The apparatus embodiment also includes an impedance measuring circuit connected to the sensing circuit. The impedance measuring circuit is adapted to measure impedance of the sensing circuit and to provide a signal when the impedance changes by a prescribed amount. According to an embodiment, the sensing circuit includes a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) circuit. The impedance measuring circuit includes a transthoracic impedance measurement module (TIMM), according to an embodiment. Other aspects and embodiments are provided herein.

A pulse display apparatus includes a display configured to display a pulse sequence schematic diagram that shows an MRI pulse sequence along a timeline that is divided into a plurality of time sections, a user input unit configured to receive a user input for selecting a first point on the pulse sequence schematic diagram, and a controller configured to control the display such that an image that is usable for identifying a first area is displayed on the first area, wherein the first point is located in the first area from among a plurality of areas that correspond to the plurality of time sections.

A magnitude and direction of at least one of a reset current and a second stabilization current (that produces a reset field and a second stabilization field, respectively) is determined that, when applied to an array of magnetic sense elements, minimizes the total required stabilization field and reset field during the operation of the magnetic sensor and the measurement of the external field. Therefore, the low field sensor operates optimally (with the highest sensitivity and the lowest power consumption) around the fixed external field operating point. The fixed external field is created by other components in the sensor device housing (such as speaker magnets) which have a high but static field with respect to the low (earth's) magnetic field that describes orientation information.

A setting apparatus configured for setting and/or adjusting an attachment position of an attachment element for attaching a housing cover of a magnetic resonance apparatus in relation to a magnetic center of a magnet unit is provided. The setting apparatus includes a base plate unit, an attachment unit for attaching the base plate unit to the magnet unit and a setting unit. The setting unit includes at least two laser beam units for marking the attachment position of the attachment element for attaching the housing cover to the magnet unit.

A setting apparatus configured for setting and/or adjusting an attachment position of an attachment element for attaching a housing cover of a magnetic resonance apparatus in relation to a magnetic center of a magnet unit is provided. The setting apparatus includes a base plate unit, an attachment unit for attaching the base plate unit to the magnet unit and a setting unit. The setting unit includes at least two laser beam units for marking the attachment position of the attachment element for attaching the housing cover to the magnet unit.

A device and system for generating a broadband excitation signal and corresponding excitation field to a substance under test in an NMR system is presented. The excitation signal is generated, according to a broadband transmitter, to a coil in the NMR system. A corresponding broadband receiver is also presented that acquires a response signal resulting from a response field emanating from the substance under test. Neither the transmitter nor the receiver require that the frequency of operation be determined according to a particular configuration of electrical devices to determine a resonance characteristic that tunes to a particular operational frequency. Rather, the operational frequency is determined according to control and driver devices triggered according to command and control signals in the case of the transmitter, and according to reactive elements, that are not configured as a tuned circuit, in the case of the receiver.

A device and system for generating a broadband excitation signal and corresponding excitation field to a substance under test in an NMR system is presented. The excitation signal is generated, according to a broadband transmitter, to a coil in the NMR system. A corresponding broadband receiver is also presented that acquires a response signal resulting from a response field emanating from the substance under test. Neither the transmitter nor the receiver require that the frequency of operation be determined according to a particular configuration of electrical devices to determine a resonance characteristic that tunes to a particular operational frequency. Rather, the operational frequency is determined according to control and driver devices triggered according to command and control signals in the case of the transmitter, and according to reactive elements, that are not configured as a tuned circuit, in the case of the receiver.