Patent classifications
G01R33/243
MRI method for determining a magnetic field map from a B0 reference scan and a WASSR scan
The invention provides for a medical imaging system (100, 300). The medical imaging system (100, 300) comprises a processor (104). Execution of machine executable instructions (120) causes the processor (104) to: receive magnetic resonance data, wherein the magnetic resonance data comprises B0 field data (122) of a reference scan for a plurality of voxels and water saturation data (124) of a WASSR scan for a subset of voxels of the plurality of voxels, the water saturation data (124) comprising data of a limited number of sample points; determine a local absolute water saturation frequency (130) for each voxel of the subset using the water saturation data (124) of the WASSR scan; and reconstruct a field map (132) comprising a local absolute water saturation frequency for each voxel of the plurality of voxels, wherein the reconstruction comprises determining relative frequency differences between the voxels using the B0 field data (122) of the reference scan and adding a frequency offset to the relative frequency differences based on the determined local absolute water saturation frequencies (130) of the subset.
Echo-specific k-space sampling with multi-echo sequences
In a method, an imaging sequence is irradiated into an examination region in which an examination object is located. The imaging sequence includes an acquisition section. The acquisition section includes acquiring a plurality of echo signals, each of which samples a k-space region of a k-space. The plurality of echo signals comprises a plurality of first echo signals and a plurality of second echo signals. The plurality of first echo signals and the plurality of second echo signals are generated from different magnetization configurations. The k-space regions sampled by the plurality of first echo signals sample the k-space in a different order to the k-space regions sampled by the plurality of second echo signals.
OPTICALLY-PUMPED MAGNETOMETER (OPM) WITH AN OPM CONNECTOR THAT MITIGATES ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE (ESD) AND STORES OPM OPERATIONAL DATA
An Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM) system is configured to characterize a magnetic field. The OPM system comprises an OPM sensor that is coupled to an OPM cable that is coupled to an OPM connector that is detachably coupled to an OPM controller. The OPM connector stores OPM operational data. The OPM controller reads the OPM operational data when the OPM connector is coupled to an OPM controller. The OPM controller generates sensor control signals based on the OPM operational data and transfers the control signals to the OPM sensor. The OPM sensors characterize the magnetic field in response to the sensor control signals and transfer output signals that characterize the magnetic field to the OPM controller. The OPM controller models the magnetic field based on the output signals and transfers new OPM operational data to OPM connector. The OPM connector stores the new OPM operational data in the memory.
Method and apparatus for processing magnetic resonance data
A method of processing magnetic resonance (MR) data of a sample under investigation, includes the steps of providing the MR data being collected with an MRI scanner apparatus, and subjecting the MR data to a multi-parameter nonlinear regression procedure being based on a non-linear MR model and employing a set of input parameters, wherein the regression procedure results in creating a parameter map of model parameters of the sample, wherein the input parameters (initial values and possibly boundaries) of the regression procedure are estimated by a machine learning based estimation procedure applied to the MR data. The machine learning based estimation procedure preferably includes at least one of at least one neural network and a support vector machine. Furthermore, an MRI scanner apparatus is described.
Mapping and Correction of Inhomogeneity in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Magnetic Field
A system and method of mapping and correcting the inhomogeneity of a magnetic field within an object using an Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system where there is a single dominant resonance. The method includes acquiring at least three MRI images, each at different echo times (TE). At least two ΔTE images (ΔTE.sub.i=1 . . . N) are generated based on the at least three MRI images, wherein the subscripts I=1 N refer to images with sequentially increasing ΔTE times. Aliasing in the ΔTE.sub.1 image is permitted. The ΔTE times of ΔTE.sub.1 and ΔTE.sub.2 are set such that the alias points at which wrapping occurs in ΔTE.sub.1 does not overlap with the alias points of ΔTE.sub.2. Each ΔTE image is unwrapped. A final B0 map is set to the unwrapped ΔTE.sub.N image.
MEASUREMENT OF A GRADIENT FIELD IN AN MRT SYSTEM
In a method for measuring a gradient field in a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) system, a first slice is excited by a first radio frequency (RF) pulse being emitted and by a first slice selection gradient being switched at least partly at the same time as the first RF pulse. A second slice is excited by a second RF pulse being emitted and by a second slice selection gradient being switched at least partly at the same time as the second RF pulse. The second slice intersects with the first slice in an intersection region. After the excitation of the second slice, a readout gradient is switched, and an MR signal emitted from the intersection region is acquired. Depending on the MR signal, a disruption variable is computed, which determines a deviation of a temporal course of an amplitude of the readout gradient from a predetermined required course.
ESTIMATION OF B0 INHOMOGENEITIES FOR IMPROVED ACQUISITION AND/OR RECONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES
Disclosed herein is a medical system (100, 300, 500) comprising a memory (110) storing machine executable instructions (120) and a B.sub.0 field estimation module (126); and a computational system (106). Execution of the machine executable instructions causes the computational system to receive (200) an initial magnetic resonance image (122) that comprises a magnitude component and is descriptive of a first region (326) of interest of a subject (118). Execution of the machine executable instructions further causes the computational system to perform at least one iteration of the following: receive (202) subsequent k-space data (124) descriptive of subsequent region of interest (328) of the subject; calculate (204) an estimated B.sub.0 field mapping (128) for the subsequent region of interest from the initial magnetic resonance image by inputting the initial magnetic resonance image into the B.sub.0 field estimation module; and reconstruct (206) a corrected magnetic resonance image (130) from the subsequent k-space data and the estimated B.sub.0 field mapping.
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC FIELD SHIMMING
A method of producing a permanent magnet shim configured to improve a profile of a B.sub.0 magnetic field produced by a B.sub.0 magnet is provided. The method comprises determining deviation of the B.sub.0 magnetic field from a desired B.sub.0 magnetic field, determining a magnetic pattern that, when applied to magnetic material, produces a corrective magnetic field that corrects for at least some of the determined deviation, and applying the magnetic pattern to the magnetic material to produce the permanent magnet shim. According to some aspects, a permanent magnet shim for improving a profile of a B.sub.0 magnetic field produced by a B.sub.0 magnet is provided. The permanent magnet shim comprises magnetic material having a predetermined magnetic pattern applied thereto that produces a corrective magnetic field to improve the profile of the B.sub.0 magnetic field.
Magnetic resonance imaging device, computer-implemented method for operating a magnetic resonance imaging device, computer program and electronically readable storage medium
A MRI device including a main field unit for establishing a main magnetic field (MF) in an imaging region, a gradient coil assembly for generating a gradient field in the imaging region, a RF arrangement for sending excitation signals to and receiving MR signals from the imaging region, a field camera for determining MF information in the imaging region, the field camera comprising multiple MF sensors arranged at measurement positions enclosing the imaging region, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive sensor data for each measurement positions, from the sensor data, calculate the MF information for the imaging region, and implement a calibration and/or correction measure depending on the MF information. The field camera may be a vector-field camera acquiring vector-valued sensor data describing the MF at each measurement positions three-dimensionally. The controller may determine the MF information to three dimensionally describe the MF in the imaging region.
METHOD FOR CORRECTING A MAGNETIC RESONANCE MAPPING
According to a method, first magnetic resonance signals are captured at a first time point. Second magnetic resonance signals are captured at a second time point. The first magnetic resonance signals are provoked by nuclear spin excitations of fat and water in an examination object. The second magnetic resonance signals are provoked by nuclear spin excitations of fat and water in the examination object. The nuclear spin excitations of fat and water are in phase at the first time point. The nuclear spin excitations of fat and water are in opposed phase at the second time point. A Bo field map is determined based on the first magnetic resonance signals and the second magnetic resonance signals. Further magnetic resonance signals are captured. At least one magnetic resonance mapping is determined by reconstructing the further magnetic resonance signals. The at least one magnetic resonance mapping is corrected based on the Bo field map.