A cannula for transferring a substance to and/or from a patient includes a rigid, tubular support sleeve, an inner sleeve, a transfer tube, and a conformal polymeric sleeve. The support sleeve defines a support sleeve lumen extending from a first opening at a proximal end of the support sleeve to a second opening at a distal end of the support sleeve. The support sleeve includes a rigid, MRI-compatible material. The inner sleeve is disposed in the support sleeve lumen and extends beyond the distal end of the support sleeve to a distal end of the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve defines an inner sleeve lumen. The transfer tube is disposed in the inner sleeve lumen and extends to or beyond the distal end of the inner sleeve to a distal end of the transfer tube. The transfer tube defines a transfer tube lumen terminating at an opening at the distal end of the transfer tube. The conformal polymeric sleeve surrounds at least a portion of the support sleeve and at least a portion of the inner sleeve. The conformal polymeric sleeve includes a transitional section extending from the distal end of the support sleeve and over the inner sleeve in a direction toward the distal end of the inner sleeve. The transitional section tapers inwardly in the direction toward the distal end of the inner sleeve.

Devices for transferring fluid to or from a subject include an extension tube assembly with an axially extending inner tube configured to couple to an elongate tubular cannula having opposing proximal and distal ends with an axially extending lumen and an axially extending inner tube. The inner tube extending through the tubular cannula defines an exposed needle tip and is in fluid communication with the inner tube of the extension tube assembly. The needle tip extends out of a distal end of the tubular cannula a suitable distance.

Methods, apparatus and systems magnetic resonance imaging. The system may acquire images associated with a target region the body part including the target region moves, using a series of imaging planes correlated with the motion. The images are then displayed in time order sequence to provide a motion picture. The system may also provide for imaging in multiple planes such as mutually-perpendicular planes with rapid and facile switching between these planes. The multi-plane views can be used, for example, to monitor insertion of an instrument into the patient.

A magnetic resonance (MR) system (10) for guidance of a shaft or needle (16) to a target (14) of a subject (12) is provided. The system includes a user interface (76). The user interface (76) includes a frame (78) positioned on a surface of the subject (12). The frame (78) includes an opening (82) over an entry point of a planned trajectory for the shaft or needle (16). The planned trajectory extends from the entry point to the target (14). The user interface (76) further includes one or more visual indicators (80) arranged on the frame (78) around the opening (82). The one or more visual indicators (80) at least one of: 1) visually indicate deviation of the shaft or needle (16) from the planned trajectory; and 2) visually indicate a current position of a real-time slice of real-time MR images.

An imaging fiducial marker includes a plurality of marker structures and a connection structure that linearly, curvilinearly, or angly, affixes the plurality of marker structures. The imaging fiducial marker is formed from materials having at least two different radiopacities. Each different radiopacity is separately distinguishable during medical imaging, and the connection structure is distinguishable from the plurality of marker structures during medical imaging. The imaging fiducial marker is arranged for implantation in vivo within soft tissue. Deploying the imaging fiducial marker includes identifying a soft tissue area in a patient's body where the marker will be placed in vivo and deploying the marker in the identified soft tissue area.

A method for determining two-dimensional image data from at least one sectional surface of an acquisition volume as part of a magnetic resonance imaging process by a combined apparatus, including a magnetic resonance imaging facility and an X-ray facility, is provided. The method includes controlling the X-ray facility to acquire at least one X-ray image that images at least part of an object. At least one piece of object information is determined by image processing the X-ray image. At least one sectional-surface parameter that defines an arrangement of the sectional surface in the acquisition volume is determined. The magnetic resonance imaging facility is controlled to acquire measurement data relating to the sectional surface. The two-dimensional image data is calculated from the measurement data. The sectional-surface parameter is used as the basis for the control of the magnetic resonance imaging facility and/or for the calculation of the two-dimensional image data.

Techniques are disclosed related to recording a magnetic resonance image data set of a region of a patient with a magnetic resonance device using a multislice imaging technique. The multislice technique may be applied simultaneously with at least partial undersampling in a slice plane. The magnetic resonance data may be read out from a set of excited slices simultaneously and, by means of a slice separation algorithm that is calibrated using reference data recorded in a separate reference scan, may be allocated to the simultaneously read-out slices. Subsequently, an undersampling algorithm compensating for the undersampling in the slice plane may be applied to the undersampled magnetic resonance data of the individual slices.

An MR marker (501, 601, 803, 902) for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided intervention and method of fabricating same. The tracking device can be integrated with an MRI-guided robotic system to provide precise positional tracking of the interventional tools and robotic components, allowing safe operation inside the human body. The MR tracking device includes a plurality of stacked flexible printed circuit boards; a plurality of flat planar spirals comprised of a non-ferromagnetic material and directly disposed on a top surface and a bottom surface side of each flexible printed circuit board, a biocompatible, non-ferromagnetic material encapsulating the flexible printed circuit boards; and an adhesive bonding the flexible printed circuit boards. In another aspect, an orientation-independent device is provided including three or more markers (501, 601, 803, 902) in an array around a cylindrical substrate.

Systems and methods for testing properties of a test sample with a tri-axial nuclear magnetic resonance include a tri-axial load frame encasing a tri-axial load cell having a tri-axial sample holder and a piston assembly. A radial space surrounds the tri-axial sample holder. The tri-axial load frame further encases at least one end cap operable to contact the tri-axial load cell, and a nuclear magnetic resonance instrument. An axial pressure line is in fluid communication with the piston assembly, a confining pressure line is in fluid communication with the radial space, and a pore pressure line in fluid communication with the test sample. The axial pressure line, the confining pressure line, and the pore pressure line are independent and separate fluid flow paths.

Devices and systems can be configured to guide an instrument to a target region. The guide system may include an imaging guide including a first segment, the first segment including a guide region and imaging coils surrounding the guide region; and a platform. The platform may include a first rail, a second rail disposed parallel to the first rail, and a positioning member disposed between the first rail and the second rail. The positioning member may include a positioning frame having an entry region. The positioning frame may be movably disposed with respect to the first and second rails in a first direction and a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The platform may be disposed with respect to the imaging guide so that a position of the entry region is within the guide region.