Patent classifications
G01R33/3806
Magnetic Resonance Device
A magnetic resonance device having a main magnet unit with a cylindrical patient aperture. A gradient connection plate for a gradient coil arrangement surrounds the patient aperture. A cladding arrangement with at least one cladding part outwardly delimits the main magnet unit.
MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS
In one embodiment, an MRI system includes at least one magnetic field assembly and at least one image generator. The at least one magnetic field assembly includes an open main magnet configured to generate a main magnetic field for dominantly determining a magnetic resonance frequency, a gradient coil configured to generate a gradient magnetic field, and an RF coil configured to generate a radio frequency magnetic field. The at least one image generator is configured to generate a magnetic resonance image of an object by using the main magnetic field, the gradient magnetic field, and the radio frequency magnetic field generated by the at least one magnetic field assembly. The main magnet is disposed between adjacent examination rooms. The main magnetic field generated by the open main magnet is commonly used in each of the adjacent examination rooms.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NON-INVASIVE FAT COMPOSITION MEASUREMENT IN AN ORGAN
Systems and methods are provided for determine the fat composition in an organ of interest using a non-invasive health measurement system. The non-invasive health measurement system may include an open magnet NMR apparatus. The NMR apparatus may measure NMR signals in a sensitive volume of a patient. The sensitive volume may coincide with an organ of interest, such as a liver. Systems and methods disclosed herein may provide for separation of the water contribution and the fat contribution to the measured NMR signal. Diffusion based separation, T.sub.2 based separation, and T.sub.1 based separation may each serve as different methods for separating the water and fat contributions to the signal. Separating the water and fat contributions to the single may allow for computation of a proton density fat fraction which may reflect the fat composition of the organ of interest.
Methods and apparatus for patient positioning in magnetic resonance imaging
According to some aspects, a magnetic resonance imaging system capable of imaging a patient is provided. The magnetic resonance imaging system comprising at least one B0 magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to a B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system and a member configured to engage with a releasable securing mechanism of a radio frequency coil apparatus, the member attached to the magnetic resonance imaging system at a location so that, when the member is engaged with the releasable securing mechanism of the radio frequency coil apparatus, the radio frequency coil apparatus is secured to the magnetic resonance imaging system substantially within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
NOISE SUPPRESSION METHODS AND APPARATUS
According to some aspects, a method of suppressing noise in an environment of a magnetic resonance imaging system is provided. The method comprising estimating a transfer function based on multiple calibration measurements obtained from the environment by at least one primary coil and at least one auxiliary sensor, respectively, estimating noise present in a magnetic resonance signal received by the at least one primary coil based at least in part on the transfer function, and suppressing noise in the magnetic resonance signal using the noise estimate.
Installable RF coil assembly
A maneuverable RF coil assembly, useful for being maneuvered at both positions: (i) over at least a portion of a neonate immobilized within a cradle at time of MR imaging; and (ii) below or aside the cradle when it is not required for imaging. The maneuverable RF coil assembly comprises at least one RF coil and maneuvering mechanism. The maneuvering mechanism comprises both: (i) a linear reciprocating mechanism for approaching or otherwise drawing away at least one coil to and from the neonate; and (ii) tilting mechanism for placing at least one coil away from the neonate.
RESISTIVE ELECTROMAGNET SYSTEMS AND METHODS
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system having a resistive, solenoidal electromagnet for whole-body MRI may include ferromagnetic material within an envelope of the electromagnet. The system can be configured to have a field strength of at least 0.05 Tesla and its main electromagnetic field can be generated by layers of conductors instead of bundles. Certain electromagnet designs may be fabricated using non-metallic formers, such as fiberglass, and can be constructed to form a rigid object with the layers of conductors by fixing all together with an epoxy. The electromagnet may be configured to have two separated halves, which may be held apart by a fixation structure such as carbon fiber. The power supply for certain electromagnets herein may have current fluctuations, at frequencies of 180 Hz or above, of at least one part per ten thousand without requiring an additional current filter.
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PATIENT POSITIONING IN MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
According to some aspects, a magnetic resonance imaging system capable of imaging a patient is provided. The magnetic resonance imaging system comprising at least one B0 magnet to produce a magnetic field to contribute to a B0 magnetic field for the magnetic resonance imaging system and a member configured to engage with a releasable securing mechanism of a radio frequency coil apparatus, the member attached to the magnetic resonance imaging system at a location so that, when the member is engaged with the releasable securing mechanism of the radio frequency coil apparatus, the radio frequency coil apparatus is secured to the magnetic resonance imaging system substantially within an imaging region of the magnetic resonance imaging system.
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.
Adaptive shim coils for MR imaging
Some implementations provide a system that includes: a housing having a bore in which a subject to be image is placed; a main magnet configured to generate a volume of magnetic field within the bore, the volume of magnetic field having inhomogeneity below a defined threshold; one or more gradient coils configured to linearly vary the volume of magnetic field as a function of spatial location; one or more pulse generating coils configured to generate and apply radio frequency (RF) pulses to the volume of magnetic field in sequence to scan the portion of the subject; one or more shim gradient coils configured to perturb a spatial distribution of the linearly varying volume of magnetic field; and a control unit configured to operate the gradient coils, pulse generating coils, and shim gradient coils such that only the user-defined region within the volume of magnetic field is imaged.