A magnetic resonance imaging configuration and methodology to straighten and otherwise homogenize the field lines in the imaging portion, creating improved image quality. Through use of calibrated corrective coils, magnetic field lines can be manipulated to improve uniformity and image quality. Additionally, when the apparatus is composed of non-ferromagnetic materials, field strengths can be increased to overcome limitations of Iron-based systems such as by use of superconductivity. A patient positioning apparatus and methodology allows multi-positioning of a patient within the calibrated and more uniform magnetic field lines.

A magnetic resonance imaging configuration and methodology to straighten and otherwise homogenize the field lines in the imaging portion, creating improved image quality. Through use of calibrated corrective coils, magnetic field lines can be manipulated to improve uniformity and image quality. Additionally, when the apparatus is composed of non-ferromagnetic materials, field strengths can be increased to overcome limitations of Iron-based systems such as by use of superconductivity. A patient positioning apparatus and methodology allows multi-positioning of a patient within the calibrated and more uniform magnetic field lines.

A wearable blood analyte measurement device includes a casing defining an appendage-receiving bore and having an interior volume. A plurality of magnets is within interior volume. The magnets produce a magnetic field in the bore. A nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) transceiver is supported by the casing and positioned to emit radiofrequency (RF) pulses to and receive NMR signals from the bore. An electronics assembly is within the interior volume and in communication with the NMR transceiver. A power source is in the interior volume and powers the NMR transceiver and the electronics assembly.

Techniques are disclosed for acquiring magnetic resonance data of an object with a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. A slice group is imaged whose slices define a contiguous imaging volume and which contains a first number of slices. In a number of concatenations, the magnetic resonance data for subgroups of the slices, each containing a respective second number of slices depending on the first number of concatenations, are acquired, and shimming is performed to increase field homogeneity in the imaging volume. To define the subgroups, the imaging volume is subdivided into at least two disjoint contiguous sub-volumes, and at least two subgroups are defined for each sub-volume, each subgroup only containing non-adjacent slices in the sub-volume. During acquisition of the magnetic resonance data of each subgroup, shimming is at least restricted to the respective sub-volume.

Techniques are disclosed for acquiring magnetic resonance data of an object with a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. A slice group is imaged whose slices define a contiguous imaging volume and which contains a first number of slices. In a number of concatenations, the magnetic resonance data for subgroups of the slices, each containing a respective second number of slices depending on the first number of concatenations, are acquired, and shimming is performed to increase field homogeneity in the imaging volume. To define the subgroups, the imaging volume is subdivided into at least two disjoint contiguous sub-volumes, and at least two subgroups are defined for each sub-volume, each subgroup only containing non-adjacent slices in the sub-volume. During acquisition of the magnetic resonance data of each subgroup, shimming is at least restricted to the respective sub-volume.

A tissue imaging system (10) includes a stationary array of magnets (12) arranged to generate an inhomogeneous main magnetic field (B0), a tissue holder (16) adjacent the array of magnets (12) and operative to move tissue (14) placed therein about and/or along a coordinate axis, one or more RF receive coils (20) adjacent the tissue holder (16) and the magnets (12), and an MRI processor in communication with the magnets (12), the RF receive coils (20) and the tissue holder (16). An image of the tissue (14) is created by using spatial encoding of magnetic resonance signals generated by the magnets (12) and RF receive coils (20) for different spatial orientations of the tissue (14) moved by the tissue holder (16) with respect to the magnets. Spatial inhomogeneities in the main magnetic field spatially modulate a phase of each of the magnetic resonance signals.

A tissue imaging system (10) includes a stationary array of magnets (12) arranged to generate an inhomogeneous main magnetic field (B0), a tissue holder (16) adjacent the array of magnets (12) and operative to move tissue (14) placed therein about and/or along a coordinate axis, one or more RF receive coils (20) adjacent the tissue holder (16) and the magnets (12), and an MRI processor in communication with the magnets (12), the RF receive coils (20) and the tissue holder (16). An image of the tissue (14) is created by using spatial encoding of magnetic resonance signals generated by the magnets (12) and RF receive coils (20) for different spatial orientations of the tissue (14) moved by the tissue holder (16) with respect to the magnets. Spatial inhomogeneities in the main magnetic field spatially modulate a phase of each of the magnetic resonance signals.

Magnetic field sensor, in particular for measuring magnetic noise fields caused by environmental magnetic noise in combination with MRI apparatus, the magnetic field sensor being further provided with field compensation coils assembly and with a compensation circuit driving the field compensation coils assembly to generate a magnetic field compensating the static magnetic field dissipating outside from the static magnetic field generator or from the gantry of the MRI apparatus at the position of the magnetic sensor. A method for operating the magnetic field sensor and a method and a system for compensation magnetic noise caused by environmental noise are also provided. An MRI apparatus is also disclosed comprising such a system and carrying out such a method for compensating magnetic noise fields.

Magnetic field sensor, in particular for measuring magnetic noise fields caused by environmental magnetic noise in combination with MRI apparatus, the magnetic field sensor being further provided with field compensation coils assembly and with a compensation circuit driving the field compensation coils assembly to generate a magnetic field compensating the static magnetic field dissipating outside from the static magnetic field generator or from the gantry of the MRI apparatus at the position of the magnetic sensor. A method for operating the magnetic field sensor and a method and a system for compensation magnetic noise caused by environmental noise are also provided. An MRI apparatus is also disclosed comprising such a system and carrying out such a method for compensating magnetic noise fields.

A magnet arrangement having a hollow-cylindrical magnet element that has an axial length L.sub.z,M and an inner radius R.sub.in, is constructed from magnet segments arranged concentrically around the z-axis, and has a Halbach magnetization. At least one ring-shaped magnet element has a notched, hollow-cylindrical cutout extending circumferentially around the z-axis symmetrically with respect to the plane z=0, the axial extent L.sub.z,A of the cutout being less than the axial length L.sub.z,M of the magnet element. The cutout has a radial depth T.sub.A and an axial length L.sub.z,A<L.sub.z,M between the z-positions z=z.sub.A to z=+z.sub.A. The radial depth T.sub.A and the axial length L.sub.z,A of the cutout are to ensure that the remaining inhomogeneity of the homogenous magnetic field B.sub.0 in a predefined measurement volume having an axial plateau length L.sub.P in the center of the magnet arrangement does not exceed 10 ppm.