A method of data acquisition at a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The system receives at least a portion of raw data for an image, and detects anomalies in the portion of raw data received. When anomalies are detected, the system can correct those anomalies dynamically, without waiting for a new scan to be ordered. The system can attempt to scan the offending portion of the raw data, either upon detection of the anomaly or at some point during the scan. The system can also correct anomalies using digital correction methods based on expected values. The anomalies can be detected based on variations from thresholds, masks and expected values all of which can be obtained using one of the ongoing scan, previously performed scans and apriori information relating to the type of scan being performed.

A method, magnetic resonance imaging computing device, and a non-transitory computer readable medium for producing a semi-adiabatic spectral-spatial spectroscopic imaging sequence for magnetic resonance imaging. A pulse control signal comprising a pair of adiabatic pulses and a linear phase pulse is generated. The pulse control signal is transformed into a pair of spectral-spatial refocusing pulses and an excitation pulse. The pair of spectral-spatial refocusing pulses and the excitation pulse are output to a waveform generator to produce the semi-adiabatic spectral-spatial spectroscopic imaging sequence.

An MR Spectroscopy (MRS) system and approach is provided for diagnosing painful and non-painful discs in chronic, severe low back pain patients (DDD-MRS). A DDD-MRS pulse sequence generates and acquires DDD-MRS spectra within intervertebral disc nuclei for later signal processing & diagnostic analysis. An interfacing DDD-MRS signal processor receives output signals of the DDD-MRS spectra acquired and is configured to optimize signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) by an automated system that selectively conducts optimal channel selection, phase and frequency correction, and frame editing as appropriate for a given acquisition series. A diagnostic processor calculates a diagnostic value for the disc based upon a weighted factor set of criteria that uses MRS data extracted from the acquired and processed MRS spectra along regions associated with multiple chemicals that have been correlated to painful vs. non-painful discs. A diagnostic display provides a scaled, color coded legend and indication of results for each disc analyzed as an overlay onto a mid-sagittal T2-weighted MRI image of the lumbar spine for the patient being diagnosed. Clinical application of the embodiments provides a non-invasive, objective, pain-free, reliable approach for diagnosing painful vs. non-painful discs by simply extending and enhancing the utility of otherwise standard MRI exams of the lumbar spine.

A method of designing a refocusing pulse or pulse train for Magnetic Resonance Imaging comprises the steps of: a) determining a phase-free performance criterion representative of a proximity between a rotation of nuclear spins induced by the pulse and a target operator, summed or averaged over one or more voxels of an imaging region of interest; and b) adjusting a plurality of control parameters of the pulse to maximize the phase-free performance criterion; wherein each target operator is chosen so the phase-free performance criterion takes a maximum value when the nuclear spins within all voxels undergo a rotation of a same angle around a rotation axis lying in a plane perpendicular to a magnetization field B.sub.0, called a transverse plane, with an arbitrary orientation; wherein the angle is different from M radians, with integer M, preferably with < radians and even preferably with 0.9.Math. radians.

Methods for determining protein and/or peptide concentration or molecular parameter, such as the extinction coefficient, and uses thereof.

A method of detecting hazardous materials in containers utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology. The presence of precursors (e.g., H202) and/or nitrogen in the liquid in the container is determined by placing the container in a static magnetic field, exciting the container with electromagnetic pulses having a frequency corresponding to proton NMR and 14N NMR, and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals through a probe. The excitation pulses are configured to enable detection of the presence of precursors and nitrogen in the container, and may comprise a sequence of short RF pulses. The presence of nitrogen and/or explosive precursors is determined by detecting and evaluating NMR measurement signal amplitudes and relaxation times from the received RF signals. An apparatus comprising a magnet that generates a magnetic field and a probe that generates RF pulses and receives NMR measurement signals from the sampled container in accordance with the aforementioned method.

A method is proposed for the simultaneous optimization of an arbitrary number of electromagnetic pulses, which act in a cooperative way, or mutually compensate each other's errors. The method generally relates to pulses which can have improved properties when cooperating with each other compared to single pulses. In experiments with several scans, undesired signal contributions can be suppressed by COOP pulses, which complements and generalizes the concept of phase cycling. COOP pulses can also be used in individual scans. COOP pulses can be optimized efficiently with the aid of an extended version of the optimal-control-theory-based gradient ascent pulse engineering (GRAPE) algorithm. The advantage of the COOP pulse method is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally for broadband and band-selective excitation and saturation pulses.

According to one embodiment, a spectrum analysis apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry obtains an acquired spectrum of an MRS pulse sequence with respect to a material. The processing circuitry inputs a basis set including a plurality of spectrum bases respectively corresponding to a plurality of materials. The basis set includes a plurality of basis fragments obtained by dividing, based on a predetermined criterion, a basis spectrum relating to a material of interest which is some or all of the materials. The processing circuitry performs a regression calculation which applies the basis set to the acquired spectrum and outputs a result of spectrum analysis based on the regression calculation.

The present document describes methods and systems for exciting magnetic resonance in a sample using trains of pulsed, oscillating magnetic fields that are modulated in their phase and amplitude according to a source waveform derived from the known or estimated magnetic response of a sample. Also disclosed are methods and systems for acquiring a response signal from the sample wherein data acquisition events are synchronized or interleaved with said modulated pulse trains. Further disclosed are methods and systems for identifying one or more of the presence, absence, amount, and concentration of a target substance in a sample. Also disclosed is a magnetic resonance device which uses such pulse trains and synchronized acquisition to improve the selectivity of magnetic resonance data.

A method for performing magnetic resonance imaging is provided. The method includes providing a magnetic resonance imaging system comprising: a radio frequency receive system comprising a radio frequency receive coil, and a housing, wherein the housing comprises a permanent magnet for providing an inhomogeneous permanent gradient field, a radio frequency transmit system, and a single-sided gradient coil set. The method also includes placing the receive coil proximate a target subject; applying a sequence of chirped pulses via the transmit system; applying a multi-slice excitation along the inhomogeneous permanent gradient field; applying a plurality of gradient pulses via the gradient coil set orthogonal to the inhomogeneous permanent gradient field; acquiring a signal of the target subject via the receive system, wherein the signal comprises at least two chirped pulses; and forming a magnetic resonance image of the target subject.