The present disclosure relates to a method for converting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to a computed tomography (CT) image using an artificial intelligence machine learning model, for use in ultrasound treatment device applications. The method includes acquiring training data including an MRI image and a CT image for machine learning; training an artificial neural network model using the training data, wherein artificial neural network model generates a CT image corresponding to the MRI image, and compares the generated CT image with the original CT image included in the training data; receiving an input MRI image to be converted to a CT image; splitting the input MRI image into a plurality of patches; generating patches of a CT image corresponding to the patches of the input MRI image using the trained artificial neural network model; and merging the patches of the CT image to generate an output CT image.

A system for maintaining coherence of ultrasound waves emitted by multiple transducer arrays includes multiple retention arms, each for receiving one of the transducer arrays; a connecting frame for receiving and mechanically retaining the arms in fixed angular relation to each other; and a processor configured to determine relative locations of the transducer arrays with respect to one another and the connecting frame; determine a location of the connecting frame relative to an anatomic region of interest; determine a spatial arrangement of the transducer elements in each transducer array with respect to the anatomic region of interest; and adjust a transmission configuration of the transducer elements in the transducer arrays to achieve a desired focusing property with respect to the anatomic region of interest while maintaining coherence therebetween.

Methods, systems, and devices for mechanically disturbing tissues of the central nervous system including a brain of a subject are provided. An elastogram of brain tissue may be generated using mesoscopic wavelength ultrasound composed of longitudinal waves in brain tissues to produce micromechanical disturbances of brain nuclei and circuits for characterization of their mechanical properties (e.g., stiffness, elasticity, rigidity, viscoelasticity). A magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) system includes an MRE engine in electronic communication with at least one transducer and with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device. The MRE engine is configured to electronically control operation of the at least one transducer to emit ultrasound, to electronically receive, from the MRI device, at least one signal indicative of measurements of displacement of the brain tissue by the ultrasound, and to electronically generate an elastogram of the brain tissue based on the at least one signal.

An apparatus includes a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) system and a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system. A memory stores: instructions, pulse sequence commands for an acoustic radiation force imaging protocol, and first and second sonication commands. The pulse sequence commands specify acquisition of the MR data for first and second pulse sequence repetitions. The pulse sequence commands specify for each of the sequence repetitions a first and a second group of motion encoding gradients. Execution of the instructions causes a processor to: acquire first and second MR data by controlling the MR imaging system with the pulse sequence commands and by controlling the HIFU system with the first and second sonication commands, respectively; reconstruct first and second motion encoded images from the first and second MR data, respectively; and construct a displacement map from the difference of the first and second motion encoded images.

A method for postural independent location of targets in diagnostic images acquired by multimodal acquisitions, compensating for deformation of soft tissues due to changing posture, includes generating a transition of a digital image of the inside of a target region from a first to a second position by correlating the position of markers placed on the external surface of the target region in a digital image of the inside of the target region and in a digital representation of the external surface of the target region acquired by optically scanning the external surface; and at a later time registering the diagnostic image of the inside of the target region, transitioned into the second position, with a diagnostic image of the same target region acquired with the target region in the second position by matching a second representation of the external surface of the target region in the second position without markers with the diagnostic image of the inside of the target region transitioned into the second position.

A device for NMR spectroscopy includes a magnet arrangement, configured to produce a magnetic probe field within a magnet field of view external to the magnet arrangement. In a embodiment, the device includes a coil arrangement, configured to generate an electromagnetic excitation field within a coil field of view and a controller, configured to control the coil arrangement. The device includes a magnet adjustment arrangement, configured and arranged to modify at least one parameter of the magnet arrangement to change a spatial position of the magnet field of view.

Applications related to non-invasive magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) in a patient's vasculature are described. For example, the applications can include an ablation procedure, an occlusion procedure, a cauterization procedure, and the like. Accordingly, one aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method for performing an MRgFUS application that includes selecting a target area within a patient's vasculature, configuring multifocal acoustic waves, and applying the multifocal acoustic waves to the target area to heat sequential locations in the target area simultaneously to facilitate the MRgFUS application.

MRI interference with a concurrently operated system may be reduced or corrected by subtracting the MRI interference from signals measured using the concurrently operated system. Various approaches for performing MRI of an anatomic region in conjunction with a radio-frequency-sensitive (RF-sensitive) measurement of the region using the concurrently operated system include the steps of simultaneously performing an MR scan sequence including MR pulses and the RF-sensitive measurements; recording the RF-sensitive measurements as they are made; detecting intervals during the MR scan sequence when an RF level is sufficient to interfere with the RF-sensitive measurements; and retaining only the RF-sensitive measurements performed outside the detected intervals.

A method for postural independent location of targets in diagnostic images acquired by multimodal acquisitions, compensating for deformation of soft tissues due to changing posture, includes generating a transition of a digital image of the inside of a target region from a first to a second position by correlating the position of markers placed on the external surface of the target region in a digital image of the inside of the target region and in a digital representation of the external surface of the target region acquired by optically scanning the external surface; and at a later time registering the diagnostic image of the inside of the target region, transitioned into the second position, with a diagnostic image of the same target region acquired with the target region in the second position by matching a second representation of the external surface of the target region in the second position without markers with the diagnostic image of the inside of the target region transitioned into the second position.

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence controlling circuitry and processing circuitry. The sequence controlling circuit executes, while a k-space is divided into a plurality of segments, a pulse sequence by which a tag pulse is applied and subsequently acquisition is performed. The processing circuit generates an image based on the pulse sequence executed by the sequence controlling circuit. The pulse sequence is a pulse sequence by which the acquisition is repeatedly performed at the center of the k-space. The sequence controlling circuit executes the pulse sequence, while changing the range to which the tag pulse is applied, for each of the plurality of segments.