Methods, computer-readable storage devices, and systems are described for reducing movement of a patient undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan by aligning MRI data, the method implemented on a Framewise Integrated Real-time MRI Monitoring (FIRMM) computing device including at least one processor in communication with at least one memory device. Aspects of the method comprise receiving a data frame from the MRI system, aligning the received data frame to a preceding data frame, calculating motion of a body part between the received data frame and the preceding data frame, calculating total frame displacement, and excluding data frames with a cutoff above a pre-identified threshold of the total frame displacement.

In order to provide an effective optimization of a magnetic resonance sequence, particularly with regard to optimizing the slew rates of gradient switching sequences of the magnetic resonance sequence, in a method for optimizing a magnetic resonance sequence of a magnetic resonance apparatus, wherein the magnetic resonance sequence includes multiple pre-set gradient switching sequences with multiple pre-set slew rates, the multiple pre-set slew rates are provided to a computer wherein the multiple pre-set slew rates are evaluated. At least one optimization measure for the magnetic resonance sequence is defined based on the evaluation of the multiple pre-set slew rates. The magnetic resonance sequence is optimized based on the at least one pre-set optimization measure, wherein the optimized magnetic resonance sequence has multiple optimized gradient switching sequences with multiple optimized slew rates, and the multiple optimized slew rates being optimized in relation to the multiple pre-set slew rates.

In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for acquiring an MR signal from an examination subject according to a pulse sequence, a first radio-frequency pulse is applied with a first phase and a gradient field is simultaneously applied in a first direction. Second and third radio-frequency pulses, with second and third phases, respectively, are applied simultaneously with a gradient field in a second direction. A fourth and a fifth radio-frequency pulse, with a fourth and a fifth phase, respectively, are applied and simultaneously with a gradient field in a third direction. A signal with a receiver phase is acquired =. The pulse sequence is repeated a number of times under phase rotation, wherein the third and fourth radio-frequency pulses in each repetition have the same phase, and the signals acquired in the repetition are added.

An asymmetric 3D shells k-space trajectory design with partial Fourier acceleration is described. A non-iterative homodyne reconstruction framework is also described.

The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of an object positioned in an examination volume of a MR device (1), the method comprises the steps of:subjecting the object (10) to an imaging sequence of RF pulses (20) and switched magnetic field gradients(G), which imaging sequence is a zero echo time sequence comprising: i) setting a readout magnetic field gradient (G) having a readout direction and a readout strength; ii) radiating a RF pulse (20) in the presence of the readout magnetic field gradient (G); iii) acquiring a FID signal in the presence of the readout magnetic field gradient (G), wherein the FID signal represents a radial k-space sample; iv) gradually varying the readout direction; v) sampling a spherical volume in k-space by repeating steps i) through iv) a number of times, with the readout strength being varied between repetitions;reconstructing a MR image from the acquired FID signals, wherein signal contributions of two or more chemical species to the acquired FID signals are separated. It is an object of the invention to enable silent ZTE imaging in combination with water/fat separation. This is achieved by varying the readout strength such that each position in k-space is sampled at least two times, each time with a different value of the readout strength. Moreover, the invention relates to a MR device and to a computer program for a MR device.

Methods, computer-readable storage devices, and systems are described for reducing movement of a patient undergoing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. One method includes receiving a data frame from the MRI system performing the MRI scan of the patient, comparing the data frame to a reference image to assess motion of a body part of the patient during the MRI scan, generating stimulus to be communicated to the patient during the MRI scan based on a task of the MRI scan and the motion of the body part of the patient during the MRI scan, adjusting the stimulus during the MRI scan to adjust the task and as the motion of the body part of the patient changes, and communicating the stimulus to the patient during the MRI scan, wherein the sensory feedback includes at least one of a game, a movie, a cartoon, a shape, or an auditory signal.

Systems and methods for performing MRI include using a RF gradient field for spatial encoding. In particular implementations, |B.sup.+.sub.i|-selective pulses designed using the Shinnar-Le Roux algorithm can be provided as the excitation pulse for the RF gradient field. Further, frequency encoding for the RF gradient field can be based on the Bloch-Siegert (BS) shift. Together, these techniques can be used to support MRI based on RF gradient encoding instead of the conventional Bo encoding.

A system for RF based frequency encoding utilizing a Bloch-Siegert shift, includes a controller, an RF encoding system, and an injection transformer simultaneous transmit and receive filter. The controller generates RF excitation pulses, RF based frequency encoding pulses, and a cancellation signal. The RF encoding system includes one or more RF coils configured to transmit the RF excitation pulses and RF based frequency encoding pulses, and to receive an MR signal from the subject where the MR signal includes a leakage signal induced by the RF based frequency encoding pulses. The injection transformer simultaneous transmit and receive filter is in signal communication with the controller and the RF encoding system. The injection transformer simultaneous transmit receive filter is configured to receive the cancellation signal, the MR signal including the leakage signal, and to cancel the leakage signal from the received MR signal to generate a filtered MR signal.

In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as methods, may include operating a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna as equivalent tilted dipoles, wherein the tilted dipoles provide a selection of equivalent tilt angles for at least one of the transmitting antenna or the receiving antenna. Further activity may comprise receiving signals by the receiving antenna disposed in a geological formation, the signals to be inverted to obtain at least one of resistivity or dielectric constant properties of the geological formation at a selected depth of investigation, the depth determined by the selection of the equivalent tilt angles and weighting with pre-computed integrated radial sensitivity signal data. Additional methods, apparatus, and systems are disclosed.

A magnetic-resonance imaging apparatus of an embodiment includes a gradient coil, a transmitter coil, and a processing circuitry. The gradient coil applies a gradient magnetic field to an imaging space in which a subject is placed. The transmitter coil applies a RF (radio frequency) pulse to the imaging space. The processing circuitry calculates a target temperature of the gradient coil throughout multiple protocols to be executed in an examination of the subject, and controls a temperature of the gradient coil to approach the target temperature when a data used to set a center frequency of the RF pulse is measured.