The present invention provides a method for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of a subject of interest (120) using arterial spin labeling, comprising the steps of performing a labeling module (200) by applying magnetic and/or radio frequency (RF) fields to the subject of interest (120) for labeling arterial blood in at least a labeling region (144) thereof, performing a first readout module (202) to obtain first MR information of the subject of interest (120) in a region of interest (142) using first parameters, performing a second readout module (204) to obtain second MR information of the subject of interest (120) in a region of interest (142) using second parameters, and performing MR image generation of a region of interest (142) based on the first and second MR information, wherein the first and second parameters of the first and second readout module (202, 204) are chosen to be different parameters. The invention also provides a MR imaging system (110) adapted to perform the above method and a software package for upgrading a MR imaging system (110), whereby the software package contains instructions for controlling the MR imaging system (110) according to the above method.

In a method and apparatus for performing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for generating multiple T1 maps of separate regions of interest of a subject along a first spatial axis, multiple MR pulse sequences are generated, each MR pulse sequence being for imaging a respective one of the separate regions of interest of the subject. In order to generate each of the plurality of MR pulse sequences, a spatially selective preparation pulse is generated exciting the region of interest of the subject and a number of imaging sequences that follow the application of the spatially selective preparation pulse are generated. MR imaging data are acquired during the generation of the multiple imaging sequences. The multiple MR pulse sequences are generated during a period not exceeding 30 seconds.

A method is provided for the saturation-prepared recording of MR image data. The method includes establishment of at least two measurement slices in an examination volume of an examination object, wherein the examination volume has adjacent slices which each adjoin at least one of the at least two measurement slices; output of a saturation module including at least one saturation pulse for saturating a magnetization of the adjacent slices; output of an excitation pulse for exciting a magnetization of at least one of the at least two measurement slices; readout of an MR signal of the examination volume; reconstruction of the MR image data from the at least two measurement slices based on the MR signal; and provision of the MR image data. The disclosure further relates to a magnetic resonance system and a computer program product.

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (“MRF”) techniques in which T1, T2, and T2* are simultaneously quantified using a combined gradient echo and spin echo acquisition with integrated B1 correction are described. The values for T2 and T2* can be estimated separately, but using the same underlying dictionary. This approach enables a smaller dictionary size that is easily manageable, and also reduced error propagation. Moreover, by using echo planar imaging (“EPI”) readouts, the raw MRF images will have higher signal-to-noise ratio (“SNR”) relative images acquired using spiral-based MRF techiques. The EPI-based images are also relatively free of artifacts. Together, these advantages lead to the need for far fewer frames, thereby enabling much faster acquisitions. Moreover, offline reconstruction is not needed, allowing for a more straightforward implementation of MRF.

Systems and methods are provided to incorporate an off-resonance correction into the pulse labeling train of PCASL/VEPCASL. In one or more aspects, the systems and methods are based on a method for generating an encoding scheme for any number and arrangement of blood vessels. The off-resonance correction can be incorporated into the generation of optimized encodings to acquire arterial spin labeling (ASL) data, such as PCASL and VEPCASL data.

The disclosure relates to a magnetic resonance tomography scanner and to a method for operating the magnetic resonance tomography scanner. The method includes determining a B0 field map. The method further includes determining an excitation of the nuclear spins to be achieved and a spectrally selective excitation pulse for transmission by a transmitter by way of an antenna as a function of the B0 field map. In the method, the excitation pulse is configured here to generate the excitation of the nuclear spins to be achieved in the patient. The excitation pulse is then output by way of the antenna.

A medical analysis system (111) for processing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), data (170) from a target volume (208) in a subject (218) includes a memory (107) for storing machine executable instructions; and a processor (103) for controlling the system (111). Execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor (103) to: determine from the MRI data (103) chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) voxel values corresponding to a transfer of saturation between a predefined pool of protons and water protons, the pool of protons having a predefined chemical shift; and weight the CEST values in order to distinguish CEST values of fluid-rich tissues (507) from CEST values of solid tissues (505) in the target volume (208), wherein the fluid-rich tissue comprises an amount of fluid higher than a predefined minimum amount of fluid.

The present invention relate to a system and associate method of MRI and MR spectroscopy which provide stable measurements of the relaxation times, T1 and T2, by using tailored multi-band RF pulses that direct control of the saturation conditions in the background pool of macro-molecular protons, and hence provide a flexible means to induce constant Magnetisation Transfer (MT) effects. In doing this, equal saturation of the background pool is obtained for all measurements independent of the parameters that may be changed, for example, the rotation rate used to obtain a desired flip angle, that is, the degree of change in the magnetisation of the free pool of protons.

The invention provides for a method of operating a magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging a subject. The method comprises acquiring (700) tagged magnetic resonance data (642) and a first portion (644) of fingerprinting magnetic resonance data by controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system with tagging pulse sequence commands (100). The tagging pulse sequence commands comprise a tagging inversion pulse portion (102) for spin labeling a tagging location within the subject. The tagging pulse sequence commands comprise a background suppression portion (104). The background suppression portion comprises MRF pulse sequence commands for acquiring fingerprinting magnetic resonance data according to a magnetic resonance fingerprinting protocol. The tagging pulse sequence commands comprise an image acquisition portion (106). The method comprises acquiring (702) control magnetic resonance data (646) and a second portion (648) of the fingerprinting magnetic resonance data by controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system with control pulse sequence commands. The control pulse sequence commands comprise a control inversion pulse portion (202). The control pulse sequence commands comprise the background suppression portion (104′). The control pulse sequence commands comprise the image acquisition portion (106). The method comprises reconstructing (704) tagged magnitude images (650) using the tagged magnetic resonance data. The method comprises reconstructing (706) a control magnitude images (652) using the control magnetic resonance data. The method comprises constructing (708) an ASL image by subtracting the control magnitude images and the tagged magnitude images from each other. The method comprises reconstructing (710) a series of magnetic resonance fingerprinting images (656) using the first portion of the fingerprinting magnetic resonance data and/or the second portion of the fingerprinting magnetic resonance data. The method comprises generating (712) at least one magnetic resonance parametric map (658) by comparing the series of magnetic resonance fingerprinting images with a magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary.

The present disclosure is directed to techniques for actuation of a magnetic resonance device for generating a high frequency pulse for specific saturation of nuclear spins in an examination region of an examination object. The techniques may include providing a frequency spectrum of the examination region, providing a B0 field map, establishing a first resonance frequency for a first tissue and a second resonance frequency for a second tissue taking account of the frequency spectrum, determining a saturation pulse by establishing a high frequency pulse configured for a spectrally selective excitation of the first tissue and the second tissue taking account of the first resonance frequency, the second resonance frequency and the B0 field map, and outputting the saturation pulse by means of the high frequency antenna unit.