G01R33/56

CORRECTING THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF A MEDICAL APPARATUS WITH A GANTRY
20180003789 · 2018-01-04 ·

A method of correcting a magnetic field of a medical apparatus (300) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (302). The MRI system includes a magnet (306) for generating the magnetic field within an imaging zone 318. The magnet generates a magnetic field with a zero crossing (346, 404) outside of the imaging zone. The medical apparatus further comprises a gantry (332) configured for rotating a ferromagnetic component (336, 510) about a rotational axis (333). The method comprises the step of installing (100, 200) a magnetic correcting element (348, 900, 1000) located on a radial path (344, 504) perpendicular to the rotational axis. The magnetic correcting element is positioned on the radial path such that change in the magnetic field within the imaging zone due to the ferromagnetic component is reduced. The method further comprises repeatedly: measuring (102, 202, 1204) the magnetic field within the imaging zone; determining (104, 204, 1206) the change in the magnetic field in the imaging zone; and adjusting (106, 206, 1208) the position of the magnetic correcting element along the radial path if the change in the magnetic field is above a predetermined threshold.

CORRECTING THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF A MEDICAL APPARATUS WITH A GANTRY
20180003789 · 2018-01-04 ·

A method of correcting a magnetic field of a medical apparatus (300) comprising a magnetic resonance imaging system (302). The MRI system includes a magnet (306) for generating the magnetic field within an imaging zone 318. The magnet generates a magnetic field with a zero crossing (346, 404) outside of the imaging zone. The medical apparatus further comprises a gantry (332) configured for rotating a ferromagnetic component (336, 510) about a rotational axis (333). The method comprises the step of installing (100, 200) a magnetic correcting element (348, 900, 1000) located on a radial path (344, 504) perpendicular to the rotational axis. The magnetic correcting element is positioned on the radial path such that change in the magnetic field within the imaging zone due to the ferromagnetic component is reduced. The method further comprises repeatedly: measuring (102, 202, 1204) the magnetic field within the imaging zone; determining (104, 204, 1206) the change in the magnetic field in the imaging zone; and adjusting (106, 206, 1208) the position of the magnetic correcting element along the radial path if the change in the magnetic field is above a predetermined threshold.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES WITH INCOMPLETE SAMPLING
20180003790 · 2018-01-04 · ·

A magnetic resonance (MR) image is created by executing an imaging sequence with an MR apparatus, wherein data in k-space are acquired using multiple receiving antennae, and reconstruction of all image points that correspond to all k-space points belonging to the imaging sequence takes place using a sensitivity profile of the receiving antennae in order to also take account of data at k-space points at positions at which no data were acquired. Data acquired at a number of positions of particular k-space points, the number of the particular k-space points being smaller than the number of all k-space points belonging to the imaging sequence. The aperture of each of the receiving antennae is configured such that, for acquisition of data at a respective k-space point, the spectral main lobe of the respective receiving antenna also extends over k-space points adjacent to the respective k-space point.

Method of identifying chronic pain using low frequency fluctuations in nucleus accumbens
11707221 · 2023-07-25 · ·

A method of identifying chronic pain in a patient including using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), performing a functional brain scan in the NAc (nucleus accumbens) of a patient brain including extracting activity from the NAc. Database information, which includes fMRI data obtained from healthy patients, may be compared to the extracted activity to determine if patient is a chronic pain patient. In patients with chronic pain, the method may be repeated to evaluate the effects of the treatment. A resting state brain scan may be performed initially, and a Fourier transform may be performed to obtain frequency content. The frequency bands of the method may be broken down to extract information in a 0.01-0.027 Hz frequency band.

MRI detection of free-radicals from radiation

Embodiments now disclosed herein provide an apparatus and method in which free radicals can be detected in a substance by MRI without changing the MRI static field.

Determining calibration data for a reconstruction of image data from scan data acquired by means of a magnetic resonance system
11709217 · 2023-07-25 · ·

Calibration data is determined for a reconstruction of image data from scan data acquired via a magnetic resonance system. This includes specifying acquisition shots for an acquisition of desired scan data in which acquisition shots scan data is acquired after radiating-in an RF excitation pulse, identifying first acquisition shots among the acquisition shots specified in which scan data is acquired in a central region in k-space, stipulating a sequence in which the specified acquisition shots are to be carried out such that first acquisition shots are arranged in the sequence in a starting portion to be carried out first, acquiring the scan data by carrying out the specified acquisition shots in the stipulated sequence, determining calibration data from scan data acquired in the starting portion of the sequence, and reconstructing image data using the acquired scan data and the specified calibration data.

Cardiac late gadolinium enhancement MRI for patients with implanted cardiac devices

Disclosed herein are methods and systems for clinical practice of medical imaging on patients with metal-containing devices, such as implanted cardiac devices. In particular, Disclosed herein are methods and systems for improved late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) MRI for assessing myocardial viability for patients with implanted cardiac devices, i.e., cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators.

Method, system and apparatus for image-guided insertion of implant devices

A method of imaging an implant device in a computing device is provided. The computing device includes a processor interconnected with a memory and a display. The method includes, at the processor: obtaining a first magnetic resonance (MR) image of a patient tissue, the first MR image containing a first magnetic field strength indicator; responsive to the implant device being inserted in the patient tissue, obtaining a second MR image of the patient tissue, the second MR image containing a second magnetic field strength indicator smaller than the first magnetic field strength indicator; registering the second MR image with the first MR image; generating a composite image from the first MR image and the second MR image; and presenting the composite image on the display.

MRI DISPLAY OUTPUT REFLECTING CONTRAST AGENT CONCENTRATION AS A FUNCTION OF TIME
20230003818 · 2023-01-05 · ·

A magnetic resonant imaging (MRI) review workstation includes a control processor, and a display integrated or otherwise operatively coupled with the control processor, wherein the control processor is configured to receive and analyze magnetic resonant imaging information pertaining to an imaged volume of tissue, and to cause to be displayed on the display output information that reflects or is otherwise indicative of an absorption rate of a contrast agent in the volume of tissue.

METHOD FOR ESTIMATING HEAT TRANSFER ENERGY PARAMETERS IN AN ENCEPHALON
20230005599 · 2023-01-05 ·

A method for quantitatively estimating heat transfer energy parameters in an encephalon through discretization and numerical calculation comprises the steps of: acquiring composition data regarding a distribution of matter in the encephalon; acquiring cerebral temperature data regarding a temperature distribution in the encephalon; calculating a thermal conductivity distribution in the encephalon as a function of the composition data; calculating a distribution of conductive heat flows in the encephalon as a function of the cerebral temperature data and the thermal conductivity distribution using the “general heat conduction equation”.