A method for performing a non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (“MRA”) for a subject is provided. The method includes directing a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system to perform a pulse sequence to acquire k-space data from imaging slices that are oriented away from an axial direction of the subject. The method includes repeating the pulse sequence for a plurality of imaging slices, wherein a field-of-view (“FOV”) of at least one of the plurality of imaging slices is shifted by a predetermined value. The method also includes reconstructing, using the acquired k-space data, one or more angiographic images indicative of the subject's vasculature.

A detecting apparatus configured to detect a position of a predetermined part of a subject, based on image data of a region including the predetermined part is provided. The detecting apparatus includes a first detecting unit configured to detect a reference position used when the position of the predetermined part is detected, the reference position detected from within the image data, a determining unit configured to rotate a window for detecting the position of the predetermined part about the reference position, and configured to determine a rotational angle of the window when the predetermined part is included in the window, and a second detecting unit configured to set an actual rotational angle of the window to the determined rotational angle and configured to detect the position of the predetermined part from within the window.

A method and apparatus for implementing scar tissue identification using a processor coupled to a memory is disclosed. The method and apparatus receive a first modality and a second modality. The first modality is of a first type. The second modality is of a second type, which is different from the first type. Each of the first modality and the second modality respectively describe organic tissue of a patient according to the first and second types. The method and apparatus cross reference the first modality and the second modality and generates improved image data for the first modality based on the cross referencing. The image data includes enhanced accuracy over or higher resolution than original data of the first modality.

In one embodiment, an image processing device includes memory circuitry configured to store a program; and processing circuitry configured, by executing the program, to extract an outer wall of a tubular structure by using a fat image obtained by a water/fat separation method of magnetic resonance imaging, and generate a tubular-structure wall image in which a wall of the tubular structure is distinguished, based on the outer wall.

A magnetic resonance imaging method executed in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment comprises: applying an inversion pulse; executing a subsequent imaging sequence including an RF (Radio Frequency) pulse and a gradient magnetic field concurrently applied with the RF pulse in a slice direction and performing, for a slice position selected by the RF pulse and the gradient magnetic field and during a time period including a null point, data acquisition in a plurality of orientations including a center of a two-dimensional k-space.

A system and method for reconstructing a series of images of a subject includes acquiring medical image data from the subject with a medical imaging system and reconstructing a series of images of the subject from the acquired medical image data set. The reconstructing includes enforcing general adherence to a non-patient-specific signal model that describes a dependency of image intensity values on at least one variable that is associated with a physical or physiological property by constraining reconstruction of individual images in the series of images using the non-patient-specific model. The reconstructing also includes preserving information in the series of images that deviate from the non-patient-specific model by controlling a requirement of consistency with the non-patient-specific model.

Systems and methods for motion sensitized and motion suppressed quantitative imaging of a subject are provided as a train of interlaced radio frequency (RF) and magnetic field gradient pulses. Non-selective Delay Alternating with Nutation for Tailored Excitation (DANTE) pulse trains may be used in combination with gradient pulses and short repetition times as motion-sensitive preparation modules. In one or more embodiments, the systems and methods may use a train of low flip angle radio frequency (RF) pulses in combination with a blipped field gradient pulse between each RF pulse, repeated regularly. While the longitudinal magnetization of static tissue is mostly preserved, moving spins are largely (or fully) suppressed since they fail to establish transverse steady state due to a spoiling effect caused by flow along the applied gradient. The present systems and methods can be incorporated into any existing imaging readout for applications in vessel wall imaging, angiography, high resolution structural MRI, and also functional MRI.

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry performs at least one of data collection for collecting first data of an imaging region of a subject at a plurality of time intervals after a tag pulse is applied to fluid flowing into the imaging region, and data collection for collecting second data of the imaging region by differing at least one of applying or not-applying the tag pulse and a position of the applying. The processing circuitry performs phase correction for at least one of the first data and the second data by using data in which the longitudinal magnetization of the fluid is a positive value, to generate an image for each time phase.

Devices, systems, and methods for visually depicting a vessel and evaluating a physiological condition of the vessel are disclosed. One embodiment includes obtaining, at a first time, a first image of the vessel, the image being in a first medical modality, and obtaining, at a second time subsequent to the first time, a second image of the vessel, the image being in the first medical modality. The method also includes spatially co-registering the first and second images and outputting a visual representation of the co-registered first and second images on a display. Further, the method includes determining a physiological difference between the vessel at the first time and the vessel at the second time based on the co-registered first and second images, and evaluating the physiological condition of the vessel of the patient based on the determined physiological difference.

The present invention relates to a method for acquiring data for acquiring an arteriogram and a venogram of magnetic resonance imaging, the method: using one or more echo; and simultaneously acquiring, through one-time photography, an arteriogram and a venogram, which are optimized according to the number of slabs or improving connectivity of a slab boundary part of the arteriogram.