A method and system provides an acquisition scheme for generating magnetic resonance elastography displacement data with whole-sample coverage, high spatial resolution, and adequate SNR in a short scan time. The method and system can acquire in-plane and through-plane k-space shots over a volume of a sample divided into a plurality of slabs that each include a plurality of non-adjacent slices to obtain three dimensional multiband, multishot data, can apply multiband radio frequency refocusing pulses to the sample, can acquire navigators before readout, and can correct for non-linear motion errors.

Systems and methods are described for inducing tissue vibration for magnetic resonance elastography is described. The system includes a hydraulic drive component that is mechanically linked to a pneumatic drive component. The pneumatic drive component is pneumatically linked to a passive pneumatic actuator component that is positionable on a patient proximate to a target tissue. Alternating linear movement of an actuator piston within the passive actuator component induces vibration of the target tissue. The frequency of the alternating linear movement of the actuator piston within the passive pneumatic actuator component is controlled by adjusting how fluid is pumped in the hydraulic drive component.

A method and system provides an acquisition scheme for generating magnetic resonance elastography displacement data with whole-sample coverage, high spatial resolution, and adequate SNR in a short scan time. The method and system can acquire in-plane and through-plane k-space shots over a volume of a sample divided into a plurality of slabs that each include a plurality of non-adjacent slices to obtain three dimensional multiband, multishot data, can apply multiband radio frequency refocusing pulses to the sample, can acquire navigators before readout, and can correct for non-linear motion errors.

A system for MR Elastography of a sample, including ultrasound gel to sheath the sample, a vessel to accept the flow of the sample sheathed in ultrasound gel, a sensor array adapted to capture an ultrasound measurement and an MR measurement, wherein the sensor array including an ultrasound transmitter and an ultrasound receiver, and the sensor array is coupled to the vessel, and the vessel is capable of mechanical conductance between the ultrasound transducers, and the ultrasound gel, and a pump to create a pressure based flow of ultrasound fluid through the vessel and move the sample in proximity to the sensor array for capture of MR and ultrasound measurements of the sample as the sheathed sample passes by the sensor array.

A method and system (100) for augmented interpretation of shear wave elastography between first and second imaging modalities comprises performing an elastography measurement via a second imaging modality (20), different from a first imaging modality (10), to obtain at least one second imaging modality elastography value (32, 60) of a region of interest (33). At least one corresponding first imaging modality elastography value (36, 38, 62) is predicted based on the obtained second imaging modality elastography value. A graphical user interface or smart report dashboard (50) is generated that shows (i) a fibrosis level (521) of the region of interest, wherein the fibrosis level is determined as a function of (i)(a) the at least one second imaging modality elastography value (32) and/or (i)(b) the predicted at least one corresponding first imaging modality elastography value (36, 38).

A magnetic resonance (MR) compatible transducer for magnetic resonance elastography applications has a cantilevered drive element a free end of which is arranged in use to move reciprocally, and a flexible non-conductive connection rod slidably disposed within a flexible non-conductive sleeve. The connection rod is affixed at a proximal end to the cantilevered drive element via a proximal flexible connection piece that in use accommodates the slight rotational movement of the cantilevered drive element as it reciprocates about its secured end, whilst translating the rotational reciprocation of the cantilevered drive element into a pure translational reciprocation of the connection rod within the sleeve. The distal end of the connection rod is affixed against a protrusion connected to another cantilevered driven element, upon which is mounted a piston element that in use contacts the subject. The distal end of the connection rod is provided with a distal flexible connection piece that forms the connection between the end of the connection rod and the cantilevered driven element, again to account for the pure translational movement of the rod being converted to rotational movement of the cantilevered driven element about its cantilever pivot point.

A magnetic resonance elastography apparatus, which may include a magnetic resonance apparatus and an elastography apparatus, is described. The magnetic resonance apparatus comprises a scanner unit, a patient receiving region surrounded at least partially by the scanner unit, and a patient couch, which is embodied to introduce a patient into the patient receiving region. The elastography apparatus comprises a drive unit, a vibration applicator which is arranged for an examination on the patient, and a force transmission unit, which is embodied to transmit a drive moment from the drive unit to the vibration applicator. The elastography apparatus comprises an EMC-tight shield housing with a cylindrical radiofrequency hollow conductor, and the drive unit is arranged within the radiofrequency hollow conductor.

Systems and methods for magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) are disclosed. In one embodiment, MRE data corresponding to mechanical waves in tissue of interest of a subject is acquired. The MRE data is associated with stiffness of the tissue. The method also includes generating, based on the MRE data, a stiffness map representing stiffness of the tissue. Generating the stiffness map includes performing an unconstrained optimization cost function that is configured to reduce noise in the acquired MRE data and achieve inversion of the reduced-noise data.

The invention relates inter alia to an elastography device having at least one excitation unit (10) for generating mechanical tissue movements in human or animal tissue, and an image-recording device. It is provided according to the invention that the excitation unit (10) has: at least one pressure source (20, 20a), at least one pressure-dependently operating actuator (40, 60, 70, 200) for generating mechanical movements, at least one controllable valve (30, 300, 310, 400) which is arranged between pressure source (20, 20a) and actuator (40, 60, 70, 200) in terms of gas flow and the valve position of which influences the pressure acting on the actuator (40, 60, 70, 200), and a control device (50) which is connected to a control port of the valve (30, 300, 310, 400) and which actuates the valve (30, 300, 310, 400) and defines the valve position thereof and, in order to generate the mechanical tissue movements, varies the valve position, and thus the pressure acting on the actuator (40, 60, 70, 200), over the course of time.

Technology for measuring clinically relevant Magnetic Resonance (MR) anisotropic water proton transverse relaxation rates of cartilage in human knees and other joints is provided. A single sagittal T2-weighted magnetic resonance image of a cartilage associated with a human knee or other joint may be acquired, and an internal reference signal may be measured from this acquired sagittal image. The internal reference signal is a signal intensity (S())from the cartilage with its collagen fiber orientated approximately 54.7 to the main magnetic field. An anisotropic R.sub.2 relaxation rate (R().sub.2.sup.a) may be calculated for the cartilage using the following equation: R().sub.2.sup.a={log(S(=54.7))log(S())}/TE. Accordingly, an indication of a degeneration of the cartilage may be determined using the calculated anisotropic R2 relaxation rate.