G01R33/56518

PROPELLER MR IMAGING WITH ARTEFACT SUPPRESSION
20170307716 · 2017-10-26 ·

The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of a body (10) of a patient. It is an object of the invention to provide a method that enables efficient compensation of image artefacts in combination with PROPELLER imaging. The invention proposes to combine k-space blades in image space, and not in k-space like in conventional PROPELLER imaging. Local image artefacts are detected and corrected in single-blade MR images. The artefact detection and correction in the image domain prior to combining the single-blade MR images into a final MR image results in an improved image quality by better suppression of local artefacts and, thus, an increased signal-to-noise. Moreover, the invention relates to a MR device (1) and to a computer program for a MR device (1).

METHOD FOR GENERATING A RADIAL OR SPIRAL MRT IMAGE
20170307711 · 2017-10-26 · ·

Disclosed herein is a method for generating an MRI image in which a radial or spiral k-chamber path with a constant angular increment Psi is used to take an MRI image, the angular increment Psi being in the angular range of between 5-55 degrees or being in the corresponding supplementary angle Psi′ and is selected according to the formula Psi.sub.N,M=pi/(N+1/(M+tau−1)). Alternatively, for an angular increment Psi which deviates from the angle increment of the optimal distribution of n radial profiles Psi.sub.opt=180°/n, the minimum scanning efficiency of the angular increment Psi for n>21 profiles is greater than 0.95, the angular increment Psi is in an angular range of 5° to less than 68.7537°, in particular between 5-55 degrees or in the corresponding supplementary angle Psi′. Compared to the arrangement of the radial or spiral profile using the golden angle of 111.24°, the angle increments calculated according to the above formula lead to lower eddy current artifacts, for example during the use of a b-SSFP-pulse sequence.

Motion determination for volumetric magnetic resonance imaging using a deep machine-learning model

For determination of motion artifact in MR imaging, motion of the patient in three dimensions is used with a measurement k-space line order based on one or more actual imaging sequences to generate training data. The MR scan of the ground truth three-dimensional (3D) representation subjected to 3D motion is simulated using the realistic line order. The difference between the resulting reconstructed 3D representation and the ground truth 3D representation is used in machine-based deep learning to train a network to predict motion artifact or level given an input 3D representation from a scan of a patient. The architecture of the network may be defined to deal with anisotropic data from the MR scan.

Method and apparatus for magnetic resonance data acquisition using a multipoint dixon technique

In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus to acquire MR data from a subject, a predetermined spectral model of a multipoint Dixon technique is used that includes at least two spectral components with respective associated relaxation rates, a first phase due to field inhomogeneities; and a second phase due to eddy current effects. MR data are acquired using a bipolar multi-echo MR measurement sequence for multiple image points wherein, for each image point, the multi-echo MR measurement sequence alternately uses positive and negative readout gradient fields for the readout of MR signals of the MR data at at least three echo times. The at least two spectral components are determined based on the MR data.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DELTA RELAXATION ENHANCED MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

A delta-relaxation magnetic resonance imaging (DREMR) system is provided. The system includes a main field magnet and field shifting coils. A main magnetic field with a strength B0 can be generated using the main filed magnet and the strength B0 of the main magnetic field can be varied through the use of the field-shifting coils. The DREMR system can be used to perform signal acquisition based on a pulse sequence for acquiring at least one of T2*-weighted signals imaging; MR spectroscopy signals; saturation imaging signals and MR signals for fingerprinting. The MR signal acquisition can be augmented by varying the strength B0 of the main magnetic field for at least a portion of the pulse sequence used to acquire the MR signal.

Passive field camera and method for operating the passive field camera

The disclosure relates to a field camera and a method for measuring a magnetic field distribution using a magnetic resonance tomograph and the field camera. The field camera has a number of samples, which are distributed over a spatial volume to be measured, and a number of receive antennas. In an act of the method, a sensitivity matrix for the receive antennas, for each sample at each receive antenna, is captured using the magnetic resonance tomograph. In another act, antenna signals of the samples in a magnetic field to be measured are captured by the receive antennas, using the magnetic resonance tomograph. Finally, magnetic resonance signals of the individual samples are determined from the antenna signals as a function of the sensitivity matrix, using a controller. In a further act, the magnetic field strength at the location of the samples may be determined from the magnetic resonance signals.

EFFICIENT SELF-REFOCUSING ZERO ECHO TIME MR IMAGING
20220308141 · 2022-09-29 ·

The invention relates to a method of MR imaging of an object positioned in an examination volume of a MR device (1). It is an object of the invention to enable efficient silent ZTE imaging with self-refocusing. The method of the invention comprises the steps of:—specification of a set of radial k-space spokes to cover a spherical k-space volume;—selection of subsets of a predetermined number of spokes from the specified set so that the concatenation of the spokes contained in each of the subsets forms a closed trajectory in k-space, wherein the selection of the subsets involves optimizing a cost function;—subjecting the object (10) to a zero echo time imaging sequence, wherein each of the subsets of spokes is acquired as a sequence of gradient echo signals; and—reconstructing an MR image from the acquired spokes. Moreover, the invention relates to a MR device and to a computer program for a MR device.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RADIATION THERAPY

The present disclosure relates to a system for radiation therapy. The system may include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus and a radiation therapy apparatus. The MRI apparatus may be configured to acquire magnetic resonance imaging data with respect to a region of interest (ROI). The radiation therapy apparatus may be configured to apply therapeutic radiation to at least one portion of the ROI when rotating with a gantry. The radiation therapy apparatus may include an eddy current reduction apparatus coupled to the gantry. The eddy current reduction apparatus may include at least one structure, wherein each of the at least one structure may include a plurality of internal structures and at least some of the plurality of internal structures are electrically disconnected from each other.

SYSTEM AND METHOD TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE OF ASYMMETRICAL GRADIENT COILS BY ALLOWING A UNIFORM OFFSET FIELD

An asymmetric electromagnet system, method, and method of producing an asymmetric electromagnet system, wherein the asymmetric electromagnet system is for generating an imaging magnetic field in an imaging region with an imaging isocentre, the imaging region being asymmetrically positioned within a gradient coil bore inside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system during imaging, the electromagnet assembly comprising: an asymmetric gradient coil configured to generate a gradient field in the asymmetrically positioned imaging region, at least one gradient axis having the gradient field with a constant offset component such that the position at which the gradient field passes through zero is offset with respect to the imaging isocentre of the asymmetrically positioned imaging region.

Magnetic resonance apparatus and method for operation thereof with an accelerated progression of a repeating pulse sequence with an optimized gradient curve

In a method for an accelerated progression of a repeating pulse sequence with an optimized gradient curve (that has at least one pulse) for a magnetic resonance examination by operation of a magnetic resonance apparatus, boundary conditions for a first gradient pulse of a first progression of the pulse sequence are detected, and the boundary conditions of the first gradient pulse of the first progression of the pulse sequence are compared with boundary conditions of a previous gradient pulse of a previous progression of the pulse sequence. An optimized gradient curve of the first gradient pulse of the first progression of the pulse sequence is determined from the gradient curve of the previous gradient pulse when agreement of the boundary conditions of the first gradient pulse with the boundary conditions of the previous gradient pulse exists.