In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus, deficiencies in conventional masking in quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) are addressed by the inclusion of an additional step in the conventional QSM post-processing pipeline. In this additional step, atlas-based segmentation techniques, which have been developed for morphological applications such as T1w MPRAGE are used in order to provide the mask. This mask is then fed to the remainder of the QSM post-processing pipeline.

In a magnetic field distortion calculation apparatus, method, and program, information of magnetic field distortion inside a subject can be accurately acquired. An image acquisition unit acquires a reference image and a three-dimensional image of the head of the subject. A feature point detection unit detects a plurality of feature points from the three-dimensional image, and a virtual feature point estimation unit estimates a plurality of virtual feature points, which are to be present in the brain in the three-dimensional image, using the plurality of feature points. A magnetic field distortion information acquisition unit acquires magnetic field distortion information, which indicates spatial magnetic field distortion caused by a three-dimensional image capturing apparatus included in the three-dimensional image, by performing registration between the plurality of feature points and the plurality of virtual feature points and a plurality of reference points.

Systems and methods are provided for performing a calibration pre-scan prior to acquiring data using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system performing a multi-spectral imaging (MSI) acquisition. Information from the calibration scan is used to optimize the scanning and data collection during the MSI scan. As a result, scan times and motion artifacts are reduced. In addition, image resolution can also be increased, thereby improving image quality. As one example, the MSI acquisition can be a MAVRIC acquisition. In general, the calibration data is used to determine the minimum number of spectral bins required to achieve acceptable image quality near a specific metallic implant or device.

Systems and methods for performing diffusion-weighted multi-spectral imaging (MS!) with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system are provided, Diffusion-weighted images can thus be acquired from a subject in which a metallic object, such as an implant or other device, is present. In general, a two-dimensional or three-dimensional diffusion-weighted PROPELLER acquisition is performed to acquire data from multiple different spectral bins. Images from the spectral bins are reconstructed and combined to form diffusion-weighted composite images. Non-CPMG phase-cycling and split-blade PROPELLER techniques are combined with PROPELLER MSI metal artifact mitigation principles to this end.

According to one embodiment, the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus has a processing circuitry. The processing circuitry generates a conductivity map quantitatively indicating the conductivity in the subject using a susceptibility map quantitatively indicating the susceptibility in the subject.

In a method for performing MR measurements in an MR system on an object, MR signals of the object are acquired using an imaging sequence with a first set of imaging parameters. An amended copy of the imaging sequence is automatically created with a second set of imaging parameters, which has all the imaging parameters used in the first set, wherein the second set has at least one imaging parameter modified with respect to the first set that differs from the corresponding imaging parameter of the first set according to a defined amendment. The remaining imaging parameters of the second set correspond to the imaging parameters of the first set. The amended copy is automatically configured in a measurement queue in which all the imaging sequences are stored that are to be carried out in the future on the examination object are stored.

A method includes: accessing MRI data acquired from a joint area, the MRI data including a series of spatially mapped spectral data points; generating MRI images of the joint area; receiving information encoding a region of interest that encompasses a suspected metal particle deposition area over at least one of the MRI images; constructing magnetic field maps using the MRI data, each representing off-resonance frequency shifts over the joint area; removing a background of off-resonance field inhomogeneity from the magnetic field map such that the region of interest is free from off-resonance field inhomogeneity; identifying clusters from the magnetic field maps with the background of off-resonance field inhomogeneity removed, the clusters defined over a first dimension of offset frequencies and a second dimension of cluster volumes; and computing a quantitative metric by combining information from the identified clusters according to both the first dimension and the second dimension.

A method for MRI imaging of a subject includes spatially encoding spins in a slice of the subject in orthogonal first and second directions. The encoding includes applying a chirped radiofrequency (RF) pulse concurrently with application of a magnetic field gradient pulse along the first direction. After applying of the RF pulse, a second chirped RF pulse is applied concurrently with application of a second magnetic field gradient pulse, with polarity opposite that of the first gradient pulse. An encoding magnetic field gradient, constant from applying the first RF pulse until the end of applying the second RF pulse, is concurrently applied along the second direction. Following the encoding, a spin signal is measured concurrently with application of a constant readout magnetic field gradient.

In a method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging preview and establishing an MR model, an MRI scanner is controlled so as to execute an MR model scan sequence to perform an MRI scan of a designated patient, to obtain an MR model of the patient. One type of scan sequence is sequentially selected from all types of scan sequence supported by the MRI device, and one parameter set is sequentially selected from at least one parameter set supported by this type of scan sequence. The selected sequence and the selected parameter set are used to subject the MR model to a virtual MRI scan, to obtain an MR preview image corresponding to the selected sequence and the selected parameter set for the sequence C. This is repeated for all types of scan sequence supported by the MRI scanner and all parameter sets supported by each type of scan sequence. An MR model of a patient can thereby be established, and MR images of the patient to be previewed quickly, before an MRI scan of the patient is actually begun.

In calculating a local magnetic field distribution caused by a magnetic susceptibility difference between living tissues, using MRI, a local frequency distribution with a high SNR is calculated in a short computation time. Multi-echo complex images obtained by measurement of at least two different echo times using the MRI are converted into low-resolution images. A global frequency distribution caused by global magnetic field changes and an offset phase distribution including a reception phase and a transmission phase are separated from a phase distribution of the low-resolution multi-echo complex images. Thus calculated global frequency distribution and the offset phase distribution are enhanced in resolution. A local frequency distribution of each echo is calculated from the measured multi-echo complex images, the high-resolution global frequency distribution, and the high-resolution offset phase distribution. The local frequency distributions of respective echoes are subjected to weighted averaging, whereby a final local frequency distribution is calculated.