An MRI apparatus includes a scanner configured to apply an RF pulse to an object and processing circuity configured to: set a first pulse sequence in which acquisition of a first set of MR signals is started after a first delay time from application of a first excitation pulse, and a second pulse sequence in which acquisition of a second set of MR signals is started after a second delay time from application of a second excitation pulse, the second delay time being different from the first delay time; acquire first and second sets of MR signals by causing the scanner to apply the first and second pulse sequences to the object; generate a combined dataset by averaging a first dataset based on the first set of MR signals and a second dataset based on the second set of MR signals; and reconstruct an MR image based on the combined dataset.

To perform Dixon MRI, generate multi-contrast images, and extract multi-parametric maps, this invention presents a multi-echo gradient echo protocol with two sets of echo trains. An example implementation of the invention at 3 T acquires a short-TE train (TE1.2 ms, TE <10 ms), which is used to map B0 inhomogeneity and proton density fat fraction (FF), and a secondsusceptibility sensitivelong-TE train (16 ms<TE<45 ms) will enable quantification of local frequency shift (LFS) and susceptibility. The presented pipeline automatically generates co-registered images and maps with/without fat-suppressed, including magnitude- and complex-based FF map, B0 map, anatomical images, brain mask, R2* map, unwrapped phase maps for each echo, susceptibility-sensitive images (SWI, LFS and quantitative susceptibility) for each echo, mean susceptibility-sensitive images for each echo-train. The invention is directly applicable to whole head/neck, liver, knee or even whole body scans with sliding table.

Described here are systems and methods for estimating phase measurements obtained using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system such that phase ambiguities in the measurements are significantly mitigated. Echo time spacings are determined by optimizing phase ambiguity functions associated with the echo time spacings. Data is then acquired using a multi-echo pulse sequence that utilizes the determined echo spacings. Phase measurements are then estimated and images are reconstructed using a reconstruction technique that disambiguates the phase ambiguities in the phase measurements.

The invention relates to a method of parallel MR imaging. The method comprises the steps of: a) subjecting the portion of the body (10) to an imaging sequence of at least one RF pulse and a plurality of switched magnetic field gradients, wherein MR signals are acquired in parallel via a plurality of RF coils (11, 12, 13) having different spatial sensitivity profiles within the examination volume, b) deriving an estimated ghost level map from the acquired MR signals and from spatial sensitivity maps of the RF coils (11, 12, 13), c) reconstructing a MR image from the acquired MR signals, the spatial sensitivity maps, and the estimated ghost level map. Moreover, the invention relates to a MR device (1) and to a computer program for a MR device (1).

A test method for a reordering algorithm of a 3D spin echo magnetic resonance pulse sequence is provided, in which echo train positions are checked for at least two k-space elements. Further, a non-transitory computer readable medium and a magnetic resonance tomography system which comprises a test device for testing a reordering algorithm of a 3D spin echo magnetic resonance pulse sequence featuring a checking module for checking the echo train position for at least two k-space elements are provided.

A control device of a magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging apparatus includes a condition setting unit and a judging unit. The condition setting unit sets an imaging sequence to be performed by the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus based on set conditions of the set imaging sequence. The judging unit then (a) calculates a value of electric current supplied to a gradient magnetic field coil of the MRI apparatus to perform that set imaging sequence based on the set conditions of the set imaging sequence, (b) calculates a value of voltage that would need to be applied to the gradient magnetic field coil based on a mutual inductance of the gradient magnetic field to cause electric current flowing to the gradient magnetic field coil to become equal to the value of the calculated electric current, and (c) judges whether the set imaging sequence is practicable or not based on the calculated value of voltage.

Systems and methods for performing concomitant field corrections in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems that implement asymmetric magnetic field gradients are provided, in general, the systems and methods described here can correct for the effects of concomitant fields of multiple orders, such as zeroth order, first order, and second order concomitant fields.

A system and method are provided for producing at least one of an image or a map of a subject includes controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to perform a pulse sequence that includes a phase increment of an RF pulse selected to induce a phase difference between two echoes at different echo times (TE). The method also includes controlling the MRI system to acquire MR data corresponding to at least the two echoes at different TEs, deriving a static magnetic field (B0) map of the MRI system using the MR data corresponding to the two echoes, and using the B0 map and MR data from at least one of the two echoes, generate a map of T2 of the subject.

Various approaches of amplifying an NMR signal in response to a transmitted NMR pulse include estimating the characteristic time associated with the NMR signal; transmitting the NMR pulse to the sample and receiving the NMR signal therefrom; and applying a time-dependent amplifier gain to the received NMR signal based at least in part on the estimated characteristic time.

An image dataset comprises multiple shots of imaging data acquired using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner (10). The signal power of each shot of the image dataset is normalized (24) to a reference signal power to generate a power normalized shot representation having total signal power matching the reference signal power. A reconstructed image is generated (26) from the power normalized shot representations. Odd/even phase correction (22) may also be performed on the image dataset. The phase correction, normalizing, and generating operations are suitably performed by an electronic data processing device (20).