According to one embodiment, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes control circuitry. The control circuitry executes, by a single protocol, acquisition of a distribution of a T1 relaxation time with a first slice as a target, and acquisition of a different kind from the distribution of the T1 relaxation time with a second slice as a target which neither overlaps nor crosses a region of interest of the first slice.

A method for performing free breathing pixel-wise myocardial T1 parameter mapping includes performing a free-breathing scan of a cardiac region at a plurality of varying saturation recovery times to acquire a k-space dataset; generating an image dataset based on the k-space dataset; and performing a respiratory motion correction process on the image dataset. The respiratory motion correction process comprises selecting a target image from the image dataset, co-registering each image in the image dataset to the target image to determine a spatial alignment measurement for each image, and identifying a subset of the image dataset comprising images with the spatial alignment measurement above a predetermined value. Following the respiratory motion correction process, a pixel-wise fitting is performed on the image dataset to estimate T1 relaxation time values for the cardiac region. Then, a pixel-map of the cardiac region is produced depicting the T1 relaxation time values.

Embodiments relate to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique in which the two-dimensional (2D) Displacement Encoding with Stimulated Echoes (DENSE) imaging technique and the multiband technique are combined to provide a 2D multi-slice quantitative assessment of displacement, deformation, and mechanics indices of tissue. The scan time is equivalent to the short scan time of the conventional single slice 2D imaging while providing spatial volumetric coverage similar to three-dimensional (3D) imaging. The techniques are combined in both the sequence (i.e., data acquisition) and reconstruction sides. Quantification of tissue displacement and motion is achieved through the combination and further evaluation of tissue mechanical properties is provided by calculating different indices based on the displacement and motion values.

A magnetic resonance imaging system may include a magnet, gradient coils, an RF pulse transmitter, an RF receiver that receives MR signals from tissue that has been exposed to RF pulses, gradient fields, and a magnetic field, and a computer that includes a processor. The computer may have a configuration that: causes the RF pulse transmitter and gradient coils to emit multiple labeling pulses at predetermined labeling times directed to blood in a subject; causes the RF pulse transmitter, gradient coils, and magnet to generate MR signals directed to tissue at one or more spatial locations within the subject that receives the blood; causes the RF receiver to receive MR signals emitted by the tissue at predetermined imaging times; generates an image of the tissue based on the received MR signals; repeats the foregoing four actions one or more times; and generates information indicative of perfusion within the tissue based on the generated images.

An MR imaging method with an imaging workflow is provided. Within the scope of the MR imaging method, at least one breath-holding command is output to a patient. An MR imaging is performed with an MR imaging method that may be used with free breathing. A breathing movement of the patient is detected based on measured data acquired when performing the MR imaging method. A time relationship is determined between the breathing movement of the patient and the breath-holding command. The imaging workflow is modified as a function of the determined time relationship. A breathing monitoring device and a magnetic resonance imaging system are also provided.

A method for synchronizing an MR imaging process with a breathing rest state of a patient during an examination using held breath is provided. In the method, an instruction is output to the patient to hold his breath. In addition, the respiratory behavior of the patient is identified in real time. An MR imaging process is started according to the identified respiratory behavior. A breathing synchronization device and a magnetic resonance imaging system are also provided.

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.

A system and method adapted for at least one health-related application selected from physiological monitoring, defibrillation, and pacing in the presence of electromagnetic interference (EMI) using the time-domain features of EMI patterns and physiological waveforms. The invention enables EMI detection and identification in a plurality of signals, including various physiological signals, which may contain both physiological information and EMI-generated artifacts. The system utilizes adaptive and versatile modular architecture with a set of modules for various filtering, conditioning, processing, and wireless transmission functions, which can be assembled in different configurations for different settings. In some preferred embodiments, the method and system of this invention are incorporated into (or attached to) an external cardiac defibrillator/monitor or cardiac pacing device. Other preferred embodiments include a wireless monitoring system that provides reliable wireless data transmission during patient table (bed) movement.

The following relates generally to ensuring patient safety while operating a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine. Many MRI systems operate using: fiber optic cables to carry signals, electrically conductive cables to carry other signals, and radio frequency (RF) coils to create an electromagnetic field. Typically, the electrically conductive cables and RF coils do not interact in a way that causes harm to a patient. However, certain shapes and/or lengths of cables exhibit the phenomenon of “resonance” that increases their propensity to concentrate RF currents induced by the RF coils. This may increase the temperature of the cable or other component in the MRI system leading to patient harm. The methods disclosed herein provide a solution to this by sensing a shape of the fiber optic cable and determining if the fiber optic cable will exhibit resonance. If it is determined that resonance may potentially occur, an alarm may be generated or a radio frequency amplifier may be interlocked.

In a method and apparatus for performing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for generating multiple T1 maps of separate regions of interest of a subject along a first spatial axis, multiple MR pulse sequences are generated, each MR pulse sequence being for imaging a respective one of the separate regions of interest of the subject. In order to generate each of the plurality of MR pulse sequences, a spatially selective preparation pulse is generated exciting the region of interest of the subject and a number of imaging sequences that follow the application of the spatially selective preparation pulse are generated. MR imaging data are acquired during the generation of the multiple imaging sequences. The multiple MR pulse sequences are generated during a period not exceeding 30 seconds.