A method for rapid computation of three-dimensional displacement and Lagrange strain in a high resolution filed of phase data obtained with Displacement Encoding with Stimulated Echoes (DENSE) in magnetic resonance images of the myocardium. The method includes semi-automated segmentation of a region of a heart, phase unwrapping the images in three dimensions, and a custom radial point interpolation method (RPIM). The RPIM is a meshfree numerical analysis method that uses radial basis functions and polynomial functions to calculate the Lagrange strain of DENSE displacement data acquired from the myocardium.

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes sequence controlling circuitry and image generating circuitry. The sequence controlling circuitry acquires magnetic resonance signals in an imaging region. The image generating circuitry generates an image. The sequence controlling circuitry sets timings of RF pulses such that a first time and a second time are different. Here, the first time is a time since an irradiation of a first RF pulse without selection of region until a start of acquisition. The second time is a time since an irradiation of a second RF pulse with selection of the labeling region until the start of acquisition. The second time is also a time for a liquid present in the labeling region to reach a desired position in the imaging region. The first time is also a time for longitudinal magnetization components of a background tissue to become substantially zero.

A method for tagged magnetic resonance imaging is disclosed. The method includes steps of tagging an object with polar tagging patterns; acquiring data in a spatial frequency domain of the tagged object with a polar sampling pattern; and reconstructing an image of the object through a polar Fourier transform of the data acquired in the step of acquiring data.

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 method for rapid computation of three-dimensional displacement and Lagrange strain in a high resolution filed of phase data obtained with Displacement Encoding with Stimulated Echoes (DENSE) in magnetic resonance images of the myocardium. The method includes semi-automated segmentation of a region of a heart, phase unwrapping the images in three dimensions, and a custom radial point interpolation method (RPIM). The RPIM is a meshfree numerical analysis method that uses radial basis functions and polynomial functions to calculate the Lagrange strain of DENSE displacement data acquired from the myocardium.

In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes: a scanner equipped with at least a static magnetic field magnet configured to generate a static magnetic field, a gradient coil configured to apply gradient pulses, and an RF coil configured to apply RF pulses to an object and receive magnetic resonance signals from the object; and processing circuitry configured to set at least one pulse sequence which includes a labeling pulse for labeling fluid in the object, an excitation pulse applied after the labeling pulse, and a bipolar or unipolar velocity encoding gradient pulse for encoding velocity information of the fluid, and generate an image of the fluid from the magnetic resonance signals which the scanner acquires by performing the at least one pulse sequence.

A preparation sequencing system and methods are disclosed for generating curvilinear taglines of altered magnetization in an imaging plane of an NMR image. A preparation sequencing module is disclosed for generating a sinusoidal gradient signal simultaneously with a continuous a radio frequency (RF) signal, wherein the sinusoidal gradient signal is shaped to generate a rotating on-resonance excitation plane such that each point in the imaged target volume is on-resonance at least once in a period corresponding to one full rotation of the excitation plane. The on-resonance excitation plane is configured to simultaneously generate a plurality of curvilinear or circular taglines of altered magnetization in the imaging plane.

A method for tagged magnetic resonance imaging is disclosed. The method includes steps of tagging an object with polar tagging patterns; acquiring data in a spatial frequency domain of the tagged object with a polar sampling pattern; and reconstructing an image of the object through a polar Fourier transform of the data acquired in the step of acquiring data.

In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus for determining a characteristic of an organ, a magnetic resonance sequence is executed in order to acquire temporally resolved magnetic resonance data pertaining to the organ. The magnetic resonance sequence includes at least one tagging module, which generates a sub-visual tag of the magnetic resonance data. The characteristic of the organ is determined in a processor using the sub-visual tag.

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a collection unit and a generation unit. The collection unit collects data of an imaging area over a plurality of time phases within a certain respiratory cycle after applying a labeling pulse to a labeling area in which cerebrospinal fluid flows under a task of respiration. The generation unit generates images of a plurality of time phases depicting the cerebrospinal fluid by using the collected data.