A monitoring method and device for a magnetic resonance imaging system comprises: acquiring a whole body specific absorption rate of a subject under examination; acquiring a ratio between a local region specific absorption rate and the whole body specific absorption rate of the subject under examination on the basis of current parameter information of a local coupling coil in the magnetic resonance imaging system; and calculating the local region specific absorption rate of the subject under examination on the basis of the ratio between the local region specific absorption rate and the whole body specific absorption rate, and the whole body specific absorption rate.

A method and apparatus for determining spatial distribution of a complex radio frequency (RF) of both transmit field and receive sensitivity a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The method includes estimation of the absolute phase of transmit field using a reference transmit coil or array coils with minimal absolute phase. The method and apparatus include estimation of complex receive sensitivity of a transceiver coil using the complex transmit field of the transceiver coil or array coils.

According to some aspects, a system configured to facilitate imaging an infant using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device is provided herein. The system comprises an infant-carrying apparatus comprising an infant support configured to support the infant and an isolette for positioning the infant relative to the MRI device, the isolette comprising: a base for supporting the infant-carrying apparatus; and a bottom surface configured to be coupled to the MRI device. In some embodiments, the infant-carrying apparatus further comprises at least one radio frequency (RF) coil coupled to the infant support and configured to be coupled to the MRI device to detect MR signals during imaging performed by the MRI device. A method for positioning an infant relative to an MRI device using an infant-carrying apparatus and isolette is further provided herein.

Apparatus and method for imaging a patient in an MRI system. This includes a frame, and at least one assembly that includes an earpiece positioner connected to a reference position on the frame, a first lockable joint on the positioner; and an earpiece connected to a patient-proximal end of the positioner by a second joint, wherein the first earpiece is moveably positioned to a selected pitch angle, a selected yaw angle, and a selected one of a plurality of distances relative to the reference position on the frame. The first lockable joint is configured to be tightened to yieldably hold the first earpiece at the selected pitch and yaw angles, and at the selected one of the plurality of distances, relative to the reference position. Optionally a second substantially similar earpiece and assembly are provided. The earpiece(s) optionally include audio transducer(s) and/or RF coil(s).

Apparatus and method for imaging a patient in an MRI system. This includes a frame, and at least one assembly that includes an earpiece positioner connected to a reference position on the frame, a first lockable joint on the positioner; and an earpiece connected to a patient-proximal end of the positioner by a second joint, wherein the first earpiece is moveably positioned to a selected pitch angle, a selected yaw angle, and a selected one of a plurality of distances relative to the reference position on the frame. The first lockable joint is configured to be tightened to yieldably hold the first earpiece at the selected pitch and yaw angles, and at the selected one of the plurality of distances, relative to the reference position. Optionally a second substantially similar earpiece and assembly are provided. The earpiece(s) optionally include audio transducer(s) and/or RF coil(s).

A patient couch for a magnetic resonance tomography system and a magnetic resonance tomography system are provided. The patient couch includes a feed facility for radiofrequency energy having a plurality of conduction paths for feeding radiofrequency energy. The patient couch also includes a plurality of plug-in connectors for local coils having a transmit coil, and a distribution structure for the distribution of radiofrequency energy from the feed facility to the plug-in connectors.

In order to improve B1 non-homogeneity while reducing a local SAR in an object, particularly, in a human tissue during MR imaging, the present invention is characterized in that each of a plurality of irradiation channels is controlled on the basis of RF shimming parameters corresponding to the plurality of irradiation channels, and, in a case of performing imaging sequence of irradiating an object with an RF magnetic field, there is the use of the RF shimming parameters obtained by imposing a constraint condition on at least one of a plurality of principal components obtained through principal component analysis on the RF shimming parameters.

Embodiments now disclosed herein provide an apparatus and method in which free radicals can be detected in a substance by MRI without changing the MRI static field.

The invention pertains to advances in real-time methods in nuclear magnetic resonance by offering a new dual-frequency dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) method that uses a microwave beam to polarize the spins of electrons and concomitantly act as a NMR transmitter.

Disclosed is a method to remove distortion from a navigation system. The navigation system may be used to perform a procedure on a subject. The procedure may be any appropriate procedure. The navigation system may be used to account for the distortive effects of various conductive objects positioned near the subject on which the procedure is performed.