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.

An ultrasound cardiac stimulation system includes: a system for measuring the heart electrical activity; a system for generating a beam of focussed ultrasound signals focussed on a targeted zone, the signals being calibrated to generate electrical stimulation in a zone of the heart, the beam generation being synchronised with a first selected time of the electrocardiogram, the generation of the beam corresponding to a pulse with a duration of less than 80 ms; a system for locating the targeted zone coupled with a system for positioning the system for generating the focussed beam to control the beam of focussed ultrasound signals in the targeted zone, the location system being synchronised with the system for generating the beam of focussed signals; a single monitoring system following in real time a temperature and tissue deformation in the targeted zone, the monitoring system taking measurements in synchronisation with the rhythm of the electrocardiogram.

A method for temperature quantification using magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) includes acquiring MRF data from a region of interest in a subject using an MRF pulse sequence with smoothly varying RF phase for MR resonant frequencies that is played out continuously. For each of a plurality of time intervals during acquisition of the MRF data the method further includes comparing a set of the MRF data associated with the time interval to an MRF dictionary to determine at least one quantitative parameter of the acquired MRF data, determining a temperature change based on the at least one quantitative parameter and generating a quantitative map of the temperature change in the region of interest. The region of interest can include aqueous and adipose tissue.

Embodiments provide a computer-implemented method for selecting thermal images for generating a temperature difference map through proton resonance frequency (PRF) thermometry, including: acquiring a set of baseline images prior to a thermal treatment of an organ of interest; identifying a subset of baseline images in a most stable motion state from the set of baseline images; averaging the subset of baseline images to generate a template image; determining an acceptance threshold based on an image similarity measure (ISM) between each of the set of baseline images and the template image; acquiring a set of thermal images during the thermal treatment; and selecting a subset of thermal images from the set of thermal images, wherein each of the subset of thermal images has the image similarity measure above the acceptance threshold.

The present disclosure provides a method for determining an ultrasound focus location in a thermal image. In one aspect, the method includes obtaining a magnetic resonance thermal image of a tissue heated by a focused ultrasound and correcting a chemical shift and a k-space shift of a monitored ultrasound focus location in the magnetic resonance thermal image such that the monitored ultrasound focus location is aligned with a real physical ultrasound focus location. Correcting the chemical shift includes correcting a first spatial error of the monitored ultrasound focus location caused by resonance frequency changes of hydrogen nuclei due to environmental differences of water molecules. Correcting the k-space shift includes correcting a second spatial error of the monitored ultrasound focus location caused by temperature error due to spatial variations of a primary magnetic field.

Described herein are systems, methods, and computer-readable medium for magnetic resonance (MR) based thermometry. In one aspect, in accordance with one embodiment, a method for magnetic resonance based thermometry includes: acquiring, by a variable flip-angle T1 mapping sequence, MR data in an area of interest of a subject that is heated by the application of focused ultrasound (FUS) to the brain of the subject, where the MR data includes T1 values over time, and where the acquisition of the MR data includes applying an accelerated three-dimensional ultra-short spiral acquisition sequence with a nonselective excitation pulse; and determining, based at least in part on a mathematical relationship established by T1 mapping thermometry, a temperature change in the area of interest over time, and where the temperature change is caused at least in part by a change in the applied FUS.

There is provided a technique for obtaining temperature information for inside of a living body and accuracy information thereof in short time with low burden imposed on a subject. It is realized with a spectrum calculator configured to perform MRS or MRSI measurement for two kinds of substances showing difference of resonant frequencies and calculating spectra of magnetic resonance signals of the two kinds of substances, a temperature information calculator configured to calculate temperature information for inside of the subject on the basis of peaks of the calculated spectra, a temperature accuracy information calculator configured to calculate temperature accuracy information indicating accuracy of the temperature information on the basis of peaks of the calculated spectra, and a display information generator configured to generate display information to be displayed on a display device on the basis of the temperature information and the temperature accuracy information.

By producing the proper wave interference using superimposed angularly separate waves that overlap with the proper time-phase relationship (called “Time-Correlated Standing-wave Interference”), wave energy is amplified (by “Coherent Intensity Amplification”) and teleported to precise locations. For instance, in one application, energy is teleported to one or more areas within a living body for such therapeutic applications as destroying cancer cells or plaques within arteries. A system implementing this technique creates amplified constructive interference at one or more selected disease locations, while producing destructive interference at surrounding locations. In this application example, the technique allows energy to be “teleported” to tumor cells, plaques, or other diseased cells, for instance, to destroy them, while surrounding healthy cells receive virtually no energy, obviating collateral damage from the treatment. The same method can be used to diagnose disease by detecting energy teleported to different locations.

A system and method to analyze image data. The image data may be used to assist in determine the presence of a feature in the image. The feature may include a bubble.