The invention relates a method and an apparatus of predicting or planning a temperature distribution (52) in a body. The method comprises the steps of: a) obtaining a model of the body (50) related to a temperature transport mechanism or temperature distribution (52) in the body; b) simulating an application of heat to at least a part of the body such as targeted tissue; c) determining and/or predicting the temperature (52) or heat distribution in at least a part of the body using the model of the body (50).

In an image creating device, an obtainer obtains the phase of a magnetic resonance signal generated from a target object upon application of a static magnetic field and a high-frequency magnetic field to the target object (step S102). A calculator calculates a change level of the obtained phase per a predetermined distance in a direction of the static magnetic field (step S103). A generator generates an image representing a positional distribution of a parameter depending on the calculated change level (step S106).

The present invention relates to a system (10) for detection of Radio Frequency (RF) induced heating of a patient undergoing a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination. The system comprises a form (20); and a processing unit (30). The form is configured to be placed around at least a part of a patient undergoing a Magnetic Resonance Imaging “MRI” examination in an MRI scanner. The form comprises a material (40), and the form is configured such that the material is in thermal contact with the patient when the form is placed around the at least part of the patient undergoing the MRI examination. The processing unit is configured to receive interrogation data of the material. The processing unit is configured to determine that RF induced heating of the patient has occurred. The determination comprises utilization of the interrogation data.

Methods and compositions are provided for monitoring and optimizing electrolysis, for example, tissue electrolysis. Aspects of the methods include monitoring electrolysis of a tissue in a subject using an imaging technique or a measurement technique, e.g., a bulk spectroscopic measurement technique. Imaging techniques of interest include electrical impedance-based tomography and magnetic electrical impedance tomography. Electrical impedance-based imaging methods include imaging the electrical impedance of a tissue of the subject undergoing electrolysis, and monitoring the electrolysis based on one or more electrical impedance images of the tissue. Another modality to monitor electrolysis is by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based methods which include imaging pH changes in a tissue of the subject undergoing electrolysis by magnetic resonance imaging, and monitoring the electrolysis based on one or more magnetic resonance images of the pH changes in the tissue. Measurement techniques of interest include bulk measurements of electrical properties and their changes with electrolysis or bulk changes in magnetic resonance readings and their changes with electrolysis. Devices and systems thereof that find use in practicing the methods are also provided.

In an embodiment, a method for effecting thermal therapy using an in vivo probe includes positioning the probe in a volume in a patient, identifying an irregularly shaped three-dimensional region of interest and automatically applying thermal therapy to the region using the probe. Applying thermal therapy may include identifying a first emission level at a first rotational angle based in part on a depth of a radial portion of the region in the direction of probe emission, activating emission of the probe, causing rotation of the probe to a next rotational angle, identifying a next emission level at the next rotational angle based in part on a depth of a radial portion of the region in the direction of probe emission, activating emission to deliver therapeutic energy, and repeating rotation and emission until therapeutic energy has been delivered to the volume.

In a method and apparatus to quickly determine regions of modified temperature in a sample volume by magnetic resonance tomography using a multi-echo sequence, one or more one-dimensional or two-dimensional images of regions of modified temperature are respectively determined.

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.

Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for magnetic resonance thermometry. In one embodiment, a preliminary balanced steady state free precession (bSSFP) magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequence is applied to an area of interest of a subject. Based on bSSFP image phases, a relationship between frequency and image phase associated with the area of interest can be determined and a bSSFP magnetic resonance imaging pulse sequence applied for temperature change measurement during and/or after focused energy is applied to the subject. Based on image phase change associated with temperature change and using the determined relationship between frequency and image phase, a change in the resonance frequency associated with the target area due to the application of the focused energy can be determined, and the temperature change can be determined based on the determined change in the resonance frequency.

During operation, a system may apply an external magnetic field and an RF pulse sequence to a sample. Then, the system may measure at least a component of a magnetization associated with the sample, such as MR signals of one or more types of nuclei in the sample. Moreover, the system may calculate at least a predicted component of the magnetization for voxels associated with the sample based on the measured component of the magnetization, a forward model, the external magnetic field and the RF pulse sequence. Next, the system may solve an inverse problem by iteratively modifying the parameters associated with the voxels in the forward model until a difference between the predicted component of the magnetization and the measured component of the magnetization is less than a predefined value. Note that the calculations may be performed concurrently with the measurements and may not involve performing a Fourier transform.

During operation, a system may apply a polarizing field and an excitation sequence to a sample. Then, the system may measure a signal associated with the sample for a time duration that is less than a magnitude of a relaxation time associated with the sample. Next, the system may calculate the relaxation time based on a difference between the measured signal and a predicted signal of the sample, where the predicted signal is based on a forward model, the polarizing field and the excitation sequence. After modifying at least one of the polarizing field and the excitation sequence, the aforementioned operations may be repeated until a magnitude of the difference is less than a convergence criterion. Note that the calculations may be performed concurrently with the measurements and may not involve performing a Fourier transform on the measured signal.