Patent classifications
G01R33/56341
System, method, and computer program product for generating pruned tractograms of neural fiber bundles
Disclosed are a system, method, and computer program product for generating pruned tractograms of neural fiber bundles. The method includes receiving scan data produced by diffusion imaging of at least a portion of a brain from a magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) device. The method also includes generating an initial tractogram by mapping neuronal fiber pathways of a target fiber bundle of the scan data. The method further includes generating a density map using a set of tracts from the initial tractogram, identifying each tract that passes through a segment of the density map more than once, and setting a contribution of said tract to a unique tract count of the segment equal to a threshold pruning value. The method further includes generating a pruned tractogram by identifying a segment having a unique tract count less than or equal to the threshold pruning value and excluding the segment from the pruned tractogram.
Method, system and apparatus for image-guided insertion of implant devices
A method of imaging an implant device in a computing device is provided. The computing device includes a processor interconnected with a memory and a display. The method includes, at the processor: obtaining a first magnetic resonance (MR) image of a patient tissue, the first MR image containing a first magnetic field strength indicator; responsive to the implant device being inserted in the patient tissue, obtaining a second MR image of the patient tissue, the second MR image containing a second magnetic field strength indicator smaller than the first magnetic field strength indicator; registering the second MR image with the first MR image; generating a composite image from the first MR image and the second MR image; and presenting the composite image on the display.
System and Methods for Ultra-Fast Multi-Dimensional Diffusion-Relaxation MRI Using Time-Division Multiplexing Sequences
Scan time in diffusion-relaxation magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) is reduced by implementing time-division multiplexing (TDM). In general, time-shifted radio frequency (“RF”) pulses are used to excite two or more imaging volumes. These RF pulses are applied to induce separate echoes for each slice. Diffusion MRI data can thus be acquired with different echo times, or alternatively with the same echo time, in significantly reduced overall scan time. Multidimensional correlations between diffusion and relaxation parameters can be estimated from the resulting data.
ECHO-SPACING SHUFFLING FOR ECHO-PLANAR-IMAGING
The disclosure is directed to an Echo-Planar-Imaging (EPI) magnetic resonance imaging techniques combined with a variable-density undersampling scheme. The technique comprises generating an RF pulse, applying a switched frequency-encoding read out gradient in a variable time interval, and applying simultaneously an intermittently blipped low-magnitude phase-encoding gradient with a variable value of an integral of the phase-encoding gradient. The aforementioned steps are carried out such that the k-space is at least partially undersampled and the time interval of one read out gradient is varied depending on the integral of the phase encoding gradient, such that a ratio between the variable time interval of the read out gradient and the integral of the corresponding phase encoding gradient is kept above or at a predetermined constant value, which is related to a predetermined criteria of image quality.
Method for attenuating the noise in images resulting from multiple acquisitions by magnetic resonance imaging
A system and method for denoising experimental data originating from multiple acquisitions by a magnetic resonance imaging device, by analysis of selected principal components, to obtain a better compromise between the efficiency of the denoising and retention of the relevant information in the experimental data under consideration during their reconstruction to produce denoised experimental data. A selection criterion is based on the informative indicators quantifying the spatial information contained in images of scores associated with said principal components. The invention also provides for the capability to apply an adaptive filtering excluding the persistent spatial noise associated with each component selected.
Differential brain network analysis
A system and method of generating a graphical representation of a network of a subject human brain. The method comprises receiving, via a user interface, a selection of the network of the subject brain; determining, based on an MRI image of the subject brain and one or more identifiers associated with the selection, one or more parcellations of the subject brain (405); determining, using three-dimensional coordinates associated with each parcellation, corresponding tracts in a diffusion tensor image of the brain (425); and generating a graphical representation of the selected network (430), the graphical representation including at least one of (i) one or more surfaces representing the one or more parcellations, each surface generated using the coordinates, and (ii) the determined tracts.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGE ANALYZER, AND FLUID ANALYSIS METHOD
Fluid parameters such as WSS and EL are accurately calculated, using flow velocity information obtained by diffusion tensor imaging. Dispersion of a flow velocity distribution of fluid is calculated, using a diffusion tensor image obtained with respect to an examination target containing fluid, and an estimation model is set for a distribution shape of intra-voxel flow velocity. Using the estimation model and the dispersion of the flow velocity distribution, a differential value of the flow velocity is calculated. Then, a fluid parameter representing a flow characteristic of the fluid is calculated.
Method for acquiring reference data for a phase correction in magnetic resonance technology
In a method and system for acquiring measurement data reference data for a phase correction of the measurement data, a RF excitation pulse is provided to excite spins in the object under examination, one or more RF refocusing pulses are provided to refocus the spins excited by the RF excitation pulse, measurement data is acquired by recording echo signals of refocused spins excited by the RF excitation pulse by switching readout gradients that alternate in their polarity, at least two echo signals are recorded while switching readout gradients with different polarity acquire reference data, chronologically between the providing of the RF excitation pulse and the acquisition of the measurement data, and correction data is determined for phase correction of phase errors contained in the measurement data based on the acquired reference data.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING AN INDICATOR OF THE TISSUE ACTIVITY OF AN ORGAN
The invention relates to a system and method for quantifying a novel biomarker of the tissue activity of a human or animal organ. By way of preferred application, such a biomarker describes the diffusivity of biological fluids in living tissues in the form of a novel indicator of the diffusion of water molecules in living tissues on the basis of diffusion data resulting from the acquisition of a sequence of images of one or more parts of the body of an animal or human patient. Particularly resistant and stable with respect to noise present in the medical imaging signals from which the experimental data stem, the novel biomarker is relevant in a large number of applications including, inexhaustively, the analysis and/or monitoring of cancers, or the assessment of strokes.
DIFFUSION DICTIONARY IMAGING (DDI) OF MICROSTRUCTURE AND INFLAMMATION
A computing device for diffusion dictionary imaging (DDI) of microstructure and inflammation of a patient is provided. The DDI computing device is connected to other computing devices, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The DDI computing device receives magnetic resonance (MR) signals from the MRI scanner. Once received, the DDI computing device records the one or more MR signals to a memory device. The DDI computing device computationally processes the one or more MR signals to reconstruct a diffusion MRI image using diffusion dictionary data. The MR signals include values that are used as input to algorithms of the DDI data to reconstruct the diffusion MRI image. A database is used to store DDI data, artificial intelligence (AI) data, diffusion dictionary data, and MR data.