Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080205725 | METHOD FOR PLANNING AN ANGIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT - In a method for planning of an angiography measurement of a body region in a magnetic resonance system, the body region being larger than the maximum field of view of the magnetic resonance system, and wherein the MR system has a control unit for controlling the workflow of the angiographic measurement, an upper boundary and a lower boundary of the body region are established. The control unit divides the body region into sub-measurement regions and sub-measurements dependent on the established boundaries. The sub-measurement regions and sub-measurements are measured in succession. The arrival of an injected test bolus of a contrast agent into the various sub-measurement regions is detected using MR measurements. The transit time of the test bolus through the body region for the angiographic measurement is determined, and the control unit also determines the workflow of the angiography measurement, including determining the sequence of the measurements of the sub-measurement regions and the time duration of the individual sub-measurements for the sub-measurement regions. | 08-28-2008 |
20080205735 | METHOD FOR GENERATION OF TEMPORALLY HIGH-RESOLUTION MR EXPOSURES - In a method for generation of MR exposures in an MR system, a number of under-sampled MR raw data sets are acquired with non-constant density in k-space. A density compensation is implemented dependent on the geometry of the structure to be depicted. The under-sampled MR raw data sets are translated into a Cartesian coordinate system. Fourier transformation of the translated raw data sets in classical three-dimensional space ensues to generate under-sampled MR images. An averaged MR image is generated on the basis of a number of the under-sampled MR raw data sets. The MR exposures are produced by multiplication of the under-sampled MR images with the averaged MR image. | 08-28-2008 |
20100014735 | Enhanced Contrast MR System Accommodating Vessel Dynamic Fluid Flow - A system enhances MR imaging contrast between vessels containing dynamically flowing blood and static tissue using an MR imaging system. The MR imaging system, in response to a heart rate synchronization signal, acquires an anatomical preparation data set representing a spatially non-localized preparation 3D volume in response to a first magnetization preparation pulse sequence. The MR imaging system acquires a spatially localized anatomical imaging data set representing a second imaging volume. The MR imaging system subtracts slice specific MR imaging data of the spatially localized anatomical imaging data set from spatially and temporally corresponding slice specific imaging data of the anatomical preparation data set to derive blood flow indicative imaging data. The temporally corresponding slice specific imaging data comprises data acquired at a substantially corresponding cycle point within a heart beat cycle determined in response to said heart rate synchronization signal. The MR imaging system iteratively repeats the subtraction step for multiple adjacent slices individually comprising a spatially localized anatomical imaging data set to provide a three-dimensional imaging data set. | 01-21-2010 |
20100128952 | CORRECTION OF ARTIFACTS IN TIME-OF-FLIGHT MR ANGIOGRAPHY - In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for correction of artifacts in time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography, MR signals are acquired in a target volume with the TOF MR angiography technique to generate multiple MR angiography images, pixels with background signal are identified in the angiography images by separation of these pixels from noise and vessel pixels, a signal profile of the pixels with background signal is determined across the target volume, and the MR signal of a predetermined set of pixels of the target volume is normalized with the signal profile of the pixels with background signal. | 05-27-2010 |
20100160766 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FLOW MEASUREMENT - In a method for flow measurement with a magnetic resonance system and a correspondingly designed magnetic resonance system angiography measurement data of a volume are obtained within a body to be examined, a vessel is determined depending on a user input by means of the angiography measurement data, dimensions and an orientation of the vessel are automatically determined from the angiography measurement data, a slice geometry for the flow measurement is automatically determined depending on the dimensions and the orientation, and the flow measurement is implemented using the slice geometry. | 06-24-2010 |
20100194390 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TIME-RESOLVED ACQUISITION OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE DATA - In a magnetic resonance method and apparatus for time-resolved acquisition of magnetic resonance data in an examination region of a magnetic resonance imaging scanner, an object being examined is placed on a table and is continuously moved through the examination region, magnetic resonance signals are acquired from the examination region while the object being examined is continuously moved with the table through the examination region and prior to the acquisition of magnetic resonance signals, a phase coding that corresponds to a position in k-space, for the purpose of sampling k-space, is carried out. An interruption of the movement of the table takes place at a predetermined table position, and the acquisition of magnetic resonance signals from an examination region is continued over the course of a predetermined time period, while the table ( | 08-05-2010 |
20100198055 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A CONTRAST AGENT INJECTION FOR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING - In a method and magnetic resonance system for controlling a contrast agent injector used with a magnetic resonance imaging scanner of the system, a user interface is displayed at the control panel of the scanner, for configuring the operating parameters of the injector connected to the magnetic resonance imaging scanner and for controlling the injector in accordance with the operating parameters configured on said user interface, from the scanner control panel. | 08-05-2010 |
20100205143 | System for Ordering Acquisition of Frequency Domain Components Representing MR Image Data - A system orders acquisition of frequency domain components representing MR image data for storage in a storage array (e.g., k-space). A storage array of individual data elements stores corresponding individual frequency components comprising an MR dataset. The array of individual data elements has a designated center and individual data elements individually have a radius to the designated center. A magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field for use in acquiring multiple individual frequency components corresponding to individual data elements in the storage array. The individual frequency components are successively acquired in an order in which radius of respective corresponding individual data elements increases and decreases as the multiple individual frequency components are sequentially acquired during acquisition of an MR dataset representing an MR image. A storage processor stores individual frequency components acquired using the magnetic field in corresponding individual data elements in the array. | 08-12-2010 |
20100246909 | MEDICAL IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD TO EVALUATE A TEST BOLUS IMAGE SERIES - In a method and device to evaluate a time series of in particular two-dimensional images of a contrast agent flow in at least one blood vessel of the human body within the scope of a test bolus measurement, wherein the acquisition of the time series begins with administration of the contrast agent, the time series of two-dimensional images or a time series of images derived from this is used as a time series of evaluation images, and in at least one evaluation image exhibiting a contrast agent signal, at least one point associated with a blood vessel is determined semi-automatically or automatically and transferred to further evaluation images. For every blood vessel discovered in this way, a temporal contrast agent course curve is determined (in particular via a fit) automatically from the image signal of the evaluation images at the at least one point and/or in a region around the marked point in the blood vessel and at least one item of contrast agent information that affects the temporal workflow of a subsequent measurement is determined from at least one contrast agent course curve. | 09-30-2010 |
20100280357 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY WITH FLOW-COMPENSATED AND FLOW-SENSITIVE IMAGING - In a magnetic resonance angiography method with flow-compensated and flow-sensitive imaging and a magnetic resonance apparatus for implementing such a method, a first MR data set of the examination region is acquired with an imaging sequence in which vessels in the examination region are shown with high signal intensity, a second MR data set of the examination region with an imaging sequence in which the vessels in the examination region are shown with low signal intensity, and the angiographic magnetic resonance image is calculated in a processor by taking the difference of the first and second data set. The first data set is acquired with an imaging sequence with reduced flow sensitivity and the second data set is acquired with an imaging sequence with an increased flow sensitivity compared to the initial imaging sequence. | 11-04-2010 |
20110251477 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO GENERATE ANGIOGRAPHIC MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES - In a magnetic resonance system and operating method to generate a series of temporally successive angiographic magnetic resonance images of an examination region, a series with a predetermined number of flip angles is established. The first flip angle at the beginning of the series is smaller than the last flip angle at the end of the series, and an arbitrary flip angle is greater than or equal to the preceding flip angle in the series. First and second magnetic resonance data are determined by acquiring a predetermined number of partial segments of k-space belonging to the first and second magnetic resonance data. Each partial segment is acquired over a respective first or second time interval and respectively has a series of components. Each component is acquired according to a gradient echo method with a flip angle that exists at a position in the series of flip angles, which position corresponds to the component. A fluid flowing into the examination region is given a first predetermined spin marking at the beginning of the first time intervals and a second predetermined spin marking, different than the first spin marking, at the beginning of the second time intervals. The series of temporally successive angiography magnetic resonance images is generated by combining the first and second magnetic resonance data. | 10-13-2011 |
20120016224 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OBTAINING MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGES OF A BODY REGION WITH A FLOWING MEDIUM THEREIN - A method to create magnetic resonance images of a predetermined imaging volume within an examination subject with a magnetic resonance system includes the following steps: Localize an inflow that supplies the imaging volume. Form a specific volume that at least partially includes the predetermined imaging volume and that is adapted to the inflow such that the specific volume has a recess into the specific volume at the inflow, via which recess at least a partial segment of the inflow is removed from the specific volume. Saturate or invert the magnetization of the specific volume by means of the magnetic resonance system. Detect measurement signals from the imaging volume. Create the MR images of the imaging volume by means of the measurement signals. | 01-19-2012 |
20120271156 | Patient Support Table Control System for Use in MR Imaging - A system for Non-Contrast Agent enhanced MR imaging includes an MR image acquisition device for acquiring imaging datasets comprising one or more image slabs individually comprising multiple image slices. An image data processor processes data representing an acquired image slice to detect a predetermined anatomical feature of a patient by detecting an edge of the anatomical feature in response to detection of pixel luminance transitions. A patient support table controller automatically moves a patient table at a velocity adaptively and dynamically determined by, selecting data modifying table velocity from predetermined information associating an anatomical feature with table velocity modification data in response to detection of the anatomical feature and adaptively determining a table velocity using the modification data. | 10-25-2012 |
20120271158 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO GENERATE MAGNETIC RESONANCE ANGIOGRAPHY IMAGES - In a magnetic (MR) method and apparatus to generate an MR angiography image of a vascular structure of an examination region, spins in the examination region are saturated by an RF saturation pulse to cause these spins to produce a lower signal intensity in the angiography image than spins that flow from a major artery via a feed artery into the examination region, which are not saturated by the RF saturation pulse. A saturation volume is established that is saturated by the RF saturation pulse in order to be able to depict substantially all the vascular structure, such that the major artery and the tissue surrounding the major artery are not situated at the level of the branching of the feed artery in the saturation volume. The MR angiography image is generated using the established saturation volume. | 10-25-2012 |
20130006098 | MR-ANGIOGRAPHY WITH NON-CARTESIAN SIGNAL ACQUISITION - In a method and apparatus for the creation of an MR image of a vascular structure of an examination region, the spins in the examination region are saturated by the irradiation of at least one RF saturation signal, which delivers a lower signal intensity as spins in a subsequent MR signal recording for the creation of the MR angiographic image, which flow through at least one blood vessel into the examination region, and are not saturated by the RF saturation pulse. Raw data space of the MR angiographic image is read out with a non-Cartesian trajectory in the MR signal acquisition for the creation of the MR angiographic image. | 01-03-2013 |
20130049752 | SAMPLING PATTERN FOR ITERATIVE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION - In a method to generate magnetic resonance (MR) images of an examination subject, MR signals are detected simultaneously with multiple coils, each coil having its own coil characteristic. In the detection of the MR signals, raw data space is incompletely filled with MR signals; with raw data space being undersampled in a central raw data region with a coherent acquisition pattern that is composed of a spatially repeating set of raw data points; and raw data space outside of the central raw data region is sampled with an incoherent acquisition pattern. The MR image is reconstructed from the detected MR signals, step-by-step in an iterative reconstruction procedure using a reconstruction matrix A, starting from an initial estimate; wherein the reconstruction matrix has continuing information about the coil characteristics with which the MR signals were detected. | 02-28-2013 |
20130049754 | ITERATIVE RECONSTRUCTION METHOD WITH PENALTY TERMS FROM EXAMINATION OBJECTS - A method is disclosed for calculating an MR image of a target layer from an examination object, wherein the MR image is calculated using iterative reconstruction. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: acquiring MR data from an initial layer of the examination object, determining information produced by the examination object from the acquired MR data of the initial layer, determining a penalty term from the information produced by the examination object, and performing the iterative reconstruction of the MR image for the target layer taking into account the determined penalty term. | 02-28-2013 |
20130119990 | SYSTEM FOR ORDERING FREQUENCY DOMAIN COMPONENTS REPRESENTING MR IMAGE DATA - A system orders acquisition of frequency domain components representing MR image data for storage in a storage array (e.g., k-space). A storage array of individual data elements stores corresponding individual frequency components comprising an MR dataset. The array of individual data elements has a designated center and individual data elements individually have a radius to the designated center. A magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field for use in acquiring multiple individual frequency components corresponding to individual data elements in the storage array. The individual frequency components are successively acquired in an order in which radius of respective corresponding individual data elements increases and decreases as the multiple individual frequency components are sequentially acquired during acquisition of an MR dataset representing an MR image. A storage processor stores individual frequency components acquired using the magnetic field in corresponding individual data elements in the array. | 05-16-2013 |
20130121550 | Non-Contrast-Enhanced 4D MRA Using Compressed Sensing Reconstruction - A reconstructed image is rendered of a patient by a processor from a set of undersampled MRI data by first subtracting two repetitions of the acquired data in k-space to create a third dataset. The processor reconstructs the image by minimizing an objective function under a constraint related to the third dataset, wherein the objective function includes applying a Karhunen-Loeve Transform (KLT) to a temporal dimension of data. The objective function under the constraint is expressed as arg min | 05-16-2013 |
20130278259 | METHOD FOR A RAPID DETERMINATION OF SPATIALLY RESOLVED MAGNETIC RESONANCE RELAXATION PARAMETERS IN AN AREA OF EXAMINATION - In a method for a rapid determination of spatially resolved magnetic resonance relaxation parameters in an area of examination, a preparation pulse is radiated into the area of examination. During the relaxation of the longitudinal magnetization, spatially encoded magnetic resonance signals are acquired at a minimum of two different points in time using a fast magnetic resonance sequence. At each inversion time, an image data record is reconstructed from the magnetic resonance signals, which are elastically registered to each other. From the recorded image data records, values of magnetic resonance relaxation parameters are spatially accurately determined. | 10-24-2013 |
20140084916 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE PHASE CONTRAST ANGIOGRAPHY WITH ROTATING CODING GRADIENTS - In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) system to generate an MR phase contrast angiography image of an examination subject, velocity-dependent phase information is impressed on moving spins in the examination subject by switching additional bipolar coding gradients that are in addition to the basic phase coding and readout gradients. For the creation of the MR phase contrast angiography images, the MR signals of the examination subject are read out in raw data space with a non-Cartesian acquisition pattern during a readout gradient. The additional bipolar coding gradients switched such that they proceed along a coordinate system that corresponds to the non-Cartesian acquisition pattern, and such that a coordinate axis of this coordinate system proceed along the readout gradient. | 03-27-2014 |
20140285194 | TIME-RESOLVED PHASE-CONTRAST MR IMAGING WITH SPEED ENCODING - In a method and apparatus for time-resolved phase-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with speed encoding, MR signals are detected with multiple receivers in each of numerous time segments in order to acquire raw data in each of the time segments, in each case for numerous MR images with different speed encodings. Stationary image points and/or non-stationary image points are identified, dependent on the detected MR signals. A mask is defined, dependent on the identified stationary image points and/or the non-stationary image points, wherein the mask is locally variable. The numerous MR images for the numerous time segments are reconstructed from the acquired raw data, wherein the reconstruction occurs in an iterative process and with a temporal regularization, which is dependent on the mask. | 09-25-2014 |
20140364724 | METHOD AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE APPARATUS FOR IMAGE ACQUISITION CONTROL WITH ADMINISTRATION OF CONTRAST AGENT - In a method and magnetic resonance apparatus to acquire diagnostic image data of a contrast agent-filled target area of a patient, a peak time of the test bolus in the target area is automatically determined, from which a wait period is then determined for administering the main bolus. After the main bolus has been administered to the patient, magnetic resonance images of the target area are acquired, and each is analyzed immediately after acquisition thereof to determine whether that image shows arrival of the contrast agent. If and when one of these images shows such arrival, an acquisition protocol is immediately started in order to acquire the diagnostic image data set. If none of these images shows arrival of the contrast agent, the protocol to acquire diagnostic image data is started after the wait period. | 12-11-2014 |
20150038829 | Methods, Systems and Appartuses for Using Flexible Triggered Segmentation to Optimize Magnetic Resonance Imaging - A method for using flexible triggered segmentation to optimize magnetic resonance imaging includes partitioning a k-space table into a plurality of k-space segments, each respective k-space segment comprising one or more phase-encoding steps from a plurality of slice-encoding lines. A cardiac cycle is monitored using an electrical signal tracking system and used to trigger acquisition of the plurality of k-space segments over a plurality of acquisition windows. | 02-05-2015 |
20150061671 | PHASE-CONTRAST MR IMAGING WITH SPEED ENCODING - MR signals are acquired with a method for phase contrast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with speed encoding, in order to acquire raw data for multiple MR images. The multiple MR images are reconstructed. For this purpose, matrix elements are determined for numerous matrices, wherein the sum of the numerous matrices results in a pixel matrix. The pixel matrix has matrix elements that represent the pixel values for a reference MR image with flow compensation. The pixel matrix has further matrix elements that represent the pixel values for the at least one MR image with speed encoding. The matrix elements of the numerous matrices are determined such that a first matrix of the numerous matrices fulfills a first condition. | 03-05-2015 |