6089results about "Measurements using NMR imaging systems" patented technology

A method and apparatus is provided for magnetic source magnetic resonance imaging. The method includes collecting energy signals from an object, providing additional information of characteristics of the object, and generating the image of the object from the energy signals and from the additional information such that the image includes a representation of a quantitative estimation of the characteristics, e.g a quantitative estimation of magnetic susceptibility. The additional information may comprise predetermined characteristics of the object, a magnitude image generated from the object, or magnetic signals collected from different relative orientations between the object and the imaging system. The image is generated by an inversion operation based on the collected signals and the additional information. The inversion operation minimizes a cost function obtained by combining the data extracted from the collected signals and the additional information of the object. Additionally, the image is used to detect a number of diagnostic features including microbleeds, contract agents and the like.

Methods for assessing the condition of a cartilage in a joint and assessing cartilage loss, particularly in a human knee, are disclosed. In one method, a method for modeling healthy cartilage, the method includes measuring the distance between each of at least two points on an articular cartilage surface corresponding to margins of a defect and a corresponding point on the sub-chondral bone surface, and interpolating a reconstructed cartilage boundary. In a second method, a method for generating a three-dimensional approximation of healthy cartilage, the method includes determining a set of distances between at least three points on a first articular surface corresponding to margins of a defect and at least three corresponding points on a second cartilage surface, and approximating a reconstructed cartilage surface.

An apparatus and method for performing treatment on an internal target region while compensating for breathing and other motion of the patient is provided in which the apparatus comprises a first imaging device for periodically generating positional data about the internal target region and a second imaging device for continuously generating positional data about one or more external markers attached to the patient's body or any external sensor such as a device for measuring air flow. The apparatus further comprises a processor that receives the positional data about the internal target region and the external markers in order to generate a correspondence between the position of the internal target region and the external markers and a treatment device that directs the treatment towards the position of the target region of the patient based on the positional data of the external markers.

A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging apparatus and technique exploits spatial information inherent in a surface coil array to increase MR image acquisition speed, resolution and / or field of view. Magnetic resonance response signals are acquired simultaneously in the component coils of the array and, using an autocalibration procedure, are formed into two or more signals to fill a corresponding number of lines in the signal measurement data matrix. In a Fourier embodiment, lines of the k-space matrix required for image production are formed using a set of separate, preferably linear combinations of the component coil signals to substitute for spatial modulations normally produced by phase encoding gradients. One or a few additional gradients are applied to acquire autocalibration (ACS) signals extending elsewhere in the data space, and the measured signals are fitted to the ACS signals to develop weights or coefficients for filling additional lines of the matrix from each measurement set. The ACS lines may be taken offset from or in a different orientation than the measured signals, for example, between or across the measured lines. Furthermore, they may be acquired at different positions in k-space, may be performed at times before, during or after the principal imaging sequence, and may be selectively acquired to optimized the fitting for a particular tissue region or feature size. The in vivo fitting procedure is readily automated or implemented in hardware, and produces an enhancement of image speed and / or quality even in highly heterogeneous tissue. A dedicated coil assembly automatically performs the calibration procedure and applies it to measured lines to produce multiple correctly spaced output signals. One application of the internal calibration technique to a subencoding imaging process applies the ACS in the central region of a sparse set of measured signals to quickly form a full FOV low resolution image. The full FOV image is then used to determine coil sensitivity related information and dealias folded images produced from the sparse set.

The present invention relates to methods, software and systems for monitoring fluctuations in magnetic resonance signals. These methods may be used for measurements of the human brain and nervous system, and may be used for measuring electric currents and electromagnetic fields internal to an object. This method may include the use of a reference signal to accomplish differential recording of electromagnetic fields from two or more spatial locations.

A phased-array knee coil is provided and includes a transmit coil array and a receive coil array having a plurality of coils configured to provide a first imaging mode and a second imaging mode.

Methods for generating a three-dimensional visualization image of an object, such as an internal organ, using volume visualization techniques are provided. The techniques include a multi-scan imaging method; a multi-resolution imaging method; and a method for generating a skeleton of a complex three dimension object. The applications include virtual cystoscopy, virtual laryngoscopy, virtual angiography, among others.

A method and apparatus for classifying possibly malignant lesions from sets of DCE-MRI images includes receiving a set of MRI slice images obtained at respectively different times, where each slice image includes voxels representative of at least one region of interest (ROI). The images are processed to determine the boundaries of the ROIs and the voxels within the identified boundaries in corresponding regions of the images from each time period are processed to extract kinetic texture features. The kinetic texture features are then used in a classification process which classifies the ROIs as malignant or benign. The malignant lesions are further classified to separate TN lesions from non-TN lesions.

A method and apparatus is provided for magnetic source magnetic resonance imaging. The method includes collecting energy signals from an object, providing additional information of characteristics of the object, and generating the image of the object from the energy signals and from the additional information such that the image includes a representation of a quantitative estimation of the characteristics, e.g a quantitative estimation of magnetic susceptibility. The additional information may comprise predetermined characteristics of the object, a magnitude image generated from the object, or magnetic signals collected from different relative orientations between the object and the imaging system. The image is generated by an inversion operation based on the collected signals and the additional information. The inversion operation minimizes a cost function obtained by combining the data extracted from the collected signals and the additional information of the object. Additionally, the image is used to detect a number of diagnostic features including microbleeds, contract agents and the like.

A trait of interest is detected as being present within individual ones of a plurality of agricultural samples (such as seeds or plant tissues) by imaging the plurality of samples to form a magnetic resonance image. The image of the plurality of samples is then analyzed to detect image information indicative of the presence of the trait within one or more of the imaged samples. A determination is then made as to whether the trait is exhibited in individual ones of the samples based upon the foregoing analysis. As an example, the samples may be a plurality of seeds, and the detected trait may be oil. A determination is made, based on the image analysis, as to whether each individual seed in the multi-seed image contains oil. A further examination may be made to determine a relative content of oil in each seed as well as a content by weight.

An electromagnetic shield has a first patterned or apertured layer having non-conductive materials and conductive material and a second patterned or apertured layer having non-conductive materials and conductive material. The conductive material may be a metal, a carbon composite, or a polymer composite. The non-conductive materials in the first patterned or apertured layer may be randomly located or located in a predetermined segmented pattern such that the non-conductive materials in the first patterned or apertured layer are located in a predetermined segmented pattern with respect to locations of the non-conductive materials in the second patterned or apertured layer.

A method and system for physiological gating is disclosed. A method and system for detecting and predictably estimating regular cycles of physiological activity or movements is disclosed. Another disclosed aspect of the invention is directed to predictive actuation of gating system components. Yet another disclosed aspect of the invention is directed to physiological gating of radiation treatment based upon the phase of the physiological activity. Gating can be performed, either prospectively or retrospectively, to any type of procedure, including radiation therapy or imaging, or other types of medical devices and procedures such as PET, MRI, SPECT, and CT scans.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided methods for generating an isotropic or near-isotropic three-dimensional images from two-dimensional images. In accordance with the present invention the method includes, obtaining a first image of a body part in a first plane, wherein the first image generates a first image data volume; obtaining a second image of the body part in a second plane, wherein the second image generates a second image data volume; and combining the first and second image data volumes to form a resultant image data volume, wherein the resultant image data volume is isotropic or near-isotropic.

Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Computerized Tomotography (CT), or other diagnostic modalities may employ a three-step procedure during initial (“scout”) cranial pre-scans that corrects for patient positioning (i.e., roll, yaw and pitch) to reduce inter- and intra-patient variation, thereby enhancing the diagnostic and comparative value of subsequent detail scans even across different diagnostic platforms. In MRI, for instance, locating the saggital sinus (SS) and optimizing a line to bisect the brain through this SS may be automated to correct for roll and yaw. By then identifying the contour of the corpus callosum in a lateral saggital scout scan, the Talairach anterior commissure (AC)—posterior commissure (PC) reference line may be found for correcting pitch. Prescription of detailed scans are improved, especially when the three-step correction is repeated periodically identifying the need to repeat a detailed scan or to adjust the coordinates of a subsequent scan.

Data collected by a transcranial brain function measuring / stimulating method is accurately projected and displayed onto a brain surface. If there is no three-dimensional head image, data is projected and displayed onto the brain surface of a standard brain. The head surface coordinates are transformed to the brain surface coordinates of the brain surface underlying the head surface by, e.g., a minimum distance search method. The coordinates of a projected point on the brain surface of the head surface and the probability distribution are determined for a standard brain normalized with data on subjects.

An artificial or modified natural blood flow tubing has a helical-flow inducer to induce helical flow in such fashion as to eliminate or reduce turbulence. One inducer is a tubular stent of expansible mesh having a helical vane.