Duke University

Allen W Song

Trong-Kha Truong

Nan-Kuei Chen

Dean F Darnell

Hui Han

Chris Petty

Mei-Lan Chu

Alexandru V Avram

A method includes receiving, by a mobile computing device from an electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring headset, an incoming wireless communication signal including an EEG data stream. The method may further include processing, by an application running on the mobile computing device, the received EEG data stream to determine at least one actionable command for at least one peripheral device. The method may also include transmitting, by the mobile computing device to the at least one peripheral device, at least one outgoing wireless communication signal including the at least one determined actionable command.

Mobile brain computer interface

RF coil array assemblies include an RF coil array with a plurality of coil elements. The coil elements each have an RF conductor that defines an RF path. The coil elements operate in an RF mode for at least one of transmitting RF excitation signals or receiving MRI image signals on the RF conductors. The RF coil array assemblies also include at least one wireless module connected to the RF coil array, the at least one wireless module including a wireless transceiver operative at a wireless communication frequency band and attached to at least some of the coil elements to provide input and output signals to the at least one wireless module. At least some of the coil elements can concurrently transmit or receive wireless communication data and the RF excitation signals or the received MRI image signals.

MRI RF coil assemblies with RF coil elements that allow wireless communication data transmission and related methods and systems

Methods of processing MRI image data to reduce or eliminate motion-related artifacts in MRI images includes: electronically repeatedly acquiring sets of 2D or 3D k-space data of a target region of a subject using at least one MRI pulse sequence; electronically applying a bootstrapping procedure to produce a large number of images from the acquired k-space data; then electronically evaluating the images produced by the bootstrapping procedure; and electronically identifying an image with a minimal motion-related artifact level from the evaluation of the images produced by the bootstrapping procedure.

MRI with repeated K-T-sub-sampling and artifact minimization allowing for free breathing abdominal MRI

Systems, methods and devices are configured for integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES). Parallel transmit/receive (which can include Bshimming and/or parallel imaging capabilities) and Bshimming employ the same set of localized coils or transverse electromagnetic (TEM) coil elements, with each coil or TEM element working in both an RF mode (for transmit/receive and Bshimming) and a direct current (DC) mode (for Bshimming) simultaneously. Both an RF and a DC current can flow in the same coil simultaneously but independently with no electromagnetic interference between the two modes. This invention is not only applicable when the same coil array is used for parallel transmit, receive and shim, but also when two separate coil arrays are used. In that case, the Bshimming capability can be integrated into one of the coil arrays (i.e. a transmit array with Bshimming capability or a receive array), thereby increasing the flexibility and practical utility of the iPRES technology.

Circuits for magnetic resonance imaging systems for integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming

Systems, methods and devices are configured for integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES) with RF coil elements with split DC loops. Parallel transmit/receive (which can include Bshimming and/or parallel imaging capabilities) and Bshimming employ the same set of localized coils or transverse electromagnetic (TEM) coil elements, with each coil or TEM element working in both an RF mode (for transmit/receive and Bshimming) and a direct current (DC) mode (for Bshimming) simultaneously. Both an RF and a DC current (in split DC loops) can flow in the same coil element simultaneously but independently with no electromagnetic interference between the two modes.

RF coil elements with split DC loops for magnetic resonance imaging systems for integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming and related methods and devices

In vivo methods of non-invasively imaging neuro-electro-magnetic oscillations (NEMO) are carried out by electronically transmitting a pulse sequence to a subject. The pulse sequence has a first excitation pulse, typically applied along an x-axis, followed by a spin-lock pulse applied along a different axis, typically a y-axis, and having a defined frequency, followed by a second RF excitation pulse. Then MR image signal of neuroelectric activity associated with evoked and/or spontaneous neuroelectric oscillations is obtained after the second RF excitation pulse and a neuroactivity (i.e., brain activation) map based on the obtained MR image signal is generated, the neuroactivity map having high temporal and spatial accuracy of the neuroelectric activity.

Magnetic resonance imaging of neuro-electro-magnetic oscillations

Methods, systems, computer programs, circuits and workstations are configured to generate MRI images using gradient blips for signal acquisition and reconstruction using dynamic field mapping, TE corrections and/or multischeme partial Fourier images.

MRI data acquisition, reconstruction and correction methods for diffusion weighted imagine (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and related systems

Multi-shot DWI with multiplexed sensitivity-encoding (MUSE) inherently corrects nonlinear shot-to-shot phase variations without requiring the use of navigator echoes. The multi-shot DWI can use interleaved echo-planar imaging or other scan protocols. This new technique should prove highly valuable for mapping brain structures and connectivities at high spatial resolution for neuroscience studies.

Multi-shot scan protocols for high-resolution MRI incorporating multiplexed sensitivity-encoding (MUSE)

Systems, methods and devices are configured for integrated parallel reception, excitation, and shimming (iPRES). Parallel transmit/receive (which can include B?1#191 shimming and/or parallel imaging capabilities) and Bshimming employ the same set of localized coils or transverse electromagnetic (TEM) coil elements, with each coil or TEM element working in both an RF mode (for transmit/receive and Bshimming) and a direct current (DC) mode (for Bshimming) simultaneously. Both an RF and a DC current can flow in the same coil simultaneously but independently with no electromagnetic interference between the two modes. This invention is not only applicable when the same coil array is used for parallel transmit, receive and shim, but also when two separate coil arrays are used. In that case, the Bshimming capability can be integrated into one of the coil arrays (i.e. a transmit array with Bshimming capability or a receive array), thereby increasing the flexibility and practical utility of the iPRES technology.

Magnetic resonance imaging systems for integrated parallel reception, excitation and shimming and related methods and devices

MRI systems with a new concept and hardware modality configured for parallel transmit, receive, and shim to address Band Binhomogeneity, both of which increase with field strength. This invention benefits from a number of advantages over existing technologies: it can save valuable space within the MRI magnet bore, largely reduce the manufacturing cost of MRI scanners, and avoid the electromagnetic interference issue associated with existing technologies.

Magnetic resonance imaging systems for parallel transmit, receive and shim and methods of use thereof

Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) using a new technique, termed multiplexed sensitivity encoding with inherent phase correction, is proposed and implemented to effectively and reliably provide high-resolution segmented DWI and DTI, where shot-to-shot phase variations are inherently corrected, with high quality and SNR yet without relying on reference and navigator echoes. The performance and consistency of the new technique in enabling high-quality DWI and DTI are confirmed experimentally in healthy adult volunteers on 3 Tesla MRI systems. This newly developed technique should be broadly applicable in neuroscience investigations of brain structure and function.

Navigator-less segmented diffusion weighted imaging enabled by multiplexed sensitivity-encoded imaging with inherent phase correction

Methods, systems, computer programs, circuits and workstations are configured to carry out image processing to generate MRI images with reduced aliasing artifacts (e.g., Nyquist and/or motion-induced image artifacts) by (a) electronically reconstructing a series of images using patient image data obtained from a patient MRI image data set by iteratively cycling through different estimated values of phase gradients in at least two dimensions; and (b) electronically selecting an image from the reconstructed images as having a lowest artifact level.

Multi-dimensional iterative phase-cycled reconstruction for MRI images

Signal recovery in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is provided by generating a single excitation pulse and exciting a target region of a subject with the generated excitation pulse. A first image is obtained using a first partial k-space frame of the target region. A compensation pulse is generated and the target region excited with the compensation pulse. A second, compensated, image is obtained subsequent to the excitation by the compensation pulse using a second partial k-space frame of the target region. The first and second images are combined to form a combined image of the target region. The first and second obtaining steps are carried out sequentially during a single quadratic excitation pulse.

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Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Allen W Song