University of California

The General Hospital Corporation

Cortechs Labs, Inc.

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Anders M Dale

Nathan S White

Sébastien Gicquel

Franz Schmitt

Martin Harder

Oliver Schreck

Andre Van Der Kouwe

Bob Carter

Mike Müller

Hans-Peter Hollenbach

Andre J W Van Der Kouwe

Tyler Steed

Andr&eacute; J W Van Der Kouwe

Donald J Hagler, Jr

Ines Nimsky

Dominic Holland

Clark Chen

André J W Van Der Kouwe

Techniques, systems, and devices are described for implementing automatic segmentation and quantitative parameterization of MRI images. For example, the disclosed method includes processing the MRI image to correct any distortions; performing a preliminary segmentation of the MRI image to assign a tissue label of a set of tissue labels to one or more preliminary volumes of voxels of the MRI image; comparing each voxel of the MRI image with the one or more preliminary volumes of voxels with an assigned tissue label and assigning each voxel of the MRI image a probability of being associated with each tissue label of the set of tissue labels; and assigning each voxel of the MRI image a tissue label according to its greatest probability among probabilities for each voxel being associated with the set of tissue labels.

Automatic segmentation and quantitative parameterization of brain tumors in MRI

Systems, methods, and software are used for identifying fibers based at least in part on magnetic resonance imaging. A fiber tract atlas for a nervous system includes atlas voxels that each represent a different volume element of the nervous system; a first atlas voxel represents a first volume element of the nervous system. The fiber tract atlas also includes information on orientations of a first fiber tract in the first volume element of the nervous system. Magnetic resonance data is acquired from the nervous system of a subject. The magnetic resonance data includes data voxels; a first data voxel relates to the first atlas voxel. A diffusion vector is generated for the first data voxel based at least in part on the acquired magnetic resonance data. The fiber tract atlas is used to find a probability that the first data voxel represents the first fiber tract based at least in part on the generated diffusion vector and the information on the orientations of the first fiber tract in the first volume element.

Identifying white matter fiber tracts using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Methods, devices and systems are disclosed for measuring biological tissue parameters using restriction spectrum magnetic resonance imaging. In one aspect, a method of characterizing a biological structure includes determining individual diffusion signals from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data in a set of MRI images that include diffusion weighting conditions (e.g., diffusion gradient directions, diffusion gradient strengths, sensitivity factors (b-values), or diffusion times), combining the individual diffusion signals to determine a processed diffusion signal corresponding to at least one location within one or more voxels of the MRI data, calculating one or more parameters from the processed diffusion signal by using the diffusion weighting conditions, and using the one or more parameters to identify a characteristic of the biological structure, in which the one or more parameters include values over a range of one or more diffusion length scales based on at least one of diffusion distance or diffusion rate.

Measuring biological tissue parameters using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging

Systems, apparatus and methods that use a hidden Markov model to estimate motion of a sample under measurement and to reduce a motion-induced effect in the measurement. MRI systems and other sample measurement systems can be implemented based on motion sensing using the hidden Markov model. Recursive and non-recursive estimation processes are described.

Motion estimation using hidden markov model processing in MRI and other applications

Systems and techniques for reducing distortions in magnetic resonance images. In one aspect, machine-implemented method for reducing image distortion in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) includes receiving a first MRI image and a second MRI image, estimating displacements of voxels between the first MRI image and the second MRI image by minimizing a cost function expressing a cost of the displacements, reducing distortion in an MRI image using the estimated displacements, and making the MRI image having reduced distortion available. The first MRI image and the second MRI image were acquired using different gradient fields.

Reducing distortion in magnetic resonance images

The present invention provides an atlas comprising values representative of magnetic resonance properties of a magnetic resonance (MR) scan and optionally, prior probability data relating to tissue type. Further embodiments of the invention involve a system including an MR scanner and the atlas for use in alignment of an MR scan, such as a localizer scan, to obtain a specific geometry of the data acquired during a subsequent scan. Also, a system includes an MR scanner and the atlas for automatic segmentation of an MR scan. Methods of making and using the atlas and system are also provided.

Atlas and methods for segmentation and alignment of anatomical data

A system, method, software arrangement and computer-accessible medium for correcting for a motion of an object are provided. In this system, method, software arrangement and computer-accessible medium, the navigator data and map data can be obtained for the object. Then, the navigator data is compared with the map to generate comparison data. Thereafter, a translation and/or a rotation of the object is corrected in real-time as a function of the comparison data. The navigator can be preferably a clover leaf navigator. In one exemplary embodiment, a scanning sequence can be used to determine a position of the object. For example, this scanning sequence may include a signal portion which includes at least one radio frequency signal, a navigator portion which includes at least one clover leaf navigator, and a spoiler portion provided for reducing a signal magnitude of the scanning sequence. The navigator is provided for allowing a measurement of the rotation and/or the translation of the object. The measurement can be adjusted by correcting for phase encoding effects, shimming errors, and B0 drifts. A feedback control system may be provided to repeatedly correct the measurement of the rotation and translation of the object. The navigator portion can advantageously be provided between the signal portion and the spoiler portion. The system, method, software arrangement and computer-accessible medium may be implemented when multiple coils are present.

System, method, software arrangement and computer-accessible medium for providing real-time motion correction by utilizing clover leaf navigators

A method and system of correcting for a motion of an object are provided. In these system and method, the navigator data and map data are first obtained for the object. Then, the navigator data is compared with the map data to generate comparison data. Thereafter, a translation and/or a rotation of the object is corrected in real time as a function of the comparison data. The navigator can be preferably an octant navigator and/or a clover leaf navigator. In one exemplary embodiment, a scanning sequence can be used to determine a position of the object. This scanning sequence may include a signal portion which includes at least one radio frequency signal, a navigator portion which includes at least one octant navigator or one clover leaf navigator, and a spoiler portion provided for reducing a signal magnitude of the scanning sequence. The navigator is provided for allowing a measurement of at least one of the rotation and translation of the object. The navigator portion is advantageously provided between the signal portion and the spoiler portion.

System and method for providing real-time motion correction by utilizing internal navigators

In a method and computer program product for operating a tomographic imaging apparatus, a standard measurement protocol is generated by displaying a planning representation of a standard object, defining a spatial position of a standard imaging area in the planning representation, and storing, as the standard measurement protocol for the standard object, a reference to the standard object and parameters of the standard imaging area. Such a standard measurement protocol can then be used in the slice position planning for an actual tomographic measurement, by obtaining data representing features of an examination object, corresponding to the standard object, determining a geometrical relation of the features of the examination object to features of the standard object, and generating an object-specific measurement protocol wherein the imaging area is positioned relative to the examination object by modification of the standard measurement protocol.

Method for slice position planning of tomographic measurements, using statistical images

A method and system of correcting for a motion of an object are provided. In these system and method, the navigator data and map data are first obtained for the object. Then, the navigator data is compared with the map data to generate comparison data. Thereafter, a translation and/or a rotation of the object is corrected in real time as a function of the comparison data. The navigator can be preferably an octant navigator. In one exemplary embodiment, a scanning sequence can be used to determine a position of the object. This scanning sequence may include a signal portion which includes at least one radio frequency signal, an octant navigator portion which includes at least one octant navigator, and a spoiler portion provided for reducing a signal magnitude of the scanning sequence. The octant navigator is provided for allowing a measurement of at least one of the rotation and translation of the object. The navigator portion is advantageously provided between the signal portion and the spoiler portion.

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La Jolla, CA, United States of America

Anders M Dale