Toshiba America Mri, Inc.

University of California

David M Goldhaber

Weiguo Zhang

David M Kramer

Joseph W Carlson

Hsu Chang

Ching Yao

A method and apparatus for obtaining three MRI image data in a single data acquisition TR interval for use in constructing separate water and fat images by appropriate processing of the three images data is disclosed. The three image data are obtained in one exemplary embodiment by sandwiching a spin echo between two field echoes. The invention can also be used for multiple-echo and multiple-slice 3D scans.

Method and apparatus for providing separate fat and water MRI images in

Methods and apparatus for correcting image artefacts caused by variations in the main magnetic field of an MRI system are disclosed, particularly for MRI with steady-state spin precession. For field correction in MRI with steady-state spin precession, the effects of the field changes can be corrected by quantifying the time course of the field drifts by repeated acquisition of the zero k-space lines. The change in the phase between consecutive zero k-space lines is used as an indicator of field variation and for correction of associated image artifacts. By using for field correction the zero k-space lines acquired using the imaging sequence itself, the steady-states of spin precession are undisturbed throughout the MRI data acquisition.

Correction for field variation in steady-state MRI by repeated

A pair of serially-connected coils detect noise variations in an MRI background magnetic field. Although the coils are closely coupled to the primary background magnetic field generator of the MRI system, they are disposed so as to be substantially de-coupled from rapidly changing MRI gradient magnetic fields. The noise detecting loops drive a negative feedback loop including a low pass filter, amplifier and controlled current source driving a large correcting loop. The device attenuates background magnetic field noise during MRI data acquisition over a frequency band extending from a few millihertz to more than 100 Hz. It is preferably used with existing field stabilization software that otherwise compensates for fluctuations in an overlapping frequency band which starts at d.c. Thus, when used together, background magnetic field noise may be attenuated (or compensated for in subsequent MRI data processing) over a frequency band that extends from d.c. to more than 100 Hz.

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Berkeley, CA, United States of America

David M Goldhaber