New York University

US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Henry Rusinek

Manlio G Abele

Jens Jensen

Mony De Leon

Artem Mikheev

Herbert A Leupold

Ernest Potenziani, Ii

Uzma Samadani

Abdullah Bin Zahid

Ramesh Chandra

Vivian S Lee

Lisa Mosconi

Wai-Hon Tsui

Lei Zhang

To that end, in order to overcome some of the deficiencies presented herein above, an exemplary system, method and computer-accessible medium for determining an attribute(s) of a brain of a patient, can include, for example, receiving information obtained from a computed tomography ('CT') scan(s) of a portion(s) of the brain, generating a CT image(s) that can be based on the information, and determining the attribute(s) of the brain based on the CT image(s) by segmenting an intracranial space (ICS) in the CT image(s). The attribute(s) can include a presence or absence of Alzheimer's disease, total volume of the ICS, brain, CSF or a lesion or the volumes of ICS, brain, CSF or lesion(s) expressed as a percentage of other volume(s). The aforementioned areas can be segmented using a combination of thresholding, morphological erosions, morphological dilations, manual segmentation or semi-automatic segmentation techniques, all of which can be parallel procedures. These attributes can be further used to determine treatment, for example, optimizing the location of the twist drill craniotomy to drain hematoma in subdural hematoma.

System, method and computer-accessible medium for the determination of accelerated brain atrophy and an optimal drainage site for a subdural hematoma using computed tomography

Exemplary embodiments of method, system and computer-accessible medium according to the present disclosure can be provided for converting magnetic resonance (MR) arterial signal intensity versus time curves to arterial input functions (AIF) with less susceptibility to artifacts such as flow-related enhancement. Exemplary methods, systems and computer-accessible medium can be used to constrain AIF to satisfies the indicator dilution principle, according to which the area under an initial pass component of AIF can be equal to the injected dose divided by the cardiac output. For example, Monte Carlo simulations of MR renography and tumor perfusion protocols can be performed for comparison with conventional methods.

System, method and computer-accessible medium for utilizing cardiac output to improve measurement of tracer input function in dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging

A logic arrangement, system and method for segmentation using magnetic resonance imaging ('MRI') are provided. For example, as an end product, an image associated with at least one portion of an anatomical structure is generated. In particular, first data associated with the at least one portion of the anatomical structure is received. Second data can be associated with at least one edge of at least one of the at least one portion is obtained based on the first data. The image can be generated based on the first data and the second data. In addition or as an alternative, it is also possible to generate the image using connected voxel components. Such components are created by processing information associated with an erosion of surface voxels of an image.

System, software arrangement and method for segmenting an image

Methods for measuring atrophy in a brain region occupied by the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. In one example, MRI scans and a computational formula are used to measure the medial-temporal lobe region of the brain over a time interval. This region contains the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex, structures allied with learning and memory. Each year this region of the brain shrank in people who developed memory problems up to six years after their first MRI scan. The method is also applicable for measuring the progression rate of atrophy in the region in an instance where the onset of Alzheimer's disease has already been established.

Method and apparatus for evaluating regional changes in three-dimensional tomographic images

A method is disclosed for providing a correcting factor for the dilution of measurements of at least one biomarker in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The method comprises providing semi-automated measurements of the ventricular system by MRI scans using quantitative anatomical protocols, determining a measurement of biomarker levels in CSF that has been extracted, correcting the measurement of the level of said at least one biomarker'according to the ventricular size, and providing a corrected result of the measurement determined in step (b), said corrected result accounting for concentration dilution due to the change in ventricular size. The method is particularly suited for the measurement of all biomarkers found in the CSF, such as those associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease.

CSF biomarker dilution factor corrections by MRI imaging and algorithm

A method, system and storage arrangement are provided for effectuating an evaluation and analysis of anatomical structures, and creating and/or modifying images associated therewith. In particular, at least two images associated with the anatomical structure can be normalized so as to produce normalized image. A normalized set of regions of interest can be obtained based on the normalized images. Each of the normalized set of regions of interest may be analyzed to provide analysis data. Further, the anatomical structure mask may be created and/or modified based on the analysis data. Another embodiment provides for rating and analyzing anatomical structures.

Method, system and storage medium which includes instructions for analyzing anatomical structures

A method is disclosed for providing a correcting factor for the dilution of measurements of at least one biomarker in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The method comprises providing semi-automated measurements of the ventricular system by MRI scans using quantitative anatomical protocols, determining a measurement of biomarker levels in CSF that has been extracted, correcting the measurement of the level of said at least one biomarker according to the ventricular size, and providing a corrected result of the measurement determined in step (b), said corrected result accounting for concentration dilution due to the change in ventricular size. The method is particularly suited for the measurement of all biomarkers found in the CSF, such as those associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease.

A magnetic structure generating a uniform magnetic field within a region of interest using permanently magnetized prism-shaped blocks of magnetic material positioned around a cavity and which constitute the predominant generator of the uniform magnetic field in the desired region of interest. The magnetic structure has a plane surface comprising a high permeability ferromagnetic member interfacing with a first side of the cavity and forming a single pole piece of the magnetic structure. The magnetic structure produces within the cavity adjacent the single pole piece the uniform magnetic field and collects the magnetic flux flowing through the single pole piece and through the cavity, with the region of interest being located adjacent the single pole piece. A second side of the cavity generally opposite to the first side is open to a surrounding medium and forms an interface with the surrounding medium but not with a magnetic member. The magnetic structure is designed assuming a hypothetical high permeability membrane parallel to the single pole piece and located where the open second side of the cavity will be made, the high permeability membrane forming an equipotential surface at the interface with the surrounding medium. This minimizes the fringe field generated in the surrounding medium when the second side of the cavity is opened.

Open unipolar magnetic structure

A magnetic structure generating a substantially uniform magnetic field within a region of interest using permanently magnetized wedge-shaped blocks of magnetic material. In a preferred embodiment, the permanently magnetized wedge-shaped blocks are provided in pairs positioned on opposite sides of the x z plane of an arbitrary x,y,z coordinate system, and each of the blocks are magnetized in certain directions. The uniform field is created in the vicinity of the z axis. In another embodiment, the parts of the structure below the x-axis are replaced by a high-permeability, soft magnetic plate to form a so-called mirror system. In still another embodiment, permanently magnetized blocks positioned outside of the wedge-shaped blocks are employed as the main compensation means for field distortions arising from the practical need to truncate the wedge-shaped blocks to a practical size. An important application for the magnetic structure of the invention is MRI, as it can be configured as an open structure accessible to medical intervention during the MRI.

Generation of highly uniform magnetic fields with magnetized wedges

Strapped open magnetic structure, particularly useful in nuclear magnetic resonance imaging applications, which provides a substantially uniform magnetic field within a region of interest while allowing access by a surgeon to a patient via an opening at the top of the magnetic structure. The magnetic structure comprises nested inner and outer magnetic structures separated by ferromagnetic material or pole pieces and surrounded by a ferromagnetic yoke. The structure contains one or more thin layers or straps of high magnetic permeability material aligned substantially along equipotential surface(s) of an associated closed magnetic structure of ideal properties. Structures and techniques are also provided for replacing thick, heavy blocks of ferromagnetic material with thin straps and for extending the magnetostatic potential of a component in a magnetic structure by connecting a thin strap thereto and embedding the strap in the magnetic structure along an equipotential surface of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic structure.

Strapped open magnetic structure

A magnetic structure generating a substantially uniform magnetic field within a region of interest comprising at least one pair of magnetic wedges of substantially identical shape arranged symmetrically about a first axis and abutting one another along a common edge. Each magnetic wedge has a first side and a second side which terminate at the common edge. The first wedge of each pair is positioned to define a first angle between the first side and the first axis and a second angle between the second side and the first axis, and is uniformly magnetized in a direction relative to a second axis (perpendicular to the first axis) which is a function of the sum of the first and second angles. The second wedge of each pair is magnetized such that the absolute values of components of the magnetization along the first and second axes are equal to components of the magnetization of the first wedge along the first and second axes, respectively, and one of the magnetization components of the second wedge is opposite to the respective magnetization component of the first wedge. The region of interest containing the substantially uniform field is between the first sides of the pair of wedges, the second sides of the pair of wedges, or both. To minimize or eliminate the surface charge density along the third side of each wedge, the third side of each wedge is preferably parallel to the direction in which the wedge is magnetized.

Apparatus for generating uniform magnetic fields with magnetic wedges

A hybrid permanent magnet structure for providing a uniform magnetic field within a region of interest while allowing access via open ends by a patient for NMR scanning and by a surgeon to the patient via a large opening at the top. The magnet structure comprises nested inner and outer magnetic structures separated by ferromagnetic material and surrounded by a ferromagnetic yoke. The inner magnetic sections comprise end blocks of triangular cross-section, and the outer magnetic sections comprise end blocks of trapezoidal cross-section. Field distortion compensating means is provided by a primary filter structure to the ferromagnetic material and by magnetic insertions or a secondary filter structure.

Open permanent magnet structure for generating highly uniform field

A technique is provided for improving the homogeneity of the magnetic field within a cavity disposed inside a magnetic structure that has an opening to permit convenient access to an imaging region. The technique is based upon the step of inserting layers of magnetized material between plates of high magnetic permeability material. The layers are inserted at the boundary of the cavity. The technique includes the step of (1) computing the surface charges on the plates as used to derive the distribution of the magnetostatic potential, (2) analyzing the uniformity of the magnetic field within the imaging region as effected by the opening in the magnetic structure by expanding the magnetostatic potential in a spatial harmonic series, and (3) determining the geometry and the composition of the inserted layers based on the successive elimination of increasing orders of spatial harmonics in the potential expansion within the imaging region. This invention also includes the structure resulting from carrying out the technique of the invention.

Method and apparatus for compensation of field distortion in a magnetic

A magnetic structure is provided having a pair of spaced apart magnetized elements having surfaces in a common plane that defines a wall of a cavity. The space between the first and second magnetized elements is formed with at least one slit extending perpendicularly to the common plane. In order to compensate for field distortion in the cavity, a magnetized element is provided in at least one of the slits, the material in the slit having a remanence that is different from the remanences of the spaced apart magnetized elements that define the structure. In modifications of the invention, the field distortion is compensated by including at least one component in the cavity that has a high magnetic permeability. This component, has a variable thickness. It may be formed of a single component, or of a plurality of plates. In a still further embodiment, for a yokeless magnetic structure, field distortion compensation is effected by positioning magnetized elements outside of the magnetic structure. In a method for compensating for field distortion in a magnetic structure that defines a cavity, the magnetic field on a surface is measured to produce a map of the field on the surface. A plurality of points on the surface are projected to corresponding points on a second surface. A dipole is applied at each such point on the second surface that cancels perturbations of the magnetic field of the magnetic structure at the respective first point.

A high field strength permanent magnet has a plurality of layers, with at least two of the layers being formed of materials of different remanence. The remanence of the material of each layer is no greater than that of the layers thereunder, and is preferably less than the remanence of all underlying layers. The inner layer may be formed of a magnetic structure in which all or part of a basic yoke has been replaced by a shunt of active material. Such a shunt may alternatively be employed in a single layer magnetic structure.

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Great Neck, NY, United States of America

Henry Rusinek