National Health Research Institutes

Toshiba America Mri, Inc.

University of California

Hsu Chang

Ching Yao

Mitsuaki A Arakawa

Hao-Li Liu

John Van Heteren

Win-Li Lin

Weiguo Zhang

David M Kramer

Gin-Shin Chen

David M Goldhaber

Sheng-Fu Chen

Win-li Lin

Ming-Chuan Hsu

Shih Chin Chou

George W Mattinger

San-Chao Hwang

Ming Rou Lee

Leila N Du

A magnetic resonance imaging system to be used over a target area of a subject includes first and second RF coils for receiving an RF signal from the subject. The first RF coil is fixed to a position device and movable over the target area of subject. The second RF coil is larger than the first RF coil and has a larger field of view than the first RF coil. The system further includes an image processing device programmed to process RF signals coupled from the first RF coil and the second RF coil to form an MRI image.

Magnetic resonance imaging system

A transducer for use with a high intensity focused ultrasound medical system has transducer elements that are made from a piezocomposite material bonded together in turn with an adhesive. The elements are deployed along a surface of a geometric structure with two curvatures. The structure is a truncated curved cylinder. The transducer also includes electrodes, each of which is arranged on a corresponding one of the transducer elements for exciting the transducer elements to emit ultrasonic waves in response to electrical signals applied to the electrodes to steer the waves to form a common focus zone in a desired heating area.

Dual-curvature phased array high-intensity focused ultrasound transducer for tumor therapy

Systems and methods are provided for positioning a therapeutic device relative to a target displaced on a platform. A base member has a first track extending along a length of the platform for defining a first pathway for translating the therapeutic device relative to the target. A curved frame is slidably mounted on the base member through the first track. The curved frame has a second track along an interior wall of the curved frame for defining a second pathway for translating the therapeutic device relative to the target. A housing is disposed in the second track of the curved frame and configured to receive the therapeutic device. The housing is extendible at least along a radial direction of the curved frame for defining a third pathway for translating the therapeutic device relative to the target. Applications of the systems and methods may include image-guided thermal therapy.

Positioning system for thermal therapy

An apparatus for sonicating a patient includes an ultrasound array having a plurality of transducers; a driving module for driving said transducers; and a control kernel for causing said driving module to drive said transducers concurrently at two different frequencies.

Multiple-frequency ultrasonic phased array driving system

A medical system and method for treating a disorder of a subject by thermal ablation, e.g., focused ultrasound thermal ablation, are provided. The method includes obtaining medical images that include at least one image of subject's chest and ribs to reconstruct a three-dimensional chest-rib distribution; and applying ultrasound waves on a target point beyond the subject's ribs by selectively activating one or more elements of an ultrasound phased array to avoid ultrasonic energy absorption or reflection by an intervening rib based on a calculation of a relationship between the three-dimensional chest-rib distribution and an acoustic emission direction.

Medical treatment using an ultrasound phased array

A method of inducing thermal effect at a moving target includes receiving a first data characterizing a repeated motion of the moving target; processing the first data to determine a treatment plan, including determining a plan for directing a signal at the moving target; and controlling the signal directed at the moving target according to the treatment plan to induce a thermal effect.

Generating gating signals for thermal therapy

An MRI imaging system provides an audible feedback signal in the gantry room triggered by a physiological sensor on the patient. The feedback signal is a sound generated by one of the MRI gradient coils. The sensor output signal may be indicative of the patient's heartbeat, or other physiological event. The application of the sequence causes the coil to emit a sound that is associated with the sensor output signal.

Acoustic gating monitor for magnetic resonance imaging system

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

A front end unit (32) for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (20) comprises a plurality of coil attachment ports (46) to which an RF signal or tuning signal is selectively routed thereby permitting, during operation, coils (22) to remain attached to each of the plurality of ports. A signal routing controller (28, 30) selects to which of the ports the RF signal or tuning signal is to be routed. The RF front end unit (32) is also known as the relay switch board assembly or RSB. Each port of the RF front end is attached to a different RF coil or RF coil combination. Tuning and imaging operations can be conducted for a plurality of coils in succession, without coils having to be detached from the RF front end. The signal routing controller selectively applies the RF signal (from an RF unit) or the tuning signal (from a tuning controller) to the selected coil through a signal path unique to the selected coil. Coils not selected to be operative can be detuned.

MRI front end apparatus and method of operation

A front end unit (32) for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (20) comprises a plurality of coil attachment ports (46) to which an RF signal or tuning signal is selectively routed thereby permitting, during operation, coils (22) to remain attached to each of the plurality of ports. A signal routing controller (28, 30) selects to which of the ports the RF signal or tuning signal is to be routed. The RF front end Knit (32) is also known as the relay switchboard assembly or RSB. Each port of the RF front end is attached to a different RF coil or RF coil combination. Tuning and imaging operations can be conducted for a plurality of coils in succession, without coils having to be detached from the RF front end. The signal routing controller selectively applies the RF signal (from an RF unit) or the tuning signal (from a tuning controller) to the selected coil through a signal path unique to the selected coil. Coils not selected to be operative can be detuned.

A single sequence for the formation of a plurality of images of the same selected nuclei but with each image having a different contrast characteristic is disclosed. MRI signals are acquired during the first time interval which comprises a plurality of first intervals with each of the first intervals being substantially the same. During the first time interval, the selected nuclei are phase encoded by a different magnetic phase encoding gradient. The sequence continues to acquire a second plurality of MRI signals from the same plurality of selected nuclei. The second time interval comprises a plurality of second intervals different from the first intervals. During the second interval, the selected nuclei are phase encoded by a different magnetic phase encoding gradient but with the magnetic phase encoding gradient being the same as or a subset of those during the first time interval. The data from the first and second plurality of MRI signals are regrouped and portions are reused to form a plurality of regrouped data sets. Each of the regrouped data sets is then fourier transformed to produce a plurality of images of the selected nuclei. Each image is of the same plurality of selected nuclei but with different contrast characteristics.

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Hsu Chang