Case Western Reserve University

Other

The Johns Hopkins University

Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

University Radiologists, Inc.

Jonathan S Lewin

Jeffrey L Duerk

Michael Wendt

Daniel Robert Elgort

Eddy Y Wong

Hisamoto Moriguchi

Claudia M Hillenbrand

Paul Arthur Bottomley

Arne Hengerer

Lars Lauer

Eva Rothgang

Clifford R Weiss

Ajit Shankaranarayanan

Wesley David Gilson

Jan Fritz

Katarzyna J Macura

Chris Flask

Kestutis J Barkauskas

Brian M Dale

Frank K Wacker

Robbert M Maes

Yiu-Cho Chung

Qiang Zhang

Volker Matschl

John R Haaga

Jinming Gao

Dee H Wu

Christopher A Flask

Brent Weinberg

Elmar Merkle

Ajit Shankaranaravanan

Joseph P Molter

David A Miller

Ken Pin Wang

Meera S Nair

Hua Ai

Dee Hung Wu

Xintao Shuai

Elmar M Merkle

Sterile RF coil arrangements for use in magnetic resonance imaging are provided. The sterile coil arrangements can be formed by spraying or coating a curable liquid onto an RF coil housing and allowing the liquid to cure or dry to form a continuous sterile layer on the coil housing. The thickness of the sterile layer can be between 100 and 1000 micrometers. The curable liquid can include an antimicrobial or antibacterial agent, such as silver ions or triclosan, to better maintain sterility of the coil arrangement. The curable liquid can be selected such that it adheres to the housing when cured and is also removable without leaving residue behind.

Sterile RF coils for MR imaging systems

A configurable coil arrangement for use with MRI-guided procedures is provided that facilitates optimal imaging for both pre-procedure planning and imaging of the target sites during the procedure. The coil arrangement includes a plurality of connected coil elements. Spacers connecting the coil elements can be adjustable and/or deformable to provide one or more openings in the coil arrangement of optimal size for accessing the subject within the imaged region. Individual coil elements can also be removed to provide access openings during such procedures, or left in the array for improved pre- and post-procedure image quality. The MRI system can be configured to detect configurations of the coil arrangement and modify imaging parameters to optimize image quality.

Magnetic resonance imaging coil with adjustable opening

A magnetic resonance imaging system and method are provided that include user control of certain functions using physical gestures, such as hand motions or the like. The gesture control aspects can include one or more cameras, and a processor configured to detect and recognize gestures corresponding to predetermined commands and to provide signals to execute the commands. A verification switch, such as a foot switch, can be included to improve safety and reliability of the gesture control aspects. This switch can be used to activate the gesture detection aspects and/or to confirm a recognized gesture command prior to its execution.

Gesture-controlled MR imaging system and method

Systems, methodologies, media, and other embodiments associated with automatically adapting MRI controlling parameters are described. One exemplary method embodiment includes configuring an MRI apparatus to acquire MR signal data using a non-rectilinear trajectory. The example method may also include acquiring MR signals, transforming the MR signals into image data, and selectively adapting the MRI controlling parameters based, at least in part, on information associated with the MR signals.

Adaptive imaging parameters with MRI

A new and improved method for tracking and/or spatial localization of an invasive device in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is provided. The invention includes providing an invasive device including a marker having a chemically shifted signal source with a resonant frequency different from the chemical species of the subject to be imaged, applying a pulse sequence, detecting the resulting RF magnetic resonance signals, and determining the 3D coordinates of the marker. The invention also includes generating scan planes and reconstructing an image from the detected signals to generate an image having the marker contrasted from the subject. The invasive device includes a marker having a chemically shifted signal source which has a resonant frequency different from the chemical species of the subject to be imaged for use in tracking the device during imaging.

Chemical shift markers for improved wireless fiducial marker tracking

The invention relates to micelles that are elaborated with functionality useful for imaging and/or selectively targeting tissue, e.g., in the delivery of hydrophobic agents.

Dual function polymer micelles

A method and system for improving image quality by correcting errors introduced by rotational motion of an object being imaged is provided. The object is associated with a fiducial mark. The method provides a computer executable methodology for detecting a rotation and selectively reordering, deleting and/or reacquiring projection data.

Reducing effects of rotational motion

Extended-coverage magnetic resonance imaging coils with optimized homogeneity in longitudinal sensitivity are described. One exemplary coil includes four elements, where two of the elements are opposed-solenoid imaging elements and two of the elements are single loop imaging elements.

Extended-coverage imaging coil

Methods for confirming location of a catheter tip relative to a targeted location in a blood vessel of a subject and improving visualization of the blood vessels downstream of the catheter tip are provided. The methods comprise acquiring and displaying a first modified MR image of the subject's blood vessels between an insertion site for the catheter and the targeted location; acquiring and displaying a sequence of modified MR images of the blood vessels to monitor advancement of an inserted catheter from the insertion site to an intraluminal stop site at or near the targeted location; delivering a bolus of a magnetic resonance contrast agent through the tip of the catheter and to the intraluminal stop site, wherein the magnetic contrast agent alters the first modified MR image of the subject's blood vessels; acquiring and displaying an updated second MR modified image of the blood vessels at and downstream of the tip of the catheter. Systems and computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions operable to perform computer executable aspects of the present methods are also provided.

Double-contrast technique for MRI-guided vascular interventions

PRF shift MRI data is acquired. The PRF shift MRI data may include signals affected by both a desired PRF shift and an undesired PRF shift. Thus, example systems and methods describe manipulating the PRF shift MRI data to make it substantially free of the effects of the undesired PRF shift, which facilitates displaying certain MRI images based on the desired PRF shift.

Method to correct magnetic field/phase variations in proton resonance frequency shift thermometry in magnetic resonance imaging

A system for automatically adapting image acquisition parameters based on imaging and/or device tracking feedback is provided. An example system includes a subsystem for acquiring images (e.g., MR) of an object and tracking data for a device (e.g. catheter) inserted into the object and controllably moveable within the object. The system also includes an image processor for processing the images and a device tracking logic for computing device parameters (e.g., speed, direction of travel, rate of speed change, position, position relative to a landmark, device orientation). Based on the images and device parameter computations, a parameter control and adjustment logic can automatically update one or more image acquisition parameters that control the image acquisition subsystem.

System and method for adjusting image parameters based on device tracking

An invasive device having an inductive coupling element. One embodiment of the invasive device includes a plurality of receive coils inductively coupled to a communicating coil. The receive coils are selectively tuned and detuned to receive MR signals for providing coordinate information used for device tracking. A second embodiment of the invasive device includes a receive coil having a plurality of winding elements separated from each other by different distances. A method of rapidly acquiring both the invasive device orientation and position information to dynamically adapt MR scan planes to continuously follow the invasive device relative to a target is provided. The target-navigation technique automatically defines the MR scan plane and a time domain multiplexing technique is applied for MR imaging and device tracking. Using these techniques, the acquired MR images shows both the invasive device and the target tissue.

MR invasive device and method for active MR guidance of invasive devices with target navigation

A method to detect the location of a catheter relative to a targeted location in a blood vessel is provided. One example method includes acquiring and displaying magnetic resonance (MR) images while a first MR contrast agent is present and while the operation of that first MR contrast agent is counter-acted by a second MR contrast agent. Both MR contrast agents may be introduced into a blood vessel by the catheter whose position is to be detected.

Double contrast technique for MRI-guided vascular interventions

Growing community of inventors

Beachwood, OH, United States of America

Jonathan S Lewin