General Electric Company

Manojkumar Saranathan

Thomas K F Foo

Christopher Judson Hardy

Thomas Kwok-Fah Foo

Vincent B Ho

Ersin Bayram

Reed Frederick Busse

J Andrew Derbyshire

Glenn S Savin

Dan W Rettmann

A system and method is disclosed for tracking a moving object using magnetic resonance imaging. The technique includes acquiring a scout image scan having a number of image frames and extracting non-linear motion parameters from the number of image frames of the scout image scan. The technique includes prospectively shifting slice location using the non-linear motion parameters between slice locations while acquiring a series of MR images. The system and method are particularly useful in tracking coronary artery movement during the cardiac cycle to acquire the non-linear components of coronary artery movement during a diastolic portion of the R-R interval.

Method and apparatus for automated tracking of vessel movement using MR imaging

A method of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging includes segmenting a k-kplane comprising a plurality of encoding points into a plurality of annular segments. For each annular segment, a view ordering is defined based on a polar angle associated with each encoding point contained within the annular segment. MR data is acquired for the plurality of encoding points based on the view ordering for each annular segment and at least one MR image is generated using the acquired MR data.

System and method of angular elliptic centric view ordering for 3D MR acquisitions

A method for acquiring image data from a subject during a scan with a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system comprising the steps of acquiring a reference data set of a region of interest, acquiring a plurality of free-breathing data sets, and, selectively processing the plurality of free-breathing data sets in comparison with the reference data set to be used in creating an image of the region of interest. The reference data set comprises breath-held data set or, alternatively, free-breathing data.

Robust coronary MR angiography MR without respiratory navigation

The present invention provides a system and method of enhanced magnetic preparation in MR imaging. An imaging technique is disclosed such that k-space is segmented into a number of partitions, wherein the central regions of k-space is acquired prior to the periphery of k-space. The imaging technique also includes the application of magnetic preparation pulses at a variable rate. In this regard, the rate of application of magnetic preparations pulses is varied as a function of the distance from the center of k-space. The amplitude of the magnetic preparation pulses is also varied based on the incremental distance of a partition from the center of k-space.

Method and apparatus for enhanced magnetic preparation in MR imaging

The invention includes a technique for efficient multi-slice image acquisition with black blood contrast in cardiac imaging such that MR data is acquired in each R-R interval of a cardiac cycle. The technique includes applying a non-selective inversion pulse, followed by a re-inversion pulse that is slice-selective over a region encompassing a plurality of slice selections. The inversion and re-inversion pulses are applied in each R-R interval. Execution of a series of RF excitation pulses in each R-R interval is timed such that signal from blood is near a null point before data acquisition.

Multi-slice MR data acquisition in successive heartbeats with black blood contrast

A system and method is disclosed for tracking a moving object using magnetic resonance imaging. The technique includes acquiring a scout image scan having a number of image frames and extracting non-linear motion parameters from the number of image frames of the scout image scan. The technique includes prospectively shifting slice location using the non-linear motion parameters between slice locations while acquiring a series of MR images. The system and method are particularly useful in tracking coronary artery movement during the cardiac cycle to acquire the non-linear components of coronary artery movement during a diastolic portion of the R&#x2014;R interval.

Method and apparatus for automated tracking of non-linear vessel movement using MR imaging

Robust coronary MR angiography without respiratory navigation

A system and method are disclosed to acquire high temporal resolution free-breathing cardiac MR images. The technique includes monitoring heart rate of a patient just prior to image acquisition to acquire a time period of an R&#x2014;R interval, and using this time period from the heart rate monitoring to prospectively estimate future R&#x2014;R intervals. The acquisition of MR data can then commence at any point in an R&#x2014;R interval and extend for the time period recorded. The data acquisition can be segmented and acquired in successive R&#x2014;R intervals, then combined to create high temporal resolution images.

Acquisition of high-temporal free-breathing MR images

A method and apparatus is disclosed in which a two-tiered approach is taken to first grade a patient to identify the presence of any suspected stenosis, and then a second step is used to acquire more detailed information to grade the stenosis. The invention includes performing a screening study by acquiring a first MR image having a low resolution to scan a suspected stenosis region. After analyzing the first MR image to identify a suspected stenosis within the suspected stenosis region, a more detailed study is performed by acquiring a second MR image having a higher resolution than the first MR image to scan the identified suspected stenosis. If no lesions, or stenotic vessels, are identified after the first MR image, the second MR image need not be obtained. Since the first MR image is designed to be more sensitive to the detection of such stenosis, by increasing the conspicuity of the lesions, and using a fast acquisition sequence, this two-tiered approach increases the efficiency for accurate coronary artery stenosis detection and assessment.

Method and apparatus for efficient stenosis identification and assessment using MR imaging

The present invention relates generally to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and more particularly to a method and apparatus for efficient MRI tissue differentiation using an RF pulse designed to provide a frequency response combining a magnetization transfer contrast and fat saturation simultaneously. The invention includes creating a spectrally selective suppression pulse having an RF pulse profile designed to produce a frequency response with adequate fat suppression and selecting a spectrally selective suppression amplitude to produce a magnetization transfer contrast between two different tissue types, such as between proteinated tissue and water-based tissue. The invention also includes applying the spectrally selective suppression pulse with a flip angle selected to optimize fat suppression and magnetization transfer contrast saturation simultaneously. The invention is particularly useful in magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) as a non-invasive alternative to x-ray angiography to image coronary arteries. The invention is capable of efficiently suppressing fat and myocardium and provide an MR image with enhanced visibility of cardiac vessels.

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Rockville, MD, United States of America

Manojkumar Saranathan