General Electric Company

Perry S Frederick

Roman I Dachniwskyj

Sayed-Amr A El-Hamamsy

Peter B Roemer

David Seungwon Paik

David E Dean

Michael J Radziun

Denny Wingchung Lau

Thomas Gerard Ebben

Steven P Roehm

Vijaykalyan Yeluri

Yaseen Samara

John Andrew Johnson

Raghav Raman

Garry Evan Gold

Ralph S Hashoian

Robert John Herfkens

Christopher Frederick Beaulieu

Frank Owen

Peter L Sue

Robert W Prost

Donald J Jenders

Walter Albert Zimmermann

Richard Allen Barth

Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for image registration and display of relevant information. The method includes identifying one or more anatomical parts in an acquired image, mapping the acquired image to a reference image based on the one or more anatomical parts, storing anatomy information in relation to the acquired image, and displaying the acquired image based on the anatomy information. The method may also include controlling the displaying of the acquired image based on a voice command related to the anatomy information. Anatomy information may be displayed with the acquired image. Anatomy information may include clinical information, reference information, disease process information, a related image, and/or drug interaction information, for example. The acquired image may be displayed according to a display setting, such as a window level setting and/or other display setting, based on the anatomy information.

System and method for anatomy labeling on a PACS

In an MR system employing a phased array surface coil, a method is provided for reducing artifacts in an MR image acquired from a region of an object lying within a specified field of view, wherein the field of view has a dimension extending between first and second boundary limits. The method includes the step of positioning the phased array surface coil, which comprises a linear array of coil elements, in selected spatial relationship with the object region. The method further comprises selecting a particular coil element for use in acquiring MR data only if the coil element lies at least partially in a range which extends along the phased array and has a length equal to the field of view dimension, the range lying between positions respectively corresponding to the first and second boundary limits. Each of the selected coil elements is operated to acquire MR data from respectively corresponding subregions of the object region, and the MR image is constructed only from MR data acquired by respective selected coil elements.

Method for reducing artifacts in MR image acquired with phased array

Several complete fingerprint coils are attached to a support. The support is then rolled into a cylindrical shape such that a ray connecting the centers of each of pair of coils aligns with a component of a magnetic desired to be minimized or eliminated. In order to create this alignment, the support must have a length larger than the circumference of the cylinder which it forms, thereby causing a predetermined overlap. Since the coils are complete, there is no need to solder half-turns of coils to make a complete coil as was the case in previous coils. Since there are no solder points which are typically weaker than the remaining coil, the coil assembly is more resilient and less prone to breakage, making it more reliable.

Solderless `fingerprint` RF shield

An RF shield is provided to prevent coupling between the gradient coils and the RF coil of an MR imaging system, wherein the RF field rotates around the RF coil axis. The shield includes a number of coaxial conductive cylinders, and further includes a plurality of cylinders formed of dielectric material, each dielectric cylinder positioned between adjacent conductive cylinders. Each conductive cylinder is formed from sheets of copper, each sheet having a pattern of conductive loops formed therein, and each loop having an associated gap to prevent induction of eddy currents therein by gradient magnetic fields produced by the MR system gradient coils. The number of conductive cylinders, and the angular orientation thereof with respect to one another, are selected to provide a plurality of closed paths for RF image current induced by the RF field, wherein respective closed paths are established by capacitive coupling between a given conductive loop of a given conductive cylinder, and conductive loops in other of the conductive cylinders.

Shield for MR system RF coil provided with multiple capacitive channels

A magnetic resonance system includes a cylindrical shield disposed between a quadrature RF coil and surrounding gradient coils. The shield includes a pair of copper sheets separated by an insulating dielectric sheet. A pattern formed by cuts in one copper sheet aligns with the currents induced in the shield by one of the RF quadrature fields, and a pattern formed by cuts in the other copper shield aligns with the other RF quadrature field. The copper sheets are shorted together to prevent voltage breakdowns and short cuts are made in each to prevent gradient induced eddy currents.

Double-sided RF shield for RF coil contained within gradient coils used

An arrangement is provided for supporting the inner and outer gradient coils of one or more gradient coil sets, the coils of each gradient coil set providing one of the orthogonal gradient magnetic fields for an MR imaging system. The arrangement includes an inner cylindrical coil form disposed to supportably carry an inner gradient coil of a coil set, an outer cylindrical coil form in coaxial spaced-apart relationship with the inner coil form disposed to supportably carry an outer gradient coil of the coil set, and a stiffening cylinder positioned between the inner and outer coil forms to divide the space therebetween into first and second volumes. A thermally conductive adhesive material, such as an epoxy containing alumina particulate material, is inserted into the first and second volumes to bond both the inner and outer coil forms to the stiffening cylinder, in order to hold the inner and outer gradient coils respectively carried by the coil forms in rigid fixed relationship with respect to one another.

MR gradient set coil support assembly

An NMR imaging apparatus includes an excitation coil with a plurality of conductive elements extending between two spaced-apart end loops to form conventional 'birdcage' coil. A shield is provided to reduce interference between the excitation coil and gradient field coils. The shield comprises a first electrically conductive section having an open ring with a gap therein and a plurality of first members extending from the ring with each member terminating at a remote end. A capacitor is connected across the gap in the ring. A second electrically conductive section has another ring from which a like plurality of second members extend with each one terminating at a remote end. The remote end of each second member is spaced from a remote end of a corresponding one of the first members and a capacitor is connected across those remote ends.

Shield for a magnetic resonance imaging coil

An NMR excitation coil includes a plurality of conductive elements having varying lengths and arranged parallel to one another to define cylindrical volume. A planar loop connects one end of the conductive element together with the conductive segments between pairs of the conductive elements. A non-planar loop connects the other ends of the conductive elements with a series of conductive segments between pairs of the conductive elements. Some of the non-planar loop segments are formed by a coaxial cable having a central conductor connected between ends of two conductive elements and a shield the electrically floats. A separate capacitor is located in those segments of the two loops that are not formed by coaxial cables. Each capacitor has a capacitance which is defined by the inductance of the conductive elements connected to that capacitor.

Asymmetric radio frequency coil for magnetic resonance imaging

A high-pass bird cage coil serves as the whole-body RF coil in an NMR system. This coil is detuned when other RF coils are used to transmit or receive during a pulse sequence. This detuning is accomplished by detuning circuits that contain pin diodes which shunt the tuning capacitors in the bird cage coil.

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

Perry S Frederick