Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Robert Krieg

Markus Vester

Sebastian Schmidt

Ralf Ladebeck

Rainer Alfred Kuth

Ralph Oppelt

Oliver Schreck

Wolfgang Renz

Berthold Kiefer

Georg Pirkl

Rudi Baumgartl

Harald Werthner

Valer Canda

Ron Grazioso

A coil arrangement for a magnetic resonance tomography apparatus has plates that each contain at least one gradient coil.

Local gradient system for imaging of the breast with planar arrangement

In a method for implementing an irreversible electroporation treatment with an electroporation device having at least two treatment electrodes, magnetic resonance exposures are acquired for visual monitoring of the treatment, and magnetic resonance-compatible electrodes are used as treatment electrodes. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus has an electroporation device integrated therein, so as to be operable by co-use of at least some of the same components that arte used for image data acquisition.

Method for visually monitoring an irreversible electroporation treatment, and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus with integrated electroporation treatment device

A method is disclosed for determination of positron-emission measurement information about a body area which is affected by at least one periodic movement process of an examination object during the course of positron-emission tomography. In at least one embodiment, the method includes a positron-emission measurement being carried out in the body area to be examined of the examination object in order to determine functional positron-emission measurement information, and recording, at the same time as the positron-emission measurement, anatomical measurement information about the body area to be examined is recorded, restricted to one recording plane, for at least one measurement time period, using an anatomical imaging method with high time resolution, in particular using a computed-tomography method. Thereafter, a complete four-dimensional data record of anatomical reference measurement information is recorded for at least one period of a movement process with high time resolution using the anatomical imaging method, and the positron-emission measurement information from the measurement time period is associated with corresponding anatomical reference measurement information as a function of a comparison of the anatomical measurement information, associated with the measurement time period of the positron-emission measurement and restricted to one recording plane, from the anatomical imaging method using the four-dimensional anatomical reference measurement information.

Method for determination of positron-emission measurement information about a body area of an examination object, as well as an associated apparatus

A method is disclosed for determining positron emission measurement information in the context of positron emission tomography. The method includes carrying out a positron emission measurement, in a body area of a subject to be examined, to record positron emission measurement information with point resolution and determining a time frame of the measurement by, at the same time, generating images of the body area to be examined with a relatively higher time resolution and with point-resolved image data, using a second imaging method. Further, a local shift of points of individual images of the second imaging method is determined, caused by movement processes of the subject to be examined, and as a function thereof, of the positron emission measurement information for at least a part of the measurement period and of the body area to be examined. Finally, the positron emission measurement information is adjusted as a function of the determined shift.

Method for determining positron emission measurement information in the context of positron emission tomography

A combined PET/MRI tomography unit has a PET unit with a unit part assigned to the examination space, and a first evaluation unit for evaluating the PET electric signals. The unit part has a gamma ray detector. The combined unit has an MRI unit and a second evaluation unit for evaluating MRI signals. The MRI unit has a high frequency antenna as well as a gradient coil system, the high frequency antenna device being arranged nearer to the examination space than the gradient coil system, as well as a high frequency shield arranged between the gradient coil system and the high frequency antenna device. The PET unit part is arranged between the high frequency shield and the high frequency antenna device. A shielding cover for the high frequency antenna device faces the high frequency antenna device. The shielding cover is opaque to high frequency radiation.

Combined positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance tomography unit

A method for determining positron emission measurement information in the context of positron emission tomography is disclosed. The method includes using a marker substance to carry out a positron emission measurement, in a body area of a subject to be examined, to determine positron emission measurement information, and at the same time, generating images of the body area to be examined by way of a second medical method with a time resolution suitable for determining perfusion and/or diffusion information. The method further includes using the images from the second method to determine perfusion and/or diffusion information for at least a part of the measurement period, and evaluating the positron emission measurement information as a function of the perfusion and/or diffusion information.

Method for combining PET with MR perfusion and diffusion

A nuclear-medical image is generated from a nuclear-medical data set that can be acquired with a dual modality tomography apparatus, which has both a scanner for acquisition of magnetic resonance images and a scanner for acquisition of nuclear-medical data sets within a common acquisition volume. A nuclear-medical data set and an MR image are thereby acquired, and a nuclear-medical magnetic resonance atlas is provided with a reference MR data set of the region of a reference patient to be imaged and a corresponding correction data set. A transformation that maps the reference MR data set to the MR image is generated and applied to the correction data set to generate a transformed correction data set that is registered with the nuclear-medical data set. The corrected nuclear-medical image is subsequently calculated from the transformed correction data set and the nuclear-medical data set.

Method for generating an MR atlas and for MR imaging using same

A positron emission tomography unit (PET), having a unit part assigned to an examination space and a first evaluation unit, is combined with a magnetic resonance tomography unit (MRT). The unit part of the PRT includes at least two gamma ray detector units with in each case an assigned electronics unit. The MRT includes a second evaluation unit, a gradient coil system and a high frequency antenna device formed as a stripline antenna device having at least two conductors. The high frequency antenna device is arranged nearer to the examination space than the gradient coil system with a high frequency shield between the gradient coil system and the high frequency antenna device. Each conductor of the stripline antenna device respectively includes a gamma ray detector unit with an assigned electronics unit. The conductors of the stripline antenna device are configured for the respective gamma ray detector units and their assigned electronics units as shielding covers that are caused by the high frequency antenna device and are opaque to high frequency radiation. An examination object in the examination space can be imaged by the combined positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance tomography unit.

A distortion-corrected magnetic resonance examination with a magnetic resonance device is undertaken by use of a distortion correction algorithm which uses coefficients to describe a magnetic field used in a measurement. In this case, after an examination area has been selected, by including the distortion correction algorithm and the coefficients for description of the magnetic field, a measurement area needed for correction is determined. Subsequently a magnetic resonance measurement is performed in the measurement area. Subsequently a distortion-corrected magnetic resonance image of the examination area is created with the aid of the distortion correction algorithm. In addition to the examination area, the measurement area and also any necessary measurement times can be shown on a display of the magnetic resonance device. This type of magnetic resonance examination does not include in the magnetic resonance image any picture elements which were not measured because of distortion.

Distortion-corrected magnetic resonance measurement and magnetic resonance device

In a processing system for an MRT apparatus, a user interface as presented that permits an operator to undertake a graphical measurement planning based on already-recorded, corrected MRT overview images, the correction having been carried out by the processing system on the basis of stored data accessible by the processing system relating to non-linearities of the gradient system of the MRT apparatus being used. The processor system, in the user interface, automatically graphically demarcates the area of the corrected MRT overview image in which a positioning of additional slices to be measured will lead to a deviation of the desired slices, from the actual slices in a subsequent scan from the ear of the corrected MRT overview image in which a positioning of additional slices to be measured will not lead to such a deviation of the desired slices.

MRT user interface allowing accurate slice planning based on a distortion-conrrected MRT overview image

In a method and apparatus for three-dimensionally correcting distortions of an image dataset, a magnetic resonance device containing a basic field magnetic system for generating a basic magnetic field and a gradient system for generating gradient fields generates an image dataset and coefficients of a spherical function-series expansion of the basic magnetic field and/or of the gradient fields are used for the correction. Coefficients are thereby used, which have been determined, in the framework of a design and/or production procedure, forth basic field magnetic system and/or gradient system.

Method for three-dimensionally correcting distortions and magnetic resonance apparatus for implementing the method

A medical examination system, particularly a magnetic resonance system, has a host computer unit, a control computer unit and an image computer unit. The control computer unit is realized in the form of at least one insert card that is arranged in a commercially obtainable personal computer that contains the host computer unit.

Medical examination system, particularly a magnetic resonance system

In a method of distortion correction for gradient non-linearities in a nuclear magnetic resonance tomography apparatus, two auxiliary datasets h(x,), f(x,y) are measured that describe the shift of a measured location (x',y') relative to an actual location (x,y) of a signal origin. A corrected auxiliary dataset h(x+f(x,y), y) is produced from the auxiliary dataset h(x,y). A location correction in y-direction ensues in an image dataset upon employment of the corrected auxiliary dataset h(x+f(x,y), y). A first intensity correction also ensues. A location correction in x-direction subsequently ensues with a second intensity correction. Alternatively, the location correction can also ensue by Fresnel transformation of the raw dataset upon involvement of the corrected auxiliary data h(x+f(x,y), y).

Method of distortion correction for gradient non-linearities in nuclear

In a magnetic resonance tomography pulse sequence, a slice perpendicular to the spatial direction of an inhomogeneity in the static field is first excited. The nuclear spins are re-phased and spin echo signals are readout under a gradient in a second direction. A phase-encoding gradient is activated between the excitation and the readout of the nuclear spins. A predetermined inhomogeneity in the static magnetic field is permanently present and acts during the overall pulse sequence as a permanent magnetic field gradient. With this pulse sequence, an inhomogeneity in two spatial directions can be allowed, which simplifies the construction of a magnet considerably and improves the access to the subject under examination.

Magnetic resonance imaging method and apparatus employing a static

In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method the following pulse sequence is repeated N times for acquiring image data. A first radio-frequency pulse is emitted for exciting nuclear spins, in an examination subject. A second radio-frequency pulse is emitted after a time span for rephasing the nuclear spins. Readout of the resulting nuclear magnetic resonance signal under a frequency-coding gradient takes place after a further time span following the second radio-frequency pulse. After waiting another time span, the first radio-frequency pulse of the next sequence is emitted. The pulse sequence is configured such that the nuclear magnetic resonance signals arising from the second radio-frequency pulse of the n-1.sup.th sequence and the first radio-frequency pulse of the following n.sup.th pulse sequence do not superimpose.

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Nuremberg, Germany

Robert Krieg