Siemens Medical Solutions Usa, Inc.

Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

New York University

Case Western Reserve University

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Tiejun Zhao

Kecheng Liu

Mark A Griswold

Dan Ma

Thorsten Feiweier

Xiaoguang Lu

Martijn Anton Hendrik Cloos

Jing An

Hersh Chandarana

Kechung Liu

YongMing Dai

A method for real-time assessment of image information employing a computer that includes one or more processors includes obtaining, via a scanner, a magnetic resonance (MR) image of a region-of-interest, and providing data corresponding to at least a portion of the MR image to a deep learning model, where the deep learning model is previously trained based on one or more sets of training data. The method further includes assessing the data using the deep learning model and data obtained from an image quality database to obtain an assessed image quality value, and formulating an image quality classification in response to the assessed image quality value. The method additionally includes outputting the image quality classification within a predetermined time period from an initial scan of the region-of-interest.

Systems and methods for diagnostic oriented image quality assessment

A method of performing multi-slice acceleration for MR fingerprinting includes obtaining k-space data for MR volumes; applying controlled radio frequency (RF) pulses to the MR volumes; exciting a plurality of slices within the MR volumes by the RF pulses at a same time; and producing a plurality of fingerprints from the plurality of slices. At least one set of fingerprints is compressed, and a residual signal of a plurality of signal evolutions is reduced. The method additionally includes periodically switching a weighting between a first slice and a second slice of the plurality of slices.

Multi-slice acceleration for magnetic resonance fingerprinting

Example apparatus and methods provide improved quantitative T2 mapping for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Conventional T2 (spin-spin) mapping in MRI may employ a spin echo with multiple echoes (SEMC) approach like the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) spin echo sequence. These conventional approaches may be negatively impacted by a slice profile effect that incorrectly and undesirably lowers the signal of a first echo and by a stimulated echo effect that incorrectly and undesirably raises the signal for even echoes. Example apparatus mitigate these issues by using a T2 preparation phase that uses three dimensional (3D) non-slice selective block RF pulses followed by a multi-echo data acquisition that uses an in-out k-space trajectory. The multi-echo acquisition may employ k-space segmentation to acquire one line of partition encodings per T2 preparation phase. While conventional systems mix T2 preparation and multi-echo acquisition, example apparatus and methods separate T2 preparation and multi-echo acquisition.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with artifact-free T2 mapping

Example apparatus and methods provide improved resolution over conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that is affected by the presence of metal (e.g., prosthetic hip) in the MRI field of view (FOV). Embodiments may excite a slice that is affected by a susceptibility effect produced by metal. Embodiments may excite the slice using a first pre-determined frequency and a plurality of scout frequency encodings. Embodiments may acquire nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal data from the slice in response to the first pre-determined frequency and the plurality of scout frequency encodings and select frequency encodings to use to image the slice as a function of an amplitude of the NMR signal data. Frequency encodings are selected to produce data that will help account for distortions caused by the susceptibility effect.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with auto-detection and adaptive encodings for offset frequency scanning

A system acquires MR image data of a portion of patient anatomy associated with spin lattice relaxation time in a rotating frame using an RF (Radio Frequency) signal generator and a magnetic field gradient generator. The RF (Radio Frequency) signal generator generates RF excitation pulses in anatomy and enables subsequent acquisition of associated RF echo data. The magnetic field gradient generator generates anatomical volume select magnetic field gradients for phase encoding and readout RF data acquisition in a three dimensional (3D) anatomical volume. The RF signal generator and the gradient generator use in order, a saturation pulse, a T1 spin lattice relaxation rotating frame preparation pulse sequence and a spoiler gradient, in acquiring image data of the 3D volume showing luminance contrast associated with T1 spin lattice relaxation in a rotating frame.

System for reducing artifacts in imaging in the presence of a spin-lock radio-frequency field

A method for automated magnetic field shimming in a MR imaging system includes generating RF excitation pulses in anatomy, generating slice select magnetic field gradients on a static magnetic field and generating a plurality of shimming routines. The method also includes acquiring maps of the static magnetic field between each shimming routine and determining a base function for each of the plurality of shimming coils from: (i) intermediate magnitudes and directions of the static magnetic field produced by each of the plurality of shimming coils during each shimming routine; and (ii) intermediate currents supplied to each of the plurality of shimming coils during each shimming routine. The method further includes determining updated magnitudes and directions of the static magnetic field produced by each of the plurality of shimming coils by expanding the determined base function for each of the plurality of shimming coils into low order polynomials.

Methods and systems for automated magnetic field shimming

A method provides motion corrected MR image data in an MR imaging system. The method employs an imaging method for acquiring k-space data of a k-space data array during an imaging scan and the k-space data represents image data of a patient anatomical region. The method acquires k-space data associated with a central region of the k-space data array and subsequently acquires k-space data external to the central region of the k-space data array. The method acquires a motion signal indicating respiratory motion at least during the acquisition of the k-space data external to the central region and compares the motion signal with a predetermined threshold. The method identifies acquired k-space data corresponding to acquisition periods when the motion signal exceeds the threshold and excludes use of the identified acquired k-space data in image reconstruction using the remaining acquired k-space data.

Motion compensated MR imaging system

A system acquires frequency domain components representing MR image data. An RF coil emits RF pulses for use in acquiring multiple individual frequency components corresponding to individual data elements in a 3D storage array in which the individual frequency components are successively acquired along radii from a designated center representing an origin to a boundary of the storage array. Angles of successive radii with respect to the origin are successively changed to substantially fill the storage array volume during acquisition of an MR dataset representing an MR image. A computation processor determines the angles of successive radii with respect to the origin, in response to data representing a reduction in at least one dimension of the 3D imaging volume represented by the storage array. A storage processor stores individual frequency components, acquired using the emitted RF pulses, in corresponding individual data elements in the array.

Variable image resolution MR imaging system

An apparatus and method for obtaining diffusion weighted magnetic resonance images (DW-MRI) is described. The properties of the diffusion tensor in tissue are measured by applying a diffusion weighting gradient oriented along a plurality of measurement axes. The value of the magnetic field is increased by using as many of the magnetic gradient coils as are effective in contributing the gradient field strength along the axis being. In regions where the magnetic field gradient is increased, the echo time (TE) may be decreased, increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurements. Alternatively, the number of measurements than are averaged to achieve a particular image quality may be decreased, reducing the patient exposure time.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Tiejun Zhao