Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Northwestern University

The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

University of Illinois

The University of Chicago

Timothy J Carroll

Charles Anthony Mistretta

Sumeeth Jonathan

Thomas M Grist

Parmede Vakil

Jiang Du

Yousef Mazaheri

Teresa K Woodruff

Walter Francis Block

Frank W Miller

Jason Ng

Amit Patel

Keigo Kawaji

Samantha By

Wanyong Shin

Daniel C Lee

Yong Jeong

Jessy J Mouannes

Charles G Cantrell

Yousef Mazahheri

Michael Hurley

Mayank Vijayvergia

Rajiv Menon

Renee Qian

Paras Parikh

Gaurav Gadodia

Sameer Ansari

An apparatus to jointly measure oxygen utilization and tissue strain includes an imaging system and a computer processor operatively coupled to the imaging system. The computer processor is configured to control the imaging system to perform a pulse sequence on tissue of a subject. The computer processor also acquires oxygen utilization data and strain data responsive to the pulse sequence. The computer processor further determines an amount of strain on the tissue of the subject based at least in part on the strain data and an amount of oxygen utilization of the tissue of the subject based at least in part on the oxygen utilization data.

Combined oxygen utilization, strain, and anatomic imaging with magnetic resonance imaging

Described here are systems and methods for producing high-resolution three-dimensional ('3D') relaxation parameter maps by calibrating high-resolution 3D magnetic resonance images. As one example, high-resolution longitudinal relaxation time ('T1') maps can be generated based on images acquired using a T1-weighted pulse sequence, and as another example high-resolution transverse relaxation time (&#x201c;T2&#x201d;) maps can be generated based on images acquired using a T2-weighted pulse sequence. The high-resolution images can be calibrated, for example, using a lower resolution single slice relaxation parameter map. The methods described here utilize high-resolution 3D scans and low-resolution relaxation parameter maps that are commonly available on MRI systems. The calibration is a post-processing step used to create the high-resolution 3D relaxation parameter maps from these two types of scans.

System and method for producing high-resolution magnetic relaxation parameter maps

An acoustic driver system includes an active acoustic driver and a passive acoustic driver. The active acoustic driver is configured to produce oscillating acoustic energy. The passive acoustic driver is acoustically connected to the active acoustic driver and is configured to receive the oscillating acoustic energy and to convert it into shear waves. The passive acoustic driver includes a housing member and a vibrating member. The housing member includes a housing member cavity. The vibrating member is disposed at least partially within the housing member cavity. The vibrating member permanently retains a curved shape while disposed within the housing member cavity.

Curved passive acoustic driver for magnetic resonance elastography

A system for perfusion and diffusion MR imaging of a portion of patient anatomy includes an RF (Radio Frequency) signal generator for generating RF excitation pulses in anatomy and enabling subsequent acquisition of associated RF echo data. A 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 acquire within a single MR imaging scan, perfusion image data of the 3D volume, at least partially in the presence of contrast agent, and diffusion image data of the 3D volume.

System and method for perfusion and diffusion MR imaging

In one aspect of the disclosure, an MRI-based system includes an MRI scanner having a first axis and a first plane perpendicular to the first axis, a pulse sequence module configured to provide a 3D pulse sequence to the MRI scanner, and a control module configured to instruct the MRI scanner to conduct radial k-space samples having N second planes that each are perpendicular to the first plane and through which the first axis passes, N being an integer greater than 1. The 3D pulse sequence instructs the MRI scanner to a radio-frequency (RF) pulse, conduct a gradient readout in the first plane, and conduct a gradient readout in one of the N second planes.

Imaging-based diagnostic apparatus and methods for quantifying cerebral vascular reserve

A method for calculating quantitative perfusion measurements using an MRI system includes a pulse sequence that acquires perfusion weighted images and additionally measures Tvalues before and after the administration of a contrast agent. Tvalues are measured by rapidly sampling a longitudinal relaxation curve and employed to determine the blood volume in tissue. A correction factor for the effect of water diffusion between blood vessels and the extravascular space is determined.

MRI method for quantification of cerebral perfusion

A magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) is acquired using a contrast enhancement method in which a series of NMR images are rapidly acquired during a time resolved phase of the examination in which the contrast bolus makes a first pass through the arteries and veins. Arterial and venous voxels are automatically identified in the images using either of two disclosed methods. The signals from identified arterial voxels are used to produce an arterial contrast enhancement reference curve that is used to segment arterial voxels by a correlation process. Venous voxels are segmented in the same manner using a calculated venous contrast enhancement reference curve.

Magnetic resonance angiography with automated vessel segmentation

A magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) is acquired using a contrast enhancement method in which a series of low resolution NMR images are rapidly acquired during a time resolved phase of the examination in which the contrast bolus makes a first pass through the arteries and veins. Additional, high spatial resolution NMR image data is acquired in a subsequent steady-state phase of the examination. The low resolution NMR image is segmented and masked to depict only arteries, and the central k-space region of this data is combined with the peripheral k-space data portion of the high resolution NMR data to produce one or more images.

Dual resolution acquisition of magnetic resonance angiography data with vessel segmentation

A contrast-enhanced MRI time course study of the brain is performed and images are produced which indicate hemodynamic parameters such as cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV) and mean transit time (MTT). An arterial input function (AIF) required to quantitatively measure the hemodynamic parameters is automatically produced.

Determination of the arterial input function in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI

A magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) is acquired using a contrast enhancement method in which a series of low resolution NMR images are rapidly acquired during a time resolved phase of the examination in which the contrast bolus makes a first pass through the arteries and veins. Additional, high resolution NMR image data is acquired in a subsequent steady-state phase of the examination from which a high resolution NMR image is reconstructed. Segmentation of arteries, veins and background in the high resolution image is performed using information in the low resolution NMR images.

Magnetic resonance angiography with vessel segmentation

A dynamic MRA study is performed using a 3D fast gradient recalled echo pulse sequence. A signal strength indicator for each acquired k-space data set is calculated and these indicator values are employed to produce a contrast curve. This contrast curve is used to select data for use in forming a CONTRAST k-space data set and a MASK k-space data set. The MASK is subtracted from the CONTRAST data set and the result is used to reconstruct an image.

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

Timothy J Carroll