Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc.

Warren J Manning

Reza Nezafat

Mehmet Akcakaya

Tamer Basha

Keigo Kawaji

Sebastian Weingärtner

Mehmet Akçakaya

A system and method for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to acquire images of a subject having inconsistencies in a cardiac cycle of the subject. The process includes receiving an identification of a predetermined point in a cardiac cycle of the subject and, thereupon, performing a saturation module configured to dephase magnetization within a region of interest (ROI) from before the predetermined point. The process also includes performing an inversion module configured to invert spins within the ROI and acquiring medical imaging data from the subject. A delay is inserted between the performance of the saturation module and the performance of the inversion module, wherein a duration of the delay is configured, with the saturation module, to control evidence in the medical imaging data of inconsistencies in the cardiac cycle of the subject by controlling a magnetization history of tissue in the ROI.

System and method for improved cardiac imaging of subjects with adverse cardiac conditions

An MRI apparatus includes: a data processor configured to acquire a first set of T-weighted imaging data and a second set of T-weighted imaging data; a pulse sequence controller configured to generate a pulse sequence and apply the generated pulse sequence to a gradient coil assembly and RF coil assembly, the generated pulse sequence including: T-preparation modules and associated imaging modules to acquire the first set of T-weighted imaging data, and a saturation pulse sequence and an associated saturation imaging module to acquire the second set of T-weighted imaging data; a curve fitter configured to apply the first and second sets of T-weighted imaging data to a three-parameter model for Tdecay, to determine a Tvalue at a plurality of locations; and an image processor configured to generate a Tmap of the object based on the Tvalue determined at the plurality of locations.

[object Object]

A method and apparatus for MRI retrospective reconstruction determines a period of minimal coronary artery motion within the acquired temporal window with a rotation angle optimized for a K-space four-dimensional (4D) volume by a segmented 4D radial stack-of-stars (SOS) acquisition during a temporal acquisition window (taw). Radial stacks of the image of an object are acquired by performing the radial (SOS) acquisition to determine a plurality of kplane samples of the object, in which each kplane is repeatedly determined during a sub-window of the temporal acquisition window. Consecutive volumes of kcentric slices of the image at each temporal sub-window of the temporal acquisition window are generated and summed to fill a 3D k-space volume. The radial (SOS) acquisition of the image is determined utilizing a customized rotation angle &#x3b8; providing a uniform distribution of k-space spokes of the kcentric slices for each sub-window of the (taw).

MRI methods and apparatus for flexible visualization of any subset of an enlarged temporal window

A method and system for magnetic resonance imaging comprises applying at least one radiofrequency magnetization transfer (MT) pulse to a coronary venous region of a subject positioned within a magnetic field, and acquiring magnetic resonance imaging data from the coronary venous region to produce an image of a coronary venous structure. This technique can be utilized as part of a 3D free-breathing, ECG-triggered gradient-echo Cartesian acquisition of the coronary region. One or more magnetization transfer (MT) preparation pulses are used to enhance the contrast between venous blood and myocardium. The MT preparation results in myocardial signal suppression without any significant signal loss in the arterial or venous blood so as to maintain venous blood signal-to-noise ratio while improving contrast between myocardium and veins. The image of a coronary venous structure can be acquired in connection with an interventional cardiovascular procedure, such as a cardiac resynchronization therapy.

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Natick, MA, United States of America

Warren J Manning