Johns Hopkins University

Clever Sys, Inc.

Yi Zhang

Paul Arthur Bottomley

Yiqing Liang

Vikrant N Kobla

Tza-Huei J Wang

Jinyuan Zhou

Xuesheng Bai

Wayne A Wolf

Robert G Weiss

Linda S Crnic

Shashank S Hegde

Refaat Gabr

Feng-Feng Wang

Stan L Wilks, Legal Representative

A method of spatially imaging a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)parameter whose measurement requires the acquisition of spatially localized NMR signals in a sample includes placing the sample in an MRI apparatus with a plurality of MRI detectors each having a spatial sensitivity map; and applying MRI sequences adjusted to be sensitive to the NMR parameter. At least one of the MRI sequences is adjusted so as to substantially fully sample an image k-space of the sample. The remainder of the MRI sequences is adjusted to under-sample the image k-space. The method further includes acquiring image k-space NMR signal datasets; estimating a sensitivity map of each of the MRI detectors using a strategy to suppress unfolding artefacts; and applying the estimated sensitivity maps to at least one of the image k-space NMR signal data sets to reconstruct a spatial image of NMR signals that are sensitive to the NMR parameter.

Method of fast imaging of NMR parameters with variably-accelerated sensitivity encoding

A method of internal MRI employing at least one active internal MRI detector located within a sample of interest. The method includes applying an MRI pulse sequence to the sample of interest. The MRI pulse sequence includes spatial encoding projections. The method further includes receiving MRI signals at the active internal MRI detector and reconstructing at least one MRI image from the MRI signals using an error minimizing algorithm. The MRI pulse sequence provides an increase in an acquisition speed when reconstructing the at least one MRI image by sparsely under-sampling an image k-space in at least one dimension.

Methods and apparatus for accelerated, motion-corrected high-resolution MRI employing internal detectors or MRI endoscopy

A method of performing spatially localized magnetic resonance spectroscopy includes receiving a magnetic resonance image of an object; identifying a plurality C of compartments that generate magnetic resonance spectroscopy signals in the object including at least one compartment of interest; segmenting in at least one spatial dimension the magnetic resonance image of the object into the C compartments; acquiring magnetic resonance spectroscopy signals from the compartments by applying a plurality of M' phase encodings applied in the at least one spatial dimension, wherein M&#x2032;&#x2265;C; calculating a spatially localized magnetic resonance chemical shift spectrum from the at least one compartment of interest; and rendering a spatially localized magnetic resonance spectrum that is substantially equal to a spatial average of magnetic resonance chemical shift spectra from the at least one compartment of interest. A magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging system is configured to perform the above method.

System and method of performing magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging

An NMR method and system for acquiring and reconstructing a value of an NMR parameter spatially localized to a compartment of interest including performing a first MM of a portion of a sample with a first MRI pulse sequence using the NMR system and using a set of k-space spatial encoding gradients or coil sensitivity encoding maps to obtain a first magnetic resonance image to identify a compartment of interest; generating a second MRI pulse sequence that encodes the NMR parameter with a subset of the set of k-space spatial encoding gradients or the coil sensitivity encoding maps; applying the second MRI pulse sequence using the NMR system to acquire spatial information relating to the NMR parameter from the compartment of interest; segmenting the first magnetic resonance image into a plurality of compartments that includes the compartment of interest; and reconstructing a value of the NMR parameter in the compartment.

System and method of obtaining spatially-encoded NMR parameters from arbitrarily-shaped compartments and linear algebraic modeling

The present invention provides a novel method to fabricate silica nanostructures on thin polymer films based on silica deposition and self-wrinkling induced by thermal shrinkage. These micro- and nano-scale structures have vastly enlarged the specific area of silica, thus the silica nanomembranes can be used for solid phase extraction of nucleic acids. The inventive silica nanomembranes are suitable for nucleic acid purification and isolation and demonstrated better performance than commercial particles in terms of DNA recovery yield and integrity. In addition, the silica nanomembranes have extremely high nucleic acid capacity due to its significantly enlarged specific surface area of silica. Methods of use and devices comprising the silica nanomembranes are also provided.

Fabrication of hierarchical silica nanomembranes and uses thereof for solid phase extraction of nucleic acids

In general, the present invention is directed to systems and methods for finding the gait parameters of an animal using video. The invention includes a system with a video camera coupled to a computer in which the computer is configured to automatically provide animal segmentation, foot identification, foot tracking, and gait parameter calculation. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention may use a treadmill apparatus with a transparent tread or belt for gait parameter calculation. A camera may be placed directly underneath the transparent tread such that the bottom view of the animal walking or running on the transparent tread is captured by the camera. A tilted mirror may also be placed directly underneath the transparent tread in order to reflect the bottom view images to the side where they are captured by a high-speed camera. Thus, the present invention is capable of automatically monitoring a video image to identify, track and classify the actions of various animals' feet within the image. The image may be provided in real time or from storage. The invention is particularly useful for monitoring and characterizing gait behavior such as walking and running behavior and their patterns for assessing neurological functions, testing drugs and genetic mutations, but may be used in any of a number of other monitoring and surveillance applications.

System and method for animal gait characterization from bottom view using video analysis

In general, the present invention is directed to systems and methods for finding the position and shape of an animal using video. The invention includes a system with a video camera coupled to a computer in which the computer is configured to automatically provide animal segmentation and identification, animal motion tracking (for moving animals), animal feature points and segments identification, and behavior identification. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention may use background subtraction for animal identification and tracking, and a combination of decision tree classification and rule-based classification for feature points and segments and behavior identification. Thus, the present invention is capable of automatically monitoring a video image to identify, track and classify the actions of various animals and the animal's movements within the image. The image may be provided in real time or from storage. The invention is particularly useful for monitoring and classifying animal behavior for testing drugs and genetic mutations, but may be used in any of a number of other surveillance applications.

Unified system and method for animal behavior characterization from top view using video analysis

In general, the present invention is directed to systems and methods for finding the position and shape of an animal using video. The invention includes a system with a video camera coupled to a computer in which the computer is configured to automatically provide animal segmentation and identification, animal motion tracking (for moving animals), animal-posture classification, and behavior identification. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention may use background subtraction for animal identification and tracking, and a combination of decision tree classification and rule-based classification for posture and behavior identification. Thus, the present invention is capable of automatically monitoring a video image to identify, track and classify the actions of various animals and the animal's movements within the image. The image may be provided in real time or from storage. The invention is particularly useful for monitoring and classifying animal behavior for testing drugs and genetic mutations, but may be used in any of a number of other surveillance applications.

Growing community of inventors

Baltimore, MD, United States of America

Yi Zhang