31 results about "Mri techniques" patented technology

The disclosed embodiments provide a method for acquiring MR data at resolutions down to tens of microns for application in in-vivo diagnosis and monitoring of pathology for which changes in fine tissue textures can be used as markers of disease onset and progression. Bone diseases, tumors, neurologic diseases, and diseases involving fibrotic growth and / or destruction are all target pathologies. Further the technique can be used in any biologic or physical system for which very high-resolution characterization of fine scale morphology is needed. The method provides rapid acquisition of selected values in k-space, with multiple successive acquisitions of individual k-values taken on a time scale on the order of microseconds, within a defined tissue volume, and subsequent combination of the multiple measurements in such a way as to maximize SNR. The reduced acquisition volume, and acquisition of only select values in k-space along selected directions, enables much higher in-vivo resolution than is obtainable with current MRI techniques.

The present invention describes methods and compositions for non-invasively assessing the molecular structure of biocompatible hydrogels using MRI analysis. It is shown that biocompatible hydrogels prepared from polymerizing macromolecules that are attached to a paramagnetic, superparamagnetic or ferromagnetic contrast agents form reporter gels wherein monitoring of the changes in the structure of the hydrogels by MRI is facilitated by the presence of such paramagnetic, superparamagnetic or ferromagnetic agents in the biocompatible hydrogel.

Methods for correcting inhomogeneities of magnetic resonance (MR) images and for evaluating the performance of the inhomogeneity correction. The contribution of both transmit field and receiver sensitivity to signal inhomogeneity have been separately considered and quantified. As a result, their negative contributions can be fully corrected. The correction method can greatly enhance the accuracy and precision of MRI techniques and improve the detection sensitivity of pathophysiological changes. The performance of signal inhomogeneity correction methods has been evaluated and confirmed using phantom and in vivo human brain experiments. The present methodologies are readily applicable to correct signal intensity inhomogeneity artifacts produced in different imaging modalities, such as computer tomography, X-ray, ultrasound, and transmission electron microscopy.

Vasculature or parenchyma is imaged using upright MRI techniques, on patients who may have conditions such as congestive heart failure, or otherwise be healthy. When an individual is horizontal, venous drainage is minimized, causing the vessels to remain engorged, also referred to herein as vascular congestion. Vascular congestion results in an enlarging of the vessels and surrounding tissue causing the vessels to be more visible on MRIs. The decrease in vascular visibility in upright subjects is in part, due to an increase in venous drainage. Patients suffering from coronary and / or pulmonary deficiencies (e.g. CHF) experience decreased rates and degrees of venous drainage. In one embodiment, the present invention uses upright imaging to visualize these enlarged vessels.