MRIcontrast Pro2.1 - App Store

MRIcontrast Pro(TM) is a truly interactive simulator for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The app is aimed at healthcare professionals working with MRI, who want to learn how scan parameters affect the MR image.

MRIcontrast Pro(TM) visualizes realistic MRI images from various body parts and allows the user to change scan parameters (repetition time, echo time, flip angle, and many others). Even the magnetic field strength can be altered (1.5T or 3T). Any parameter change results in an immediate, real-time update of the MR image.

To facilitate for MRI-beginners, a built-in tutorial explains the meaning of each parameter and how it will affect the MR image. All imaging protocols are explained in detail, and guides are provided of how to learn and explore the various phenomena that can be studied.

MRIcontrast Pro(TM) is delivered with a gallery of common sequence types (T1-, T2- and PD-weighted spin echo, T2*-weighted gradient echo with and without RF-spoiling, steady-state free precession (SSFP), balanced SSFP, inversion recovery, turbo spin echo, echo planar imaging (both spin echo and gradient echo), diffusion weighted imaging etc), from which the user can explore the effects of changing the preset parameters.

In addition to viewing the images, the sound of the scanner can be played, and it also changes depending on the scan parameter settings.

Image features and MRI phenomena that currently are visualized in MRIcontrast Pro(TM):
- Contrast as function of TR, TE and flip angle
- Signal-to-noise ratio
- Fat/water in-phase and opposed-phase
- Chemical shift artefact
- Different image contrast and SNR at 3T vs. 1.5T
- T2*-relaxation
- Echo-planar (EPI) geometrical distortions
- Diffusion attenuation as function of b-value
- True FISP banding artifacts

Version History - The gradient echo protocol now has RF-spoiling which can be turned on and off.
- A new steady-state free precession (SSFP-Echo) protocol has been added.
- All major types of gradient echo sequences can now be simulated.
- All protocols (sequences) now obey timing limitations set by the MRI scanner hardware (finite RF-pulse durations, gradient switching times, etc).
- Minor user interface enhancements.
- Bug fixes. 2.1 02/04/2021 Version 2.0 is a major upgrade. Several useful, but also cool, features have been added. For the first time, one can listen to the sound that is produced by the MRI scanner while the sequence is running! The new features include:

- The sound generated by the gradients can now be played by the app. The sound will change in real time when any parameters are modified.
- An option to restore the longitudinal magnetization has been added to spin echo and turbo/fast spin echo sequences.
- The user interface has been changed slightly, to make more efficient use of the screen size, so that more features can be added in future versions.
- For EPI sequences, the effective bandwidth along the phase-encoding direction is now displayed together with the readout bandwidth. (Thanks Jochen!)
- The calculations of timings, e.g., limits of echo times and repetition times, have been made more realistic, to respect the hardware limitations of a real MRI-scanner.
- The signal calculation of the turbo spin echo sequence (TSE/FSE) has been made more accurate, and the user interface is more responsive.
- Various minor bug fixes. 2.0.1 01/26/2021 - A new dataset containing vials with different T1 and T2 relaxation times has been added.
- All datasets have now an info button, which shows information about the specific features of the dataset and which protocols are available for use.
- A new protocol, FLAIR, or 'dark fluid', has been added. The protocol is bundled together with the STIR protocol.
- Fixed a GUI bug when STIR/FLAIR was used with the option "Freeze suppressed tissue". 1.4 07/30/2020 - Fixed a bug which prevented in-app purchases in version 3.1.
- The EPI protocols work with iOS 13.3. 1.3.1 01/02/2020 - A preferences menu has been added.
- In the preferences, it is possible to set the names of the MRI protocols according to Siemens, Philips, or GE style.
- Bug fixes and user interface enhancements. NOTE: it is known that some users could not use the EPI protocols. We cannot reproduce this bug, neither on simulators, nor on physical devices. We are working with Apple to resolve the problem. 1.3 12/02/2019 - Bugfixes for EPI. 1.2.1 11/21/2019 A major revision with many improvements, including:
- The spectacular True FISP pulse sequence can now be simulated, including banding artifacts! Try to change repetition time and flip angle, it is really cool!
- A new version of the brain dataset is available to support True FISP simulation with 512-matrix. The old dataset can still be used, but only with 128-matrix.
- A mathematical phantom is included, which is nice to explore the properties of especially the EPI and True FISP protocols.
- Numerous bug fixes and performance enhancements. 1.2 11/18/2019 - Support for iOS 13 dark mode (light mode support will come soon).
- Bugfix: Corrected bug which prevented the EPI protocol from running. 1.1.2 10/31/2019 - In the STIR protocol, it is now possible to "freeze" the suppressed tissue, by automatic adjustment of the inversion time (TI) when the repetition time (TR) is changed.
- Bugfix: It is no longer possible to set TI longer than TR. 1.1.1 05/10/2019 - All MRI protocols now have thorough descriptions of its features, including hints of how to explore its contrast behavior. The underlying physical principles are also explained.
- The frequency-encoding direction of the data set is now indicated in the image.
- Bug fixes of the user interface. 1.1 05/02/2019 - Fixed a bug which caused the Spin echo EPI (SE-EPI) and Diffusion weighted (DWI) protocols to display incorrect.
- Modified default parameters for SE-EPI and DWI.
- Security enhancements. 1.0.2 01/20/2019 - Minor bug fixes.
- Improved user interface for iPad.
- Minor user interface enhancement for iPhone Xs, Xs Max and Xr.
- Minor user interface enhancement for iPad Pro 12.9" (3rd gen.) and iPad Pro 11". 1.0.1 12/03/2018 1.0 11/17/2018