arXiv subjects

Lukas Winter

Publications and source records attributed to Lukas Winter.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Shimmer: End-to-End Open-Source Passive B0 Shimming Methodology for Low-Field MRI Magnets

Low-field MRI scanners based on permanent magnet arrays require accurate B0 shimming to achieve sufficient field homogeneity for imaging. Here, we present Shimmer, an open-source methodology for passive shimming of low-field MRI magnets using additional NdFeB magnets placed outside the main magnet array. The end-to-end methodology combines magnetic field mapping, magnetic field simulations, numerical optimization of shim magnet positions and orientations, and automated generation of 3D-printable shim holders. Continuous magnet rotations and several optimization strategies are considered and evaluated. The method was validated and applied to three different permanent magnet arrays ~50 mT in 200 mm diameter spherical volumes, reducing initial field inhomogeneities of 9361ppm, 31721 ppm and 34143 ppm to 888 ppm, 1812 ppm and 1602 ppm respectively. The improved homogeneity enabled undistorted MR imaging of a phantom. Shimmer provides a reproducible and adaptable approach for improving the performance of low-field MRI magnets.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2026

A Reference System for Open Source Portable Low-Field MRI

Despite its renewed attention, the pathway to point-of-care portable low-field MRI systems remains challenging, limiting adoption across research groups. Incomplete documentation limits reproducibility, causing redesign and complicating cross-system comparison. Moreover, non-standardized testing and characterization complicates ethical approval for clinical studies. We present an open-source reference system for portable low-field MRI designed to support replication, reproducibility, benchmarking, and quantitative comparison. The system is fully open source, based on a ~50 mT permanent magnet, and integrated with a cloud-native acquisition platform. Pulseq-based calibration, characterization, and imaging sequences assessed noise level, eddy currents, image-based SNR, and geometric accuracy. Quantitative T1, T2, and B0 mapping sequences were developed and evaluated against reference values. Initial results from independent replications at two sites were compared. The system reached a noise level of 1.4 relative to the thermal noise floor and short eddy-current decay constants of 27-32 us across all gradient channels. Geometric deviations were below 2 mm over the field of view. Image-based SNR were consistent between the independent replications. Measured T1 values closely matched specified values, with an average absolute error of 3.1(1.8)%, while T2 values were overestimated by 10.4(5.8)%. Simulations showed only marginal errors for both quantities, suggesting experimental error sources for T2 mapping. The reference system combines openly documented hardware, software, calibration procedures, phantoms, quantitative MRI, and simulation tools in a reproducible ecosystem, aiming to support cross-site comparability, reproducible research, and collaborative development of future portable low-field MRI technologies.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2026

Birth of the Coil: another Milestone towards a fully reproducible low-field MRI scanner for head-imaging

Low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides an accessible, portable, and low-cost alternative to high-field scanners, expanding diagnostic imaging to point-of-care settings. However, widespread adoption is fundamentally hindered by a severely reduced signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). At low frequencies, radiofrequency (RF) coil conductor losses - rather than tissue sample losses - predominantly govern the system's total noise, making meticulous RF coil optimization critical to recovering image quality. This work presents an open-source, optimized solenoid head coil tailored for the 50 mT open-source scanner (OSII ONE v2.1). The paper validates production reproducibility across three independent international institutions and introduce an open-source connector with integrated digital circuitry for coil identification and DC or logic signals. Comprehensive benchtop measurements, Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) coupling analysis, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) safety simulations, and phantom and human volunteer imaging confirm the design's efficacy, safety, and reproducibility. The results of the paper, when combined with the material provided in the open-source dedicated repositories, set the basis for a fully reliable and reproducible component for the open-source OSII ONE MRI scanner. In addition, the same optimization strategy and design material can be exploited for designing other RF coils for imaging of other body parts.

physics.med-ph↗

arXiv2024

Supporting Error Chains in Static Analysis for Precise Evaluation Results and Enhanced Usability

Context: Static analyses are well-established to aid in understanding bugs or vulnerabilities during the development process or in large-scale studies. A low false-positive rate is essential for the adaption in practice and for precise results of empirical studies. Unfortunately, static analyses tend to report where a vulnerability manifests rather than the fix location. This can cause presumed false positives or imprecise results. Method: To address this problem, we designed an adaption of an existing static analysis algorithm that can distinguish between a manifestation and fix location, and reports error chains. An error chain represents at least two interconnected errors that occur successively, thus building the connection between the fix and manifestation location. We used our tool CogniCryptSUBS for a case study on 471 GitHub repositories, a performance benchmark to compare different analysis configurations, and conducted an expert interview. Result: We found that 50 % of the projects with a report had at least one error chain. Our runtime benchmark demonstrated that our improvement caused only a minimal runtime overhead of less than 4 %. The results of our expert interview indicate that with our adapted version participants require fewer executions of the analysis. Conclusion: Our results indicate that error chains occur frequently in real-world projects, and ignoring them can lead to imprecise evaluation results. The runtime benchmark indicates that our tool is a feasible and efficient solution for detecting error chains in real-world projects. Further, our results gave a hint that the usability of static analyses may benefit from supporting error chains.

cs.SE↗