Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of examining a predetermined location in a body using NMR techniques characterised in that it comprises: carrying out four separate procedures each comprising exciting spins in a region (45) of the body (43) including said predetermined location (55) and acquiring and processing data in respect of said spins, the procedures differing in that in a first procedure the excited spins are of the same phase throughout said region (45), in a second procedure the excited spins are of a first phase in a first portion (49) of said region (45) of which said predetermined location (55) forms part and of the opposite phase in the rest of said region (45), in a third procedure the spins are of a first phase in a second portion (53) of said region (45) which intersects said first portion (49) at said predetermined location (55) and are of the opposite phase in the rest of said region (45), and in a fourth procedure the spins are of a first phase in the first and second portions (49 and 53), excluding said predetermined location (55), and are of the opposite phase in the rest of said region (45); and combining the processed data (A, B,C, D) obtained in said four procedures to extract processed data (L) relating to said predetermined location (55) only.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
220 words
A method of examining a predetermined location in a body using NMR techniques characterised in that it comprises: carrying out four separate procedures each comprising exciting spins in a region (45) of the body (43) including said predetermined location (55) and acquiring and processing data in respect of said spins, the procedures differing in that in a first procedure the excited spins are of the same phase throughout said region (45), in a second procedure the excited spins are of a first phase in a first portion (49) of said region (45) of which said predetermined location (55) forms part and of the opposite phase in the rest of said region (45), in a third procedure the spins are of a first phase in a second portion (53) of said region (45) which intersects said first portion (49) at said predetermined location (55) and are of the opposite phase in the rest of said region (45), and in a fourth procedure the spins are of a first phase in the first and second portions (49 and 53), excluding said predetermined location (55), and are of the opposite phase in the rest of said region (45); and combining the processed data (A, B,C, D) obtained in said four procedures to extract processed data (L) relating to said predetermined location (55) only.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to Claim 1 wherein the processed data are combined according to the formula where A, B C and D are respectively the processed data obtained in said first, second, third and fourth procedures.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein; in said second procedure spins are excited by inverting spins in a first further region (47) of said body (43) which intersects said region (45) at said first portion (49), and exciting spins in said region (45); in said third procedure spins are excited by inverting spins in a second further region (51) of said body (43) which intersects said region (45) at said second portion (53), and exciting spins in said region (45); and in said fourth procedure said spins are excited by inverting spins in said first further region (47), inverting spins in said second further region (51), and exciting spins in said region (45).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to Claim 3 wherein said regions (45, 47, 51) are all planar slices of the body (43).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to Claim 4 wherein said regions (45, 47, 51) are mutually perpendicular.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An NMR apparatus arranged to carry out a method according to any one of the preceding claims.