Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of obtaining a spatial mapping of a sample utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance comprising: generating a magnetic gradient field, which is time dependent, except in a substantially linear region wherein the magnetic field is time independent and varies monotonically with distance along its length, the linear region disposed at least partially within the sample; applying an RF pulse to flip the magnetization of the sample 180 degrees from the direction of the magnetic field; applying a 90 degree RF pulse to flip the magnetization of the sample into the plane perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field after an interval ΔT; applying at least two RF pulses, each of which flips the magnetization through an angle of 180 degrees and each of which occurs at an interval T o after the previous RF pulse; receiving a signal resulting from the resonance; and analyzing the signal to obtain a measure of the RF absorption as a function of the resonance frequency.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
162 words
A method of obtaining a spatial mapping of a sample utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance comprising: generating a magnetic gradient field, which is time dependent, except in a substantially linear region wherein the magnetic field is time independent and varies monotonically with distance along its length, the linear region disposed at least partially within the sample; applying an RF pulse to flip the magnetization of the sample 180 degrees from the direction of the magnetic field; applying a 90 degree RF pulse to flip the magnetization of the sample into the plane perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field after an interval ΔT; applying at least two RF pulses, each of which flips the magnetization through an angle of 180 degrees and each of which occurs at an interval T o after the previous RF pulse; receiving a signal resulting from the resonance; and analyzing the signal to obtain a measure of the RF absorption as a function of the resonance frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 as applied to a sample composed of two substances having different T 1 relaxation times wherein ΔT is selected to optimize the measurable differentiation between the magnetization in the two substances.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the time independent monotonic field is linear.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of differentiating between normal and ischemic muscle tissue using nuclear magnetic resonance comprising: generting a magnetic gradient field which varies linearly in each of three orthogonal directions, and which has time dependent components in two of the three orthogonal directions, which time dependent components are normalized to zero along a line; applying an RF pulse to flip the magnetization of the sample 180 degrees from the direction of the magnetic field; waiting an interval ΔT to permit differentiation to occur between the magnetization in normal and ischemic tissue; applying a 90 degree RF pulse to flip the magnetization of the sample into the plane perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field; applying at least two RF pulses, each of which flips the magnetization through an angle of 180 degrees, and each of which is applied at an interval T o after the previous RF pulse; receiving the signal resulting from the resonance; and performing a Fourier analysis on the signal to determine the degree of magnetization as a function of position along the line.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
177 words
A method of differentiating between normal and ischemic muscle tissue using nuclear magnetic resonance comprising: generting a magnetic gradient field which varies linearly in each of three orthogonal directions, and which has time dependent components in two of the three orthogonal directions, which time dependent components are normalized to zero along a line; applying an RF pulse to flip the magnetization of the sample 180 degrees from the direction of the magnetic field; waiting an interval ΔT to permit differentiation to occur between the magnetization in normal and ischemic tissue; applying a 90 degree RF pulse to flip the magnetization of the sample into the plane perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field; applying at least two RF pulses, each of which flips the magnetization through an angle of 180 degrees, and each of which is applied at an interval T o after the previous RF pulse; receiving the signal resulting from the resonance; and performing a Fourier analysis on the signal to determine the degree of magnetization as a function of position along the line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the interval T o is on the order of magnitude of milliseconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the interval ΔT is on the order of magnitude of 0.1 seconds.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
39 words
The method of claims 4, 5, or 6 as applied to an in vivo heart wherein the first 180 degree pulse is timed so that the period ΔT will expire approximately at the beginning of the heart's quiescent period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 as applied to a sample composed of two substances having different T2 relaxation times wherein the interval ΔT is selected to optimize the measurable differentiation between the magnetization of the two substances.