Patent US4631480A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4631480A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Nuclear magnetic resonance method and apparatus
Assignee: Philips Design Ltd
•
Filing: 1983-10-04
•
Granted: 1986-12-23
•
Expires: 2003-10-04
Abstract
Abstract In a method of imaging a body in which nuclear magnetic resonance is excited in a region including part of the body, and the free induction decay signal is measured, a quantity of a material of known nuclear magnetic resonance properties is included in the region so as to enhance the measured free induction decay signal. This then reduces the generation of noise during subsequent processing of the signal. The material is suitably water in a container.
Inventors
- 👤 Ian R. Young
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:25
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/54; G01R33/56; G01R33/58
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of imaging a body comprising applying RF magnetic field pulses of a predetermined frequency effective to excite nuclear magnetic resonance in a region including part of said body, and measuring the free induction decay signal from said region, characterized in that a quantity of a material of known nuclear magnetic resonance properties, said quantity being excitable by said RF magnetic field pulses of a predetermined frequency, is included in said region so as to enhance the free induction decay signals from said region and thereby reduce the generation of noise during subsequent processing of the total free induction decay signal from said region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of imaging a body comprising applying RF magnetic field pulses of a predetermined frequency effective to excite nuclear magnetic resonance in a region including part of said body, and measuring the free induction decay signal from said region, characterized in that a quantity of a material of known nuclear magnetic resonance properties, said quantity being excitable by said RF magnetic field pulses of a predetermined frequency, is included in said region so as to enhance the free induction decay signals from said region and thereby reduce the generation of noise during subsequent processing of the total free induction decay signal from said region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said method is an inversion recovery technique, and said material has a short T 1 value compared to the average T 1 value of said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said method is a T 2 imaging method, and said material has a long T 2 value compared to the average T 2 value of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 in which said material is water in a container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
121 words
An imaging apparatus comprising means for applying RF magnetic field pulses of a predetermined frequency effective to excite nuclear magnetic resonance in a region including part of a body and means for measuring the free induction decay signal from said region, characterised in that said apparatus includes a quantity of a material of known nuclear magnetic resonance properties within said region, said quantity being excitable by said RF magnetic field pulses of a predetermined frequency, said material being present in sufficient quantity to enhance said free induction decay signal, and further including means for processing said free induction decay signal contributed by said material for enhancing the signal to noise ratio of the total free induction decay signal from said region.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
An imaging apparatus comprising means for applying RF magnetic field pulses of a predetermined frequency effective to excite nuclear magnetic resonance in a region including part of a body and means for measuring the free induction decay signal from said region, characterised in that said apparatus includes a quantity of a material of known nuclear magnetic resonance properties within said region, said quantity being excitable by said RF magnetic field pulses of a predetermined frequency, said material being present in sufficient quantity to enhance said free induction decay signal, and further including means for processing said free induction decay signal contributed by said material for enhancing the signal to noise ratio of the total free induction decay signal from said region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said material is water in a container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1033452A
Cited
US3792346A
Cited
US4070611A
Cited
US4050009A
Cited
GB1584950A
Cited
GB2037996A
Cited
GB2043914A
Cited
US4333053A
Cited
EP0042256A2
Cited
GB2089996A
Cited
EP0055058A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-22 | 1990-06-23 | 1990-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-22 | 1994-06-23 | 1994-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-22 | 1998-06-23 | 1998-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |