Apparatus for the identification of nuclear magnetic spectra from spatially selectable regions of an examination subject

Claim 1

A method for operating a nuclear magnetic resonance examination apparatus including means for generating a fundamental magnetic field, which magnetizes an examination region within a patient, in a first direction, means for respectively generating independent orthogonal gradient fields in first, second and third directions, means for applying RF pulses to said patient, and means for acquiring nuclear magnetic resonance signals from said patient, said method comprising the steps of: applying a first, non-selective 90° RF pulse to said patient which rotates the magnetization of said examination region out of said first direction into a plane defined by said second and third directions disposed perpendicularly relative to said first direction; applying a first, selective 180° RF pulse to said patient simultaneously with a magnetic gradient in said first direction, said magnetic gradient in said first direction causing a dephasing of nuclear spins in said examination region outside of a first selected slice; applying a second, selective 180° RF pulse to said patient simultaneously with a magnetic gradient in said second direction, said magnetic gradient in said second direction effecting a dephasing of the nuclear spins in said examination region outside of a second selected slice; applying a second, selective 90° RF pulse to said patient simultaneously with a magnetic gradient in said third direction, said magnetic gradient in said third direction rotating said nuclear spins in said examination region in a selected volume of said examination region back into parallel with said first direction; applying a third 90° RF pulse to said patient; and reading out nuclear magnetic resonances signals from said examination region in response to the application of said third 90° RF pulse for evaluation of said signals.

Claim 2

A method for operating a nuclear magnetic resonance examination apparatus including means for generating a fundamental magnetic field, which magnetizes an examination region within a patient, in a first direction, means for respectively generating independent orthogonal gradient fields in first, second and third directions, means for applying RF pulses to said patient, and means for acquiring nuclear magnetic resonance signals from said patient, said method comprising the steps of: applying a first, non-selective 90° RF pulse to said patient which rotates the magnetization of said examination region out of said first direction into a plane defined by said second and third directions disposed perpendicularly relative to said first direction; applying a first, selective 180° RF pulse to said patient simultaneously with a magnetic gradient in said first direction, said magnetic gradient in said first direction causing a dephasing of nuclear spins in said examination region outside of a first selected slice; applying a second, selective 180° RF pulse to said patient simultaneously with a magnetic gradient in said second direction, said magnetic gradient in said second direction effecting a dephasing of the nuclear spins in said examination region outside of a second selected slice; applying a second, selective 90° RF pulse to said patient simultaneously with a magnetic gradient in said third direction, said magnetic gradient in said third direction rotating said nuclear spins in said examination region in a selected volume of said examination region back into parallel with said first direction; applying a third 90° RF pulse to said patient; and reading out nuclear magnetic resonances signals from said examination region in response to the application of said third 90° RF pulse for evaluation of said signals.