Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
317 words
A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising: static magnetic field forming means for forming a static magnetic field in a region including a selected slice of a subject having a varying portion which periodically varies in synchrony with heartbeats of said subject, and in which substantially at least two conditions of the varying portion of the subject alternately appear; gradient magnetic field applying means for applying gradient magnetic fields to said subject placed in the static magnetic field; high frequency magnetic field applying means for applying a high frequency magnetic field to at least said region including said selected slice of said subject for causing a magnetic resonance phenomenon in said region; signal acquiring means for detecting and acquiring a magnetic resonance signal produced in said selected slice of said subject by said magnetic resonance phenomenon; system control means for controlling said static magnetic field forming means, said gradient magnetic field applying means, said high frequency magnetic field applying means, and said signal acquiring means such that predetermined gradient and high frequency magnetic fields are repeatedly applied to said region including said selected slice of said subject in a predetermined sequence according to a phase encoding method to excite said magnetic resonance phenomenon in said selected slice, and the magnetic resonance signal due to the magnetic resonance phenomenon is acquired by said signal acquiring means; image forming means responsive to the magnetic resonance signal acquired by said signal acquiring means to obtain magnetic resonance image information of said selected slice of said subject; and heartbeat information detecting means for monitoring the heartbeats of said subject, and detecting timings of appearance of said at least two conditions, wherein said system control means is responsive to said heartbeat information detecting means to control the repetition of said predetermined sequence, and causing said signal acquiring means to alternately acquire magnetic resonance signals at the time of said at least two conditions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
317 words
A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising: static magnetic field forming means for forming a static magnetic field in a region including a selected slice of a subject having a varying portion which periodically varies in synchrony with heartbeats of said subject, and in which substantially at least two conditions of the varying portion of the subject alternately appear; gradient magnetic field applying means for applying gradient magnetic fields to said subject placed in the static magnetic field; high frequency magnetic field applying means for applying a high frequency magnetic field to at least said region including said selected slice of said subject for causing a magnetic resonance phenomenon in said region; signal acquiring means for detecting and acquiring a magnetic resonance signal produced in said selected slice of said subject by said magnetic resonance phenomenon; system control means for controlling said static magnetic field forming means, said gradient magnetic field applying means, said high frequency magnetic field applying means, and said signal acquiring means such that predetermined gradient and high frequency magnetic fields are repeatedly applied to said region including said selected slice of said subject in a predetermined sequence according to a phase encoding method to excite said magnetic resonance phenomenon in said selected slice, and the magnetic resonance signal due to the magnetic resonance phenomenon is acquired by said signal acquiring means; image forming means responsive to the magnetic resonance signal acquired by said signal acquiring means to obtain magnetic resonance image information of said selected slice of said subject; and heartbeat information detecting means for monitoring the heartbeats of said subject, and detecting timings of appearance of said at least two conditions, wherein said system control means is responsive to said heartbeat information detecting means to control the repetition of said predetermined sequence, and causing said signal acquiring means to alternately acquire magnetic resonance signals at the time of said at least two conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said varying portion is a portion which varies in qualities of a predetermined tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 1, wherein said varying portion is a portion whose condition continuously varies at a substantially regular period.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 3, wherein said heartbeat information detecting means detects a specified phase of the variation of said varying portion, and obtains the timings of said at least two conditions such that the timings define time intervals aT and bT, where T is a fundamental period of the heartbeats, and a and b are coefficients to satisfy a+b=1(1>a>0,1>b>0).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 3, wherein said heartbeat information detecting means includes means for detecting an electrocardiographic information and detecting an R wave from the electrocardiographic information.