Patent US5168228A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5168228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Echo planar imaging systems
Assignee: BTG International Ltd
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Filing: 1991-05-10
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Granted: 1992-12-01
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Expires: 2011-05-10
Abstract
Abstract Zonal magnification of a selected area of an image produced by Echo Planar Imaging is acheived by taking images of a defined area in the presence of a selective 180° R.F. control pulse so that subsequent processing produces a magnified image of the selected area with enhanced resolution.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Mansfield
- 👤 Roger J. Ordidge
- 👤 Ronald J. Coxon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/483; G01R33/4833; G01R33/54; G01R33/56
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of magnifying an image produced in an EPI system in which at least a first and second image are taken of a defined area, in which at least one defined portion of the second image is produced by use of a selective 180° control pulse in the presence of a gradient pulse to generate the defined portion in which the first and second images are subtracted from each other to produce a cancellation of any of the areas outside the defined area and in which the defined area is then expanded to produce a magnified image of the defined area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of magnifying an image produced in an EPI system in which at least a first and second image are taken of a defined area, in which at least one defined portion of the second image is produced by use of a selective 180° control pulse in the presence of a gradient pulse to generate the defined portion in which the first and second images are subtracted from each other to produce a cancellation of any of the areas outside the defined area and in which the defined area is then expanded to produce a magnified image of the defined area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of enhancing the image produced in an EPI system as claimed in claim 1 in which all images are permanently stored electronically for subsequent recovery of the enhanced image and for reference to the complete picture prior to enhancement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of zonal magnification as claimed in claim 1 in which NMR chemical shift spectra are produced from a series of consecutive elements forming a column which has been selected.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of zonal magnification as claimed in claim 1 in which the image is constructed from the signal data by using a power or magnitude Fourier transform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of zonal magnification as claimed in claim 1, in which the image is constructed from the signal data by using an amplitude Fourier transform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of enhancing the image produced in an EPI system as claimed in claim 5 in which the defined zone comprises a strip which is one quarter the width of the complete image field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of enhancing the image produced in an EPI system as claimed in claim 6 comprising the additional steps of taking four images of a picture area each varying from the others by the selection of the defined quarter, and co-adding image signals from these quarters and subtracting an image signal from the fourth selected quarter, thereby rendering magnification of any quarter of the image field.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for enhancing an image including Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) apparatus, means for taking at least a first and second image of a defined area said means comprising means for defining a required portion of the image during the second imaging process using a selective 180° R.F. control pulse, means for storing the first and second images, means for combining the two images, and means for expanding the information left after the combination process to produce an enlarged picture of the defined area.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus for enhancing an image including Echo Planar Imaging (EPI) apparatus, means for taking at least a first and second image of a defined area said means comprising means for defining a required portion of the image during the second imaging process using a selective 180° R.F. control pulse, means for storing the first and second images, means for combining the two images, and means for expanding the information left after the combination process to produce an enlarged picture of the defined area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus for enhancing an image as claimed in claim 8 in which the means for taking at least the first and second image of a defined area comprises electronic control apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus for enhancing an image as claimed in claim 9 in which the electronic control apparatus is operative to select the defined area as a central strip within a generally rectangular image field.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus for enhancing an image as claimed in claim 9 in which the electronic control apparatus is operative to select the defined area as one quarter of a complete image field.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of zonal magnification of a defined region of an echo-planar image (EPI) comprising a spin interrogation phase int e time period between an initial selected slice selection procedure and the EPI experiment in which a selective 180° R.F. control pulse is applied in the presence of a gradient pulse, the selective 180° R.F. control pulse being operative to invert the magnetization of a strip within the selected slice, the strip comprising the defined zone to be magnified.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of zonal magnification of a defined region of an echo-planar image (EPI) comprising a spin interrogation phase int e time period between an initial selected slice selection procedure and the EPI experiment in which a selective 180° R.F. control pulse is applied in the presence of a gradient pulse, the selective 180° R.F. control pulse being operative to invert the magnetization of a strip within the selected slice, the strip comprising the defined zone to be magnified.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of zonal magnification as claimed in claim 12 in which the 180° RF control pulse is used to form a spin echo from regions of the object which define the zone to be magnified.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of zonal magnification as claimed in claim 14 in which NMR chemical shift spectra are produced from a series of consecutive elements forming a column which has been selected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of zonal magnification as claimed in claim 12 in which the image is constructed from the signal data by using a power or magnitude Fourier transform.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of zonal magnification as claimed in claim 12 in which the image is constructed from the signal data by using an amplitude Fourier transform.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of magnifying the image produced in the EPI system as claimed in claim 12 in which the defined zone forms a central strip within a generally rectangular image field, the central strip being expanded to fill the complete image field.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for zonal magnification of a defined region of an echo planar image (EPI) comprising means for generating an initial slice selection procedure to define a slice, means for generating a selective 180° R.F. control pulse in the presence of a gradient pulse, which selective 180° R.F. control pulse is operative to invert a magnetization of a strip within the slice, the strip comprising the defined zone to be magnified, and means for performing an EPI experiment in a spin interrogation phase following the generation of the selective 180° R.F. control pulse.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
92 words
Apparatus for zonal magnification of a defined region of an echo planar image (EPI) comprising means for generating an initial slice selection procedure to define a slice, means for generating a selective 180° R.F. control pulse in the presence of a gradient pulse, which selective 180° R.F. control pulse is operative to invert a magnetization of a strip within the slice, the strip comprising the defined zone to be magnified, and means for performing an EPI experiment in a spin interrogation phase following the generation of the selective 180° R.F. control pulse.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-01 | 1996-06-01 | 1996-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-01 | 2000-06-01 | 2000-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-01 | 2004-06-01 | 2004-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |