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US5217016A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for generating optimal pulses for magnetic resonance imaging using spatial modulation of magnetization

Assignee: University of Pennsylvania
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Filing: 1991-04-15
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Granted: 1993-06-08
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Expires: 2011-04-15
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Abstract

Abstract A technique for generating "optimal" radio frequency pulses for use in creating SPAMM imaging stripes. The MR imaging operator is given an opportunity to select the desired stripe parameters for the SPAMM imaging stripe so that the resulting SPAMM imaging stripe will have the desired narrowness, sharpness, flatness and the like. These parameters are then used by an optimal pulse generating system of the invention to generate the input radio frequency pulse sequence which will produce the desired stripes. This technique allows a large family of pulse sequences with fairly similar performance to be generated by simply adjusting the relative weightings of criteria such as the narrowness, sharpness, flatness and the like for the SPAMM stripes.

Inventors

  • 👤 Leon Axel
  • 👤 Meir Shinnar

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 21:34
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/54; G01R33/56; G01R33/563; G01R33/56308; G01R33/56333; G01R33/567; G01R33/5673

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 184 words
A method of detecting motion of an image slice of a body portion of a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging device, comprising the steps of: inputting parameters specifying the desired visual characteristics of said image slice; synthesizing a radio frequency pulse sequence which, when applied to said body portion prior to imaging by said magnetic resonance imaging device, will cause the creation of an image slice having said desired visual characteristics; applying to the body portion an external magnetic field so as to produce a resultant magnetization; applying a pre-imaging sequence to the body portion so as to spatially modulate transverse and longitudinal components of the resultant magnetization to thereby produce a spatial modulation pattern of intensity, said pre-imaging sequence comprising said synthesized radio frequency pulse sequence and magnetic field gradient pulses; applying an imaging sequence to the body portion to make visible said spatial modulation pattern of intensity; and detecting motion of said body portion during a time interval between application of said pre-imaging and imaging sequences by examining displacements of the spatial modulation pattern of intensity occurring during said time interval.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 184 words
A method of detecting motion of an image slice of a body portion of a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging device, comprising the steps of: inputting parameters specifying the desired visual characteristics of said image slice; synthesizing a radio frequency pulse sequence which, when applied to said body portion prior to imaging by said magnetic resonance imaging device, will cause the creation of an image slice having said desired visual characteristics; applying to the body portion an external magnetic field so as to produce a resultant magnetization; applying a pre-imaging sequence to the body portion so as to spatially modulate transverse and longitudinal components of the resultant magnetization to thereby produce a spatial modulation pattern of intensity, said pre-imaging sequence comprising said synthesized radio frequency pulse sequence and magnetic field gradient pulses; applying an imaging sequence to the body portion to make visible said spatial modulation pattern of intensity; and detecting motion of said body portion during a time interval between application of said pre-imaging and imaging sequences by examining displacements of the spatial modulation pattern of intensity occurring during said time interval.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein said parameters include stripe thickness in said spatial modulation pattern of intensity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method as in claim 1, wherein said parameters include weights for relating sharpness and flatness of respective stripes in said spatial modulation pattern of intensity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said parameters include a number of radio frequency pulses to be included in said radio frequency pulse sequence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said parameters include a size of a transition zone between a striped and a non-striped region in said spatial modulation pattern of intensity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said pre-imaging sequence comprises said synthesized radio frequency pulse sequence with said magnetic field gradient pulses interspersed between respective radio frequency pulses of said synthesized radio frequency pulse sequence.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said pre-imaging sequence comprises said synthesized radio frequency pulse sequence and overlapping magnetic field gradient pulses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 55 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said synthesized radio frequency pulse sequence is applied to said body portion so as to cause a selective periodic excitation of said resultant magnetization and said synthesized radio frequency pulse sequence comprises respective radio frequency pulses having amplitudes which are not related in accordance with a binomial amplitude function.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 117 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said radio frequency pulse sequence is synthesized in accordance with the following steps: calculating a fourier cosine series in M z which optimally fits said parameters, where M z is a magnetization response of said body portion to said radio frequency pulse sequence; converting said Fourier cosine series into a complex exponential Fourier series; generating a fourier series for spinor components of said complex exponential Fourier series of the form: (1+M z )/2=P 2 and (1-M z )/2=Q 2 ; deconvoluting said Fourier series for spinor components to find P and Q; and calculating a radio frequency pulse sequence which yields a spinor with P and Q as its spinor components.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5054489A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-06-07 1996-12-07 1997-06-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-06-07 2000-12-07 2001-06-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
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