Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
In a magnetic resonance method where an RF MTC pulse acts upon proton spins distributed in an object in the presence of a substantially uniform, steady longitudinal magnetic field and is configured for producing a flip angle of nominally 0° at the Larmor frequency of water protons while being effective at frequencies offset from the Larmor frequency of water protons for substantially saturating immobile proton spins and thereby inducing magnetization transfer contrast in the longitudinal magnetization of water proton spins, followed by an RF excitation pulse for producing transverse magnetization from the longitudinal magnetization of said spins, the improvement comprising that said RF MTC pulse is adjusted to produce a predetermined flip angle of nominally at least 90° at the Larmor frequency of fat bound proton spins.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
In a magnetic resonance method where an RF MTC pulse acts upon proton spins distributed in an object in the presence of a substantially uniform, steady longitudinal magnetic field and is configured for producing a flip angle of nominally 0° at the Larmor frequency of water protons while being effective at frequencies offset from the Larmor frequency of water protons for substantially saturating immobile proton spins and thereby inducing magnetization transfer contrast in the longitudinal magnetization of water proton spins, followed by an RF excitation pulse for producing transverse magnetization from the longitudinal magnetization of said spins, the improvement comprising that said RF MTC pulse is adjusted to produce a predetermined flip angle of nominally at least 90° at the Larmor frequency of fat bound proton spins.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predetermined flip angle is nominally 180° and wherein the predetermined flip angle produced has first order immunity to local variation within said object in amplitude of said steady magnetic field and in amplitude of said RF MTC pulse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said RF MTC pulse has a substantially constant amplitude over its duration and a phase which is alternated between 0° and 180°.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the phase of the RF MTC pulse is alternated in a manner such that said RF MTC pulse comprises a double binomial sequence of sub-pulses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said double binomial sequence is 1-2-1-1-2-1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the phase of the RF MTC pulse is alternated in a manner that said RF MTC pulse comprises a binomial sequence of sub-pulses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said RF MTC pulse has a substantially constant amplitude over its duration and a phase which is alternated between 0° and 180°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the phase of the RF MTC pulse is alternated in a manner such that said RF MTC pulse comprises a double binomial sequence of sub-pulses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said double binomial sequence is 1-2-1-1-2-1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the phase of the RF MTC pulse is alternated in a manner that said RF MTC pulse comprises a binomial sequence of sub-pulses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said RF MTC pulse comprises a double binomial sequence of sub-pulses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said double binomial sequence is 1-2-1-1-2-1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said RF MTC pulse comprises a double binomial sequence of sub-pulses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said RF MTC pulse comprises a double binomial sequence of sub-pulses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said double binomial sequence is 1-2-1-1-2-1.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said RF MTC pulse comprises a double binomial sequence of sub-pulses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a magnetic resonance apparatus comprising means for producing a substantially uniform, steady longitudinal magnetic field in an examination zone; means for forming and transmitting an RF MTC pulse into the examination zone which is configured for producing a flip angle of nominally 0° at the Larmor frequency of water protons while being effective at frequencies offset from the Larmor frequency of water protons for substantially saturating immobile proton spins and thereby inducing magnetization transfer contrast in the longitudinal magnetization of water proton spins, followed by an RF excitation pulse for producing transverse magnetization from the longitudinal magnetization of said spins, wherein said RF MTC pulse is adjusted to produce a predetermined flip angle of nominally at least 90° at the Larmor frequency of fat bound proton spins.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
128 words
In a magnetic resonance apparatus comprising means for producing a substantially uniform, steady longitudinal magnetic field in an examination zone; means for forming and transmitting an RF MTC pulse into the examination zone which is configured for producing a flip angle of nominally 0° at the Larmor frequency of water protons while being effective at frequencies offset from the Larmor frequency of water protons for substantially saturating immobile proton spins and thereby inducing magnetization transfer contrast in the longitudinal magnetization of water proton spins, followed by an RF excitation pulse for producing transverse magnetization from the longitudinal magnetization of said spins, wherein said RF MTC pulse is adjusted to produce a predetermined flip angle of nominally at least 90° at the Larmor frequency of fat bound proton spins.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said predetermined flip angle is nominally 180° and wherein the predetermined flip angle produced has first order immunity to local variation within said object in amplitude of said steady magnetic field and in amplitude of said RF MTC pulse.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said RF MTC pulse has a substantially constant amplitude over its duration and a phase which is alternated between 0° and 180°.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the phase of the RF MTC pulse is alternated in a manner such that said RF MTC pulse comprises a double binomial sequence of sub-pulses.