US5709208A — Method and system for multidimensional localizati…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 89 words

A method of prelocalizing magnetic resonance within a volume of interest comprising the steps of: applying a first suppression pulse sequence; and applying, after said first suppression pulse sequence, a stimulated echo pulse sequence to induce a stimulated echo in said volume of interest, wherein said stimulated echo pulse sequence includes a second suppression pulse sequence during a mixing time period of said stimulated echo pulse sequence, said first and second suppression pulse sequences each including a substantially identical spatial suppression pulse sequence to define said volume of interest.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 89 words

A method of prelocalizing magnetic resonance within a volume of interest comprising the steps of: applying a first suppression pulse sequence; and applying, after said first suppression pulse sequence, a stimulated echo pulse sequence to induce a stimulated echo in said volume of interest, wherein said stimulated echo pulse sequence includes a second suppression pulse sequence during a mixing time period of said stimulated echo pulse sequence, said first and second suppression pulse sequences each including a substantially identical spatial suppression pulse sequence to define said volume of interest.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein said stimulated echo pulse sequence induces a stimulated echo in a first slice, and said first and second suppression pulse sequence each selects and saturates a plurality of slices which are juxtaposed with and non-parallel to said first slice.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of slices are orthogonal to said first slice.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said first and second suppression pulse sequence further selects and saturates a slice parallel to, and non-coplanar with, said first slice.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 61 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein said stimulated echo pulse sequence includes a series of 90° RF pulses, each 90° RF pulse of said series being applied during the application of a respective gradient pulse, thereby providing slice selection, and wherein a substantially identical slice is selected by each combination of said 90° RF pulse and said respective gradient pulse.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein said first suppression pulse sequence includes a chemically selective saturation signal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein said second suppression pulse sequence includes a chemically selective saturation signal.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method according to claim 1, further comprising after said step of applying a stimulated echo pulse sequence, the step of applying an image data acquisition sequence.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 129 words

The method according to claim 8, wherein said image data acquisition sequence comprises an oversampled echo-planar pulse sequence in a predetermined direction, thereby said step of applying an image data acquisition sequence comprising the steps of: applying a readout magnetic field gradient signal in a first direction, said readout magnetic field gradient signal comprising a plurality of magnetic field gradient reversals to induce a plurality of gradient echo signals corresponding to said stimulated echo, the spacing of which constitutes a spectral width, said magnetic field gradient reversals applied at a frequency which is an integer multiple of a frequency required to provide a desired spectral width which is defined by the spacing of the echoes which is determined as the minimum spacing; and acquiring said plurality of echo signals.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein said substantially identical spatial suppression pulse sequence applied during said first suppression pulse sequence employs broader band RF pulses than said substantially identical spatial suppression pulse sequence applied during said second suppression pulse sequence.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method according to claim 1, wherein said stimulated echo pulse sequence includes: a series of RF pulses to induce a stimulated echo within said volume of interest; and at least one magnetic gradient pulse, each being applied with application of a distinct RF pulse of said series of RF pulses to provide selection of a common slice within said volume of interest.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 115 words

A method of prelocalizing magnetic resonance within a volume of interest comprising the steps of: applying a presuppression sequence to saturate volumes outside the volume of interest, said presuppression sequence including a spatial presuppression sequence; applying a series of three 90° RF pulses to induce a stimulated echo within said volume of interest; applying a suppression sequence during an interval between second and third of said series of three 90° RF pulses to saturate volumes outside the volume of interest, said suppression sequence including a spatial suppression sequence substantially identical to said spatial presuppression sequence, and wherein said presuppression sequence and said suppression sequence define the volume of interest in at least two spatial dimensions.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 115 words

A method of prelocalizing magnetic resonance within a volume of interest comprising the steps of: applying a presuppression sequence to saturate volumes outside the volume of interest, said presuppression sequence including a spatial presuppression sequence; applying a series of three 90° RF pulses to induce a stimulated echo within said volume of interest; applying a suppression sequence during an interval between second and third of said series of three 90° RF pulses to saturate volumes outside the volume of interest, said suppression sequence including a spatial suppression sequence substantially identical to said spatial presuppression sequence, and wherein said presuppression sequence and said suppression sequence define the volume of interest in at least two spatial dimensions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of applying a respective gradient pulse during the application of at least one 90° RF pulse of said three 90° RF pulses, thereby providing slice selection.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 68 words

The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of applying a respective series of three gradient pulses during the application of said series of three 90° RF pulses, each combination of one 90° RF pulse of said series of three 90° RF pulses and one gradient pulse of said series of three gradient pulses providing selection of a substantially identical slice within said volume of interest.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 94 words

A magnetic resonance system for prelocalizing magnetic resonance within a volume of interest, said system comprising: means for applying a first suppression pulse sequence; and means for applying, after said first suppression pulse sequence, a stimulated echo pulse sequence to induce a stimulated echo in said volume of interest, wherein said stimulated echo pulse sequence includes a second suppression pulse sequence during a mixing time period of said stimulated echo pulse sequence, said first and second suppression pulse sequences each including a substantially identical spatial suppression pulse sequence to define said volume of interest.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 94 words

A magnetic resonance system for prelocalizing magnetic resonance within a volume of interest, said system comprising: means for applying a first suppression pulse sequence; and means for applying, after said first suppression pulse sequence, a stimulated echo pulse sequence to induce a stimulated echo in said volume of interest, wherein said stimulated echo pulse sequence includes a second suppression pulse sequence during a mixing time period of said stimulated echo pulse sequence, said first and second suppression pulse sequences each including a substantially identical spatial suppression pulse sequence to define said volume of interest.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 141 words

A method of prelocalizing magnetic resonance within a volume of interest comprising the steps of: applying a first spatial suppression sequence to saturate volumes outside the volume of interest; applying, after said first spatial suppression sequence, a series of RF pulses to induce a stimulated echo within said volume of interest; applying at least one magnetic gradient pulse, each of said at least one magnetic gradient pulse being applied with application of a distinct RF pulse of said series of RF pulses to provide selection of a common slice within said volume of interest; applying a second spatial suppression sequence during a mixing time interval of said series of RF pulses to saturate volumes outside the volume of interest, wherein said first and second suppression sequences are substantially identical and define the volume of interest in at least two spatial dimensions.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 141 words

A method of prelocalizing magnetic resonance within a volume of interest comprising the steps of: applying a first spatial suppression sequence to saturate volumes outside the volume of interest; applying, after said first spatial suppression sequence, a series of RF pulses to induce a stimulated echo within said volume of interest; applying at least one magnetic gradient pulse, each of said at least one magnetic gradient pulse being applied with application of a distinct RF pulse of said series of RF pulses to provide selection of a common slice within said volume of interest; applying a second spatial suppression sequence during a mixing time interval of said series of RF pulses to saturate volumes outside the volume of interest, wherein said first and second suppression sequences are substantially identical and define the volume of interest in at least two spatial dimensions.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method according to claim 16, wherein said at least one magnetic gradient pulse is a series of magnetic gradient pulses equal in number to RF pulses in said series of RF pulses.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 64 words

The method according to claim 16, wherein said series of RF pulses is a series of three 90° RF pulses, and said the mixing time interval corresponds to the time interval between a second RF pulse and a third RF pulse of said three 90° RF pulses, said second and third RF pulses sequentially following a first one of said three 90° RF pulses.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method according to claim 18, wherein said at least one magnetic gradient pulse is a series of three magnetic gradient pulses, thereby being respectively applied with said series of three 90° RF pulses.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of applying a chemically selective saturation signal prior to said step of applying a series of RF pulses.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of applying a chemically selective saturation signal during the mixing time interval.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-01-19	2001-07-21	2002-01-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-01-19	2005-07-21	2006-01-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-01-19	2009-07-21	2010-01-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for multidimensional localization and for rapid magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag