Method of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopic analysis and associated apparatus employing a loopless antenna

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 including employing a dipole antenna portion of said loopless antenna for receiving said magnetic resonance signals, and employing said another portion of said coaxial cable as a connection portion for emitting said responsive output signals.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 including employing said antenna portion having a length of about 3 cm to about 20 cm, and having a maximum width of about 0.3 mm to about 1.0 cm.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 including employing said processing means to convert said responsive output signals into image information, and employing said display means to receive and display said image information.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 including including in said responsive output signals spatially localized chemical shift information, employing said processing means to convert said chemical shift information into chemical shift spectra, and employing said display means to receive and display said chemical shift spectra.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 including employing an impedance matching circuit electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said processing means to enhance radio frequency power transfer and magnetic resonance signal-to-noise ratio from said loopless antenna to said processing means.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 including employing said coaxial cable as a first coaxial cable, employing a second coaxial cable electrically interposed between said processing means and said impedance matching circuit, and said impedance matching circuit matching the impedance of said loopless antenna to the impedance of said second coaxial cable.

Claim 9

The method of claim 7 including employing said coaxial cable with an inner conductor and an outer shield, and employing a matching capacitor in said impedance matching circuit electrically interposed between said inner conductor and said outer shield.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8 including employing diode means electrically interposed between said impedance matching circuit and said processing means, and employing a blocking capacitor in said impedance matching circuit electrically interposed between said diode means and said loopless antenna.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9 including employing said blocking capacitor electrically interposed between said diode means and said matching capacitor.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 including employing said responsive output signals as first responsive output signals, employing at least one receiver coil with said loopless antenna, said receiver coil receiving said magnetic resonance signals and emitting second responsive output signals, and employing said processing means for receiving and processing said first and second responsive output signals and combining them into said magnetic resonance information.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 including employing said antenna portion with a maximum width of about 0.3 mm to about 1.0 cm.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 including employing said loopless antenna as an invasive probe, and delivering said invasive probe into a blood vessel of a patient.

Claim 15

The method of claim 13 including inserting said invasive probe within blood vessels to acquire magnetic resonance image information thereof.

Claim 16

The method of claim 13 including inserting said invasive probe within blood vessels to acquire magnetic resonance chemical shift spectra or magnetic resonance image information thereof.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 including employing said method generally simultaneous with an interventional procedure on the patient.

Claim 18

The method of claim 1 including employing said loopless antenna in vivo in a patient.

Claim 19

The method of claim 17 including employing said loopless antenna in a human being.

Claim 20

The method of claim 1 including employing said loopless antenna as a magnetic resonance biopsy needle.

Claim 21

The method of claim 1 including employing a patient as said specimen, and performing generally simultaneously with said magnetic resonance analysis a medical procedure on said patient.

Claim 22

The method of claim 1 including employing said loopless antenna in multislice imaging of said specimen without requiring movement of said loopless antenna.

Claim 23

The method of claim 1 including employing computer means as said processing means.

Claim 24

The method of claim 1 including employing said method in vitro on a specimen which has been removed from a patient.

Claim 25

The method of claim 1 including employing said method substantially simultaneously with surgical procedures on a patient.

Claim 26

The method of claim 1 including employing said loopless antenna as a radio frequency pulse transmitting source in addition to employment as a receiver antenna.

Claim 27

The method of claim 1 including employing said loopless antenna as an invasive probe, and introducing said invasive probe into said specimen to conduct internal magnetic resonance analysis thereof.

Claim 28

The method of claim 1 including employing said loopless antenna as an invasive probe, and introducing said invasive probe into said specimen to conduct internal magnetic resonance analysis thereof.

Claim 29

The method of claim 1 including electrically connecting a magnetic resonance biopsy needle to said portion of said inner conductor.

Claim 30

The method of claim 1 including said antenna portion and said coaxial cable having a combined length of up to about 2 m.

Claim 35

The method of claim 31 including employing said portion of said outer shield operatively associated with a first pole of said loopless antenna, and employing said portion of said inner conductor operatively associated with a second pole of said loopless antenna.

Claim 36

The method of claim 32 including employing balancing transformer means operatively associated with said portion of said outer shield.

Claim 37

The method of claim 33 including delivering said antenna into a blood vessel, and employing an insulator in said balancing transformer means with a dielectric constant about equal to a dielectric constant of blood in said blood vessel.

Claim 40

The method of claim 35 including employing said antenna with a length of up to about 2 m.

Claim 41

Magnetic resonance analysis apparatus for a specimen, said apparatus comprising magnetic field generating means for establishing a main magnetic field on said specimen, magnetic field gradient generating means for establishing gradients in said main magnetic field, radio frequency signal generating means for emitting pulsed radio frequency signals to at least portions of said specimen disposed within said main magnetic field, a loopless antenna assembly comprising a coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor, with a portion of said outer shield and a portion of said inner conductor of said coaxial cable forming an antenna portion of said loopless antenna assembly at least for receiving signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals, and with another portion of said coaxial cable for emitting responsive output signals, processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals from said loopless antenna assembly and creating magnetic resonance information related thereto, and display means for displaying said magnetic resonance information received from said processing means as an image or as chemical shift spectra.

Claim 42

Magnetic resonance analysis apparatus for a specimen, said apparatus comprising magnetic field generating means for establishing a main magnetic field on said specimen, magnetic field gradient generating means for establishing gradients in said main magnetic field, radio frequency signal generating means for emitting pulsed radio frequency signals to at least portions of said specimen disposed within said main magnetic field, a loopless antenna assembly comprising a coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor, with a portion of said outer shield and a portion of said inner conductor of said coaxial cable forming an antenna portion of said loopless antenna assembly at least for receiving signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals, and with another portion of said coaxial cable for emitting responsive output signals, processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals from said loopless antenna assembly and creating magnetic resonance information related thereto, and display means for displaying said magnetic resonance information received from said processing means as an image or as chemical shift spectra.

Claim 43

The apparatus of claim 37 including said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna.

Claim 44

The apparatus of claim 38 including said dipole antenna is inserted in said specimen, and said magnetic field gradient generating means generating a magnetic field gradient over a region of interest of said specimen in order to generate spatially resolved chemical shift spectra in the region of interest in said specimen.

Claim 45

The apparatus of claim 37 including said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna having an external diameter structured to be received within a blood vessel of a patient, said processing means converting said responsive output signals into magnetic resonance spectroscopic information or magnetic resonance image information, and said display means displaying said magnetic resonance spectroscopic information or said magnetic resonance image information in order to image said blood vessel.

Claim 46

The apparatus of claim 37 including said antenna portion is flexible, whereby the same may assume a tortuous path upon insertion into said specimen.

Claim 47

The apparatus of claim 37 including said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna, said antenna portion is a dipole antenna portion, said dipole antenna portion having a length of about 3 cm to about 20 cm, and said dipole antenna portion having a maximum width of about 0.3 mm to about 1.0 cm.

Claim 48

The apparatus of claim 37 including said antenna portion is structured to be received within a naturally occurring passageway in a human being.

Claim 49

The apparatus of claim 37 including said antenna portion is structured as an invasive probe and is introduced into said specimen to conduct internal magnetic resonance analysis thereof.

Claim 50

The apparatus of claim 37 including said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna, said antenna portion is a dipole antenna portion for receiving said signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals, and said coaxial cable having a connection portion for emitting said responsive output signals.

Claim 51

The apparatus of claim 37 including said processing means including impedance matching means electrically interposed between said coaxial cable and said processing means for enhancing radio frequency power transfer and magnetic resonance signal-to-noise ratio from said antenna portion to said processing means.

Claim 52

The apparatus of claim 46 including said coaxial cable means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said impedance matching means.

Claim 53

The apparatus of claim 46 including said loopless antenna and said coaxial cable means each having an external diameter structured to be received within at least one of a pancreatic duct, a bile duct, a urethra, and a ureter of a patient.

Claim 54

The apparatus of claim 46 including said specimen is a blood vessel of a patient, said antenna portion is positionable within said blood vessel, and said impedance matching means is positionable external to said blood vessel.

Claim 55

The apparatus of claim 49 including said antenna portion having a length of about 3 cm to about 20 cm, and a maximum width of about 0.3 mm to about 1.0 cm.

Claim 56

The apparatus of claim 37 including said antenna portion having a length which facilitates multislice imaging without moving said antenna portion.

Claim 57

The apparatus of claim 37 including said radio frequency signal generating means also having means for sourcing radio frequency pulses to said antenna portion, and said antenna portion also for transmitting said radio frequency pulses in order to excite magnetic resonance signals.

Claim 58

The apparatus of claim 37 including said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna structured as a biopsy needle.

Claim 59

The apparatus of claim 37 including said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna, and said dipole antenna having a length of about 3 cm to about 20 cm.

Claim 60

The apparatus of claim 37 including said outer shield having an outer surface, an inner surface, and balancing transformer means for impeding current flow on said outer surface without significantly impeding current flow on said inner surface.

Claim 61

The apparatus of claim 37 including said coaxial cable having a dielectric portion which electrically insulates said inner conductor from said outer shield, and a biopsy needle is electrically connected to said portion of said inner conductor and is electrically insulated from said outer shield by the dielectric portion.

Claim 62

Magnetic resonance analysis apparatus for a specimen, said apparatus comprising magnetic field generating means for establishing a main magnetic field on said specimen, magnetic field gradient generating means for establishing gradients in said main magnetic field, radio frequency signal generating means for emitting pulsed radio frequency signals to at least portions of said specimen disposed within said main magnetic field, antenna means having a loopless antenna at least for receiving signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals from said antenna means and creating magnetic resonance information related thereto, display means for displaying said magnetic resonance information received from said processing means as an image or as chemical shift spectra, said antenna means including impedance matching means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said processing means for enhancing radio frequency power transfer and magnetic resonance signal-to-noise ratio from said loopless antenna to said processing means, and said antenna means also including coaxial cable means for emitting said responsive output signals, with said coaxial cable means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said impedance matching means, said coaxial cable means having an outer shield and an inner conductor, said outer shield having a portion thereof operatively associated with said first pole of said dipole antenna, and said inner conductor having a portion thereof operatively associated with said second pole of said dipole antenna.

Claim 63

Magnetic resonance analysis apparatus for a specimen, said apparatus comprising magnetic field generating means for establishing a main magnetic field on said specimen, magnetic field gradient generating means for establishing gradients in said main magnetic field, radio frequency signal generating means for emitting pulsed radio frequency signals to at least portions of said specimen disposed within said main magnetic field, antenna means having a loopless antenna at least for receiving signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals from said antenna means and creating magnetic resonance information related thereto, display means for displaying said magnetic resonance information received from said processing means as an image or as chemical shift spectra, said antenna means including impedance matching means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said processing means for enhancing radio frequency power transfer and magnetic resonance signal-to-noise ratio from said loopless antenna to said processing means, and said antenna means also including coaxial cable means for emitting said responsive output signals, with said coaxial cable means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said impedance matching means, said coaxial cable means having an outer shield and an inner conductor, said outer shield having a portion thereof operatively associated with said first pole of said dipole antenna, and said inner conductor having a portion thereof operatively associated with said second pole of said dipole antenna.

Claim 64

The apparatus of claim 57 including said portion of said outer shield operatively associated with said first pole having an inner primary shield and an outer secondary shield, with each of said inner primary shield and said outer secondary shield being coaxial with said inner conductor, and said coaxial cable means also having an insulator between said inner primary shield and said outer secondary shield, with said insulator, said inner primary shield and said outer secondary shield forming a balancing transformer means operatively associated with said first pole.

Claim 65

The apparatus of claim 58 including said coaxial cable means having an external diameter structured to be received within a blood vessel of a patient, and said balancing transformer means having an insulator with a dielectric constant about equal to a dielectric constant of blood in said blood vessel.

Claim 66

Magnetic resonance analysis apparatus for a specimen, said apparatus comprising magnetic field generating means for establishing a main magnetic field on said specimen, magnetic field gradient generating means for establishing gradients in said main magnetic field, radio frequency signal generating means for emitting pulsed radio frequency signals to at least portions of said specimen disposed within said main magnetic field, antenna means having a loopless antenna at least for receiving signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, said antenna means also including coaxial cable means for emitting said responsive output signals, said coaxial cable means having an outer shield, and said outer shield having balancing transformer means operatively associated with said first pole, processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals from said antenna means and creating magnetic resonance information related thereto, and display means for displaying said magnetic resonance information received from said processing means as an image or as chemical shift spectra.

Claim 67

Magnetic resonance analysis apparatus for a specimen, said apparatus comprising magnetic field generating means for establishing a main magnetic field on said specimen, magnetic field gradient generating means for establishing gradients in said main magnetic field, radio frequency signal generating means for emitting pulsed radio frequency signals to at least portions of said specimen disposed within said main magnetic field, antenna means having a loopless antenna at least for receiving signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, said antenna means also including coaxial cable means for emitting said responsive output signals, said coaxial cable means having an outer shield, and said outer shield having balancing transformer means operatively associated with said first pole, processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals from said antenna means and creating magnetic resonance information related thereto, and display means for displaying said magnetic resonance information received from said processing means as an image or as chemical shift spectra.

Claim 68

Magnetic resonance analysis apparatus for a specimen, said apparatus comprising magnetic field generating means for establishing a main magnetic field on said specimen, magnetic field gradient generating means for establishing gradients in said main magnetic field, radio frequency signal generating means for emitting pulsed radio frequency signals to at least portions of said specimen disposed within said main magnetic field, antenna means having a loopless antenna at least for receiving signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals from said antenna means and creating magnetic resonance information related thereto, display means for displaying said magnetic resonance information received from said processing means as an image or as chemical shift spectra, said antenna means including impedance matching means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said processing means for enhancing radio frequency power transfer and magnetic resonance signal-to-noise ratio from said loopless antenna to said processing means, and said antenna means also including coaxial cable means for emitting said responsive output signals, with said coaxial cable means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said impedance matching means, said coaxial cable means having an outer shield and an inner conductor, with said outer shield as the first pole of said loopless antenna and said inner conductor as the second pole of said loopless antenna.

Claim 69

Magnetic resonance analysis apparatus for a specimen, said apparatus comprising magnetic field generating means for establishing a main magnetic field on said specimen, magnetic field gradient generating means for establishing gradients in said main magnetic field, radio frequency signal generating means for emitting pulsed radio frequency signals to at least portions of said specimen disposed within said main magnetic field, antenna means having a loopless antenna at least for receiving signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals from said antenna means and creating magnetic resonance information related thereto, display means for displaying said magnetic resonance information received from said processing means as an image or as chemical shift spectra, said antenna means including impedance matching means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said processing means for enhancing radio frequency power transfer and magnetic resonance signal-to-noise ratio from said loopless antenna to said processing means, and said antenna means also including coaxial cable means for emitting said responsive output signals, with said coaxial cable means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said impedance matching means, said coaxial cable means having an outer shield and an inner conductor, with said outer shield as the first pole of said loopless antenna and said inner conductor as the second pole of said loopless antenna.

Claim 70

The apparatus of claim 61 including said dipole antenna and said coaxial cable means having a length of up to about 2 m.

Claim 71

A magnetic resonance loopless antenna assembly comprising a coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor, with a portion of said outer shield and a portion of said inner conductor forming an antenna portion of said loopless antenna assembly, said antenna portion at least for receiving magnetic resonance signals emitted from a specimen, with another portion of said coaxial cable for emitting responsive output signals.

Claim 72

A magnetic resonance loopless antenna assembly comprising a coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor, with a portion of said outer shield and a portion of said inner conductor forming an antenna portion of said loopless antenna assembly, said antenna portion at least for receiving magnetic resonance signals emitted from a specimen, with another portion of said coaxial cable for emitting responsive output signals.

Claim 73

The loopless antenna assembly of claim 63 including said antenna portion is resiliently flexible.

Claim 74

The loopless antenna assembly of claim 63 including said antenna portion and said coaxial cable having a combined length of up to about 2 m.

Claim 75

The loopless antenna assembly of claim 63 including said antenna portion has a cylindrical conductor electrically interconnected with said portion of said inner conductor.

Claim 76

The loopless antenna assembly of claim 63 including said portion of said outer shield having an inner primary shield and an outer secondary shield, with each of said inner primary shield and said outer secondary shield being coaxial with said inner conductor, and said coaxial cable also having an electrical insulator between said inner primary shield and said outer secondary shield, with said insulator, said inner primary shield and said outer secondary shield forming balancing transformer means.

Claim 77

The loopless antenna assembly of claim 67 including said coaxial cable having an external diameter structured to be received within a blood vessel of a patient, and said insulator having a dielectric constant about equal to a dielectric constant of blood in said blood vessel.

Claim 78

A magnetic resonance antenna assembly comprising an antenna having loopless antenna means at least for receiving magnetic resonance signals emitted from a specimen and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna means is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, said antenna also having a coaxial cable, with said coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor for emitting said responsive output signals, said outer shield having a portion thereof operatively associated with said first pole, and said inner conductor having a portion thereof operatively associated with said second pole.

Claim 79

A magnetic resonance antenna assembly comprising an antenna having loopless antenna means at least for receiving magnetic resonance signals emitted from a specimen and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna means is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, said antenna also having a coaxial cable, with said coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor for emitting said responsive output signals, said outer shield having a portion thereof operatively associated with said first pole, and said inner conductor having a portion thereof operatively associated with said second pole.

Claim 80

The antenna assembly of claim 69 including said portion of said outer shield operatively associated with said first pole having an inner primary shield and an outer secondary shield, with each of said inner primary shield and said outer secondary shield being coaxial with said inner conductor, and said coaxial cable also having an insulator between said inner primary shield and said outer secondary shield, with said insulator, said inner primary shield and said outer secondary shield forming a balancing transformer means operatively associated with said first pole.

Claim 81

The antenna assembly of claim 70 including said coaxial cable having an external diameter structured to be received within a blood vessel of a patient, and said insulator having a dielectric constant about equal to a dielectric constant of blood in said blood vessel.

Claim 82

A magnetic resonance antenna assembly comprising an antenna having loopless antenna means at least for receiving magnetic resonance signals emitted from a specimen and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna means is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, said antenna also having a coaxial cable, with said coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor for emitting said responsive output signals, with said outer shield as the first pole of said loopless antenna means and said inner conductor as the second pole of said loopless antenna means.

Claim 83

A magnetic resonance antenna assembly comprising an antenna having loopless antenna means at least for receiving magnetic resonance signals emitted from a specimen and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna means is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, said antenna also having a coaxial cable, with said coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor for emitting said responsive output signals, with said outer shield as the first pole of said loopless antenna means and said inner conductor as the second pole of said loopless antenna means.

Claim 84

The antenna assembly of claim 72 including said antenna having a length of up to about 2 m.