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Method and apparatus for conducting an fMRI-BOLD experiment with multiple stimulation functions
Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
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Filing: 2001-05-18
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Granted: 2003-03-25
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Expires: 2021-05-18
Abstract
Abstract In a method and an apparatus for the time-resolved and location-resolved representation of functional brain activities of a living subject by nuclear magnetic resonance, physiological processes are stimulated with at least two non-correlating stimulation functions that are orthogonal to one another. A cross correlation of the nuclear magnetic resonance signals with the stimulation functions or with a correlation function that is orthogonal to the stimulation functions serves the purpose of detecting activity changes in the life form, which are based on the respective stimulation function, or, for detecting activity changes that are based on nonlinear coupling of the at least two stimulation functions.
Inventors
- 👤 Oliver Heid
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:15
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/4806
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for time-resolved and location-resolved representation of functional brain activities of a living subject by nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising the steps: stimulating physiological processes in a living subject with at least two non-correlating stimulation functions which are orthogonal to one another; subjecting said living subject to a pulse sequence for exciting nuclear magnetic resonance signals in, and for reading said nuclear magnetic resonance signals from, said living subject to generate time-resolved and location-resolved nuclear magnetic resonance signals; cross correlating said nuclear magnetic resonance signals with a correlation function that is orthogonal to said stimulation functions; and varying said correlation function to detect activity changes in said living subject which arise due to non-linear coupling of said at least two non-correlating stimulation functions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for time-resolved and location-resolved representation of functional brain activities of a living subject by nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising the steps: stimulating physiological processes in a living subject with at least two non-correlating stimulation functions which are orthogonal to one another; subjecting said living subject to a pulse sequence for exciting nuclear magnetic resonance signals in, and for reading said nuclear magnetic resonance signals from, said living subject to generate time-resolved and location-resolved nuclear magnetic resonance signals; cross correlating said nuclear magnetic resonance signals with a correlation function that is orthogonal to said stimulation functions; and varying said correlation function to detect activity changes in said living subject which arise due to non-linear coupling of said at least two non-correlating stimulation functions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising employing stimulation functions, as said at least two non-correlating stimulation functions, which are nonperiodic and which have a minimum of secondary maxima in their auto correlation function.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising employing binary codes as said at least two non-correlating stimulation functions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising employing stimulation functions, as said at least two non-correlating stimulation functions, which prescribe instructions for respective actions by said living subject.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising detecting said activity changes in said living subject using statistical methods.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the step of varying said correlation function comprises varying said correlation function using a shift register.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising employing a pulse sequence for exciting and reading out said nuclear magnetic resonance signals which is independent of said stimulation functions.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for time-resolved and location-resolved representation of functional brain activities of a living subject by nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising the steps: stimulating physiological processes in a living subject with at least two non-correlating stimulation functions which are orthogonal to one another; subjecting said living subject to a pulse sequence for exciting nuclear magnetic resonance signals in, and for reading said nuclear magnetic resonance signals from, said living subject to generate time-resolved and location-resolved nuclear magnetic resonance signals; and cross correlating said nuclear magnetic resonance signals with said stimulation functions to detect activity changes in said living subject which are based on the respective stimulation functions.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for time-resolved and location-resolved representation of functional brain activities of a living subject by nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising the steps: stimulating physiological processes in a living subject with at least two non-correlating stimulation functions which are orthogonal to one another; subjecting said living subject to a pulse sequence for exciting nuclear magnetic resonance signals in, and for reading said nuclear magnetic resonance signals from, said living subject to generate time-resolved and location-resolved nuclear magnetic resonance signals; and cross correlating said nuclear magnetic resonance signals with said stimulation functions to detect activity changes in said living subject which are based on the respective stimulation functions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 , comprising employing stimulation functions, as said at least two non-correlating stimulation functions, which are nonperiodic and which have a minimum of secondary maxima in their auto correlation function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 , comprising employing binary codes as said at least two non-correlating stimulation functions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 , comprising employing stimulation functions, as said at least two non-correlating stimulation functions, which prescribe instructions for respective actions by said living subject.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 , comprising employing a pulse sequence for exciting and reading out said nuclear magnetic resonance signals which is independent of said stimulation functions.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for time-resolved and location-resolved representation of functional brain activities of a living subject by nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising: a function generator which produces at least two non-correlating stimulation functions which are orthogonal to one another; said stimulation functions being adapted for stimulating physiological processes in a living subject; a magnetic resonance apparatus for obtaining time-resolved and location-resolved nuclear magnetic resonance signals from the living subject while the living subject is being stimulated by said stimulation functions; a correlation arithmetic unit, supplied with said nuclear magnetic resonance signals, for cross-correlating said nuclear magnetic resonance signals with a correlation function that is orthogonal to the respective stimulation functions, to produce an output; a control unit connected to said correlation arithmetic unit for varying said correlation function; and an evaluation unit supplied with said output from said correlation arithmetic unit for detecting activity changes in the living subject which are based on non-linear coupling of said at least two stimulation functions.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for time-resolved and location-resolved representation of functional brain activities of a living subject by nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising: a function generator which produces at least two non-correlating stimulation functions which are orthogonal to one another; said stimulation functions being adapted for stimulating physiological processes in a living subject; a magnetic resonance apparatus for obtaining time-resolved and location-resolved nuclear magnetic resonance signals from the living subject while the living subject is being stimulated by said stimulation functions; a correlation arithmetic unit, supplied with said nuclear magnetic resonance signals, for cross-correlating said nuclear magnetic resonance signals with a correlation function that is orthogonal to the respective stimulation functions, to produce an output; a control unit connected to said correlation arithmetic unit for varying said correlation function; and an evaluation unit supplied with said output from said correlation arithmetic unit for detecting activity changes in the living subject which are based on non-linear coupling of said at least two stimulation functions.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said function generator generates stimulation functions which are nonperiodic and which have a minimum of secondary maxima in their auto correlation function.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said function generator generates binary codes as said stimulation functions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the function generator generates stimulation functions which prescribe instructions for actions by said living subject.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said evaluation device employs statistical methods to detect said activity changes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said evaluation device and said correlation arithmetic unit comprise a process computer for said magnetic resonance apparatus.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said evaluation device and said correlation arithmetic unit comprise a personal computer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said function generator generates stimulation functions, as said at least two non-correlating stimulation functions, which are independent of said pulse sequence.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for time-resolved and location-resolved representation of functional brain activities of a living subject by nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising: a function generator for generating at least two non-correlating stimulation functions which are orthogonal to one another, said stimulation functions being adapted for respectively stimulating physiological processes in a living subject; a magnetic resonance apparatus for generating time-resolved and location-resolved nuclear magnetic resonance signals from the living subject while said living subject is being stimulated by said stimulation functions; a correlation arithmetic unit supplied with said nuclear magnetic resonance signals and said stimulation functions for cross-correlating said nuclear magnetic resonance signals with said stimulation functions, to produce an output; and an evaluation unit supplied with said output from said correlating arithmetic unit for detecting activity changes in said living subject which are based on the respective stimulation functions.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for time-resolved and location-resolved representation of functional brain activities of a living subject by nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising: a function generator for generating at least two non-correlating stimulation functions which are orthogonal to one another, said stimulation functions being adapted for respectively stimulating physiological processes in a living subject; a magnetic resonance apparatus for generating time-resolved and location-resolved nuclear magnetic resonance signals from the living subject while said living subject is being stimulated by said stimulation functions; a correlation arithmetic unit supplied with said nuclear magnetic resonance signals and said stimulation functions for cross-correlating said nuclear magnetic resonance signals with said stimulation functions, to produce an output; and an evaluation unit supplied with said output from said correlating arithmetic unit for detecting activity changes in said living subject which are based on the respective stimulation functions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said function generator generates stimulation functions which are nonperiodic and which have a minimum of secondary maxima in their auto correlation function.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said function generator generates binary codes as said stimulation functions.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said function generator generates stimulation functions which prescribe instructions for actions by the living subject.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 , wherein said function generator generates stimulation functions, as said at least two non-correlating stimulation functions, which are independent of said pulse sequence.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-24 | 2006-09-23 | 2007-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-24 | 2010-09-23 | 2011-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-24 | 2014-09-23 | 2015-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |