US6636038B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for controlling a pulse sequence in a magnetic resonance tomography system
Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
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Filing: 2000-08-28
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Granted: 2003-10-21
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Expires: 2020-08-28
Abstract
Abstract In a method for the control of the pulse sequence for a nuclear magnetic resonance tomography system and apparatus for the implementation of the method, the calculation of a control dataset is undertaken during the running time of the sequence, so that the sequence execution can be non-deterministically controlled with minimum dwell time with optimum utilization of the gradient system.
Inventors
- 👤 Oliver Heid
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 23:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for controlling a pulse sequence of a magnetic resonant system, comprising the steps of: in a magnetic resonant imaging system, prescribing a sequence program as a k-space structure; and generating a control dataset in a physical domain as a pulse sequence for generating magnetic field gradients, emitting radio-frequency pulses, and sampling nuclear magnetic resonant signals from said sequence program prescribed as said k-space structure during an execution time of said pulse sequence.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for controlling a pulse sequence of a magnetic resonant system, comprising the steps of: in a magnetic resonant imaging system, prescribing a sequence program as a k-space structure; and generating a control dataset in a physical domain as a pulse sequence for generating magnetic field gradients, emitting radio-frequency pulses, and sampling nuclear magnetic resonant signals from said sequence program prescribed as said k-space structure during an execution time of said pulse sequence.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising generating a gradient current time function as said control dataset.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising resolving said k-space structure into a sequence of specified time slices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 comprises identifying one of said time slices with a phase identifier which identifies a phase selected from the group consisting of a radio-frequency transmission phase, a radio-frequency reception phase, a warp phase, and a waiting phase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising identifying one of said time slices with a time identifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein one of said time slices comprises a k-space vector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 comprising said k-space vector in a logical coordinate system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 comprising transforming said k-space vector prescribed in said logical coordinate system into a physical coordinate system before calculating said control dataset.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein one of said time slices comprises at least one moment which is greater than or equal to a first order moment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 comprising prescribing said at least one moment in a logical coordinate system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 comprising transforming said moment prescribed in said logical coordinate system into a moment of a physical coordinate system before calculating said control dataset.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising calculating a portion of said control dataset from a selected one of said time slices and from a time slice immediately following said selected one of said time slices.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 comprising calculating said control dataset in real time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said selected one of said time slices comprises a warp phase, and calculating a gradient current time function for said at least one time slice from a gradient time integral which is predetermined for said at least one time slice and from gradient current amplitudes for a time slice selected from the group consisting of a preceding time slice and a following time slice in said sequence, said gradient time integral and said gradient current amplitudes are defined by k-space vectors for said time slices.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 comprising pre-distorting said gradient current time function.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a diagnostic magnetic resonant system having gradient coil sets operated by respective gradient amplifiers for emitting gradient magnetic fields, and a radio-frequency system including a radio-frequency transmission channel via which radio-frequency pulses are emitted and a radio-frequency reception channel via which magnetic resonant signals are received, the improvement comprising a controller for operating said gradient amplifiers and said radio-frequency system in a system sequence, said controller comprising a control computer which calculates a control data set for said gradient amplifiers and for said radio-frequency system during a running time of a pulse sequence from a pulse sequence program predetermined as a k-space structure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a diagnostic magnetic resonant system having gradient coil sets operated by respective gradient amplifiers for emitting gradient magnetic fields, and a radio-frequency system including a radio-frequency transmission channel via which radio-frequency pulses are emitted and a radio-frequency reception channel via which magnetic resonant signals are received, the improvement comprising a controller for operating said gradient amplifiers and said radio-frequency system in a system sequence, said controller comprising a control computer which calculates a control data set for said gradient amplifiers and for said radio-frequency system during a running time of a pulse sequence from a pulse sequence program predetermined as a k-space structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-10-20 | 2007-04-21 | 2007-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-10-20 | 2011-04-21 | 2011-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-10-20 | 2015-04-21 | 2015-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |