US7834625B2
Active / In Force
US
⏱️ 1.2 years remaining
Split-echo with fractional temporal-interpolation
Assignee: Allegheny-Singer Research Institute
•
Filing: 2008-01-03
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Granted: 2010-11-16
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Expires: 2028-01-03
Abstract
Abstract An MRI to form an image of a patient includes at least one emitting coil which produces RF pulses and gradients. The MRI includes a controller in communication with the emitting coil for obtaining a steady-state image of the patient, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, and for causing the emitting coil to produce the RF pulses without interruption during the time repetition interval. The MRI includes at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which receives the RF pulses and provides the RF pulses to the controller for the controller to obtain the image. A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium to form an image of a patient with an MRI.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Doyle
- 👤 Robert Biederman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/05; A61B5/055; G; G01; G01R; G01R33/00; G01R33/20; G01R33/44; G01R33/48; G01R33/54; G01R33/56; G01R33/561; G01R33/5613; G01R33/5614
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
An MRI to form an image of a patient comprising: at least one emitting coil which produces gradients; a controller in communication with the emitting coil for obtaining a steady-state image of the patient, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, the controller causes the gradients to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which receives an echo signal of the three specific asymmetric regions and provides the echo signal gradients to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
An MRI to form an image of a patient comprising: at least one emitting coil which produces gradients; a controller in communication with the emitting coil for obtaining a steady-state image of the patient, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, the controller causes the gradients to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which receives an echo signal of the three specific asymmetric regions and provides the echo signal gradients to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An MRI as described in Claim 1 wherein the controller performs a Fourier transform on the composite matrix.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An MRI as described in claim 2 wherein the controller causes the receiving coil to receive an echo signal split into an early, middle and late segment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An MRI as described in claim 3 wherein a three lobe gradient produced by the imaging coil is used for the middle segment, and a two lobe gradient is used for the early and late segments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An MRI as described in claim 4 wherein the early, middle and late segments are about 25%, 50% and 25% respectively, of the echo signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An MRI as described in claim 5 wherein the late echo segment has a reversal of polarity compared with the early echo segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An MRI as described in claim 6 wherein the early and late echo segments are traversed twice in the time repetition interval with the emitting coil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
An MRI as described in claim 7 wherein a phase encoding gradient lobe is applied with the emitting coil between the early and late segments to access a separate line in K space when the early and late segments are traversed the second time.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
187 words
A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient's heart with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmeteric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
187 words
A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient's heart with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmeteric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as described in Claim 9 including the step of performing a Fourier transform on the composite matrix with the controller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as described in claim 10 including the step of causing the receiving coil with the controller to receive an echo signal split into an early, middle and late segment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as described in claim 11 including the step of producing by the imaging coil a three lobe gradient for the middle segment, and a two lobe gradient for the early and late segments.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as described in claim 12 wherein the early, middle and late segments are about 25%, 50% and 25%, respectively, of the echo signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as described in claim 13 including the step of reversing polarity of the late echo segment as compared with polarity of the early echo segment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as described in claim 14 including the step of traversing twice in the time repetition interval with the emitting coil the early and late echo segments.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as described in claim 15 including the step of applying a phase encoding gradient lobe with the emitting coil between the early and late segments to access a separate line in K space when the early and late segments are traversed the second time.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
195 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the computer generated steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmetric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
195 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the computer generated steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmetric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
187 words
An MRI to form an image of a patient comprising: an open bore structure; at least one emitting coil which produces gradients disposed in the structure; a controller in communication with the emitting coil for obtaining a steady-state image of the patient, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, the controller causes the gradients to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and at least one receiving coil disposed in the structure in communication with the controller which receives an echo signal of the three specific asymmetric regions and provides the echo signal gradients to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
187 words
An MRI to form an image of a patient comprising: an open bore structure; at least one emitting coil which produces gradients disposed in the structure; a controller in communication with the emitting coil for obtaining a steady-state image of the patient, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, the controller causes the gradients to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and at least one receiving coil disposed in the structure in communication with the controller which receives an echo signal of the three specific asymmetric regions and provides the echo signal gradients to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
187 words
A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient's heart with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmetric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
187 words
A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient's heart with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmetric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
189 words
A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient's short T2 tissue with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmeteric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
189 words
A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient's short T2 tissue with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmeteric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
192 words
A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient's tissue in proximity to an implant with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmeteric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
192 words
A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient's tissue in proximity to an implant with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmeteric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
188 words
A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient's accelerating tissue with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmeteric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
188 words
A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient's accelerating tissue with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmeteric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
201 words
A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient's fat and water features by altering the fat and water spin phases to produce contrast with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmeteric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
201 words
A method to form an image of a patient with an MRI comprising the steps of: producing gradients with at least one emitting coil; obtaining a steady-state image of the patient's fat and water features by altering the fat and water spin phases to produce contrast with a controller in communication with the emitting coil, where gradient areas balance to zero for each time repetition (TR) interval, which includes the step of causing the gradients with the controller to target three specific asymmetric regions in K space during each TR interval, where at least two of the regions overlap in K space and at least one region of K space is not imaged with the gradients during a given TR interval; and receiving an echo signal of the three specific asymmeteric regions with at least one receiving coil in communication with the controller which provides the echo signal to the controller for the controller to obtain the image, where data corresponding to the regions which overlap are time shifted such that corresponding k-space regions are removed from at least one data set and a series of data sets corresponding to each k-space region are inserted into a composite matrix without overlapping.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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