US 2007/0167717 A1 · Structure assessment using spatial-frequency analysis

Abstract

The disclosed innovation is a method for acquiring spatial frequency spectra from specific locations in a 3D sample using modifications of the current MRI techniques for localized NMR spectroscopy. The innovation in its simplest abstraction is to add the use of a read out gradient to the current NMR spectroscopy pulse sequences and record the resultant echo. These techniques generate spectra from a selected region or generate an image of the results over a region of the sample. These methods can be applied to analyzing the structure of trabecular bone as well as for analyzing or diagnosing disease in cases where there is a difference in the spatial frequency power spectrum due to physiologic or disease processes. Various embodiments are disclosed.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A method of assessing at least one characteristic of a sample of a structure comprising:

subjecting the sample to a magnetic field;
subjecting the sample to an RF excitation having a frequency range to excite one or more Larmor frequencies in the sample;
terminating the RF excitation and receiving an echo signal from the sample while the sample is subjected to a magnetic field gradient;
windowing the echo signal to provide a windowed echo signal;
and,
analyzing the windowed echo signal to characterize the sample.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Structure assessment using spatial-frequency analysis

Life of this patent

Structure assessment using spatial-frequency analysis

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34