# US 2016/0252597 A1 · Systems and methods for imaging and quantifying tissue magnetism with magnetic resonance imaging

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2016/0252597 A1
- Document ID: US20160252597A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/065,803
- Filed: 2016-03-09
- Published: 2016-09-01
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-15
- Inventors: Chunlei Liu; Wei Li; Bing Wu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160252597A1

## CPC

- G01R 33/5616: {using gradient refocusing, e.g. EPI}
- A43B 3/00: Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A47L 23/04: Hand implements for shoe-cleaning, with or without applicators for shoe polish (ordinary brushes, with or without containers, A46B11/00)
- G01R 33/4818: {MR characterised by data acquisition along a specific k-space trajectory or by the temporal order of k-space coverage, e.g. centric or segmented coverage of k-space}
- G01R 33/5608: {Data processing and visualization specially adapted for MR, e.g. for feature analysis and pattern recognition on the basis of measured MR data, segmentation of measured MR data, edge contour detection on the basis of measured MR data, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of signal-to-noise ratio by means of noise filtering or apodization, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of resolution by means for deblurring, windowing, zero filling, or generation of gray-scaled images, colour-coded images or images displaying vectors instead of pixels (image data processing or generation, in general G06T)}
- G01R 33/56536: {due to magnetic susceptibility variations}
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)

## Abstract

Systems and methods for imaging and quantifying tissue magnetism with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method for MRI includes using an MRI system to acquire multiple image echoes of an object. The method also includes combining the image echoes. Further, the method includes generating an image of the object based on the combined image echoes for depicting a characteristic of the object.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the method comprising:
using an MRI system to acquire a plurality of image echoes of an object;
combining the image echoes; and
generating an image of the object based on the combined image echoes for depicting a characteristic of the object.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to apply a magnetic field to the object.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to acquire the image echoes at a single or a plurality of orientations of the object relative to a magnetic field generated by the MRI system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to continuously acquire image data of the object.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to acquire the image echoes by one of spin wrap, interleaved spiral, partial and segmented echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectories.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein using the MRI system comprises using the MRI system to acquire each image echo by a segmented three-dimensional echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectory.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein combining the image echoes comprises applying one of multi-echo averaging and multi-echo weighted averaging to the image echoes.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein generating the image of the object comprises generating an image of magnetic susceptibility based on the combined image echoes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein generating the image of magnetic susceptibility comprises:
generating a phase image based on the combined image echoes; and
applying a Laplacian operator to the phase image.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein applying the Laplacian operator comprises removing phase components originating from outside a field of view.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising applying a spherical mean value (SMV) filtering technique to clean background phase.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein generating the image comprises:
partitioning a k-space of the combined image echoes into a trusted region and an ill-posed region; and
one of applying a derivative and Fourier relationship and applying a compressed sensing technique to the combined image echoes.

### Claim 13

A magnetic resonance imaging (Mill) system comprising:
an Mill device configured to acquire a plurality of image echoes of an object; and
an image generator configured to:
combine the image echoes; and
generate an image of the object based on the combined image echoes for depicting a characteristic of the object.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The MRI system of claim 13, wherein the Mill device is configured to apply a magnetic field to the object.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The MRI system of claim 13, wherein the Mill device is configured to acquire the image echoes at a single or a plurality of orientations of the object relative to a magnetic field generated by the MRI system.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The MRI system of claim 13, wherein the Mill device is configured to continuously acquire image data of the object.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The MRI system of claim 13, wherein the Mill device is configured to acquire the image echoes by one of spin wrap, interleaved spiral, and segmented echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectories.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The MRI system of claim 13, wherein the Mill device is configured to acquire each image echo by a segmented three-dimensional echo planar imaging (EPI) trajectory.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The MRI system of claim 13, wherein the image generator is configured to apply one of multi-echo averaging and multi-echo weighted averaging to the image echoes.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The MRI system of claim 13, wherein the image generator is configured to generate an image of magnetic susceptibility based on the combined image echoes.