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US 4,379,262 AGranted
Nuclear magnetic resonance systems
AssigneePicker International, Inc.
InventorIan R. Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is suitable for a small nuclear magnetic resonance pulse head applicable to a part of the body in the manner of ultrasonic systems. The arrangement generates a field which varies in amplitude with distance from the head, being uniform at surfaces which intrude into the body. Resonance is excited in one such surface and a gradient restricts resonance to one line therein. The phase is then dispersed along the line and the signal sensed as a function of position therealong.
Claims13
A nuclear magnetic resonance apparatus comprising:
- first magnetic means for generating a steady magnetic field which bulges outwardly from one side of said first magnetic means so as to protrude into a body positioned adjacent said first magnetic means on said one side, thereby to establish therein a magnetic field which varies in strength with distance in at least a first direction in said body and is of constant strength in curved surfaces in said body;
- means for preferentially exciting resonance of nuclei within the body lying in a selected one of said curved surfaces of constant magnetic field strength;
- second magnetic means for applying a magnetic field having a gradient in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, thereby to restrict resonance to a line in said one surface wherein said one surface intersects a surface in which the magnetic field produced by said second magnetic means is constant;
- means for dispersing the phase of the resonance along said line;
- and
- means for sensing the dispersed resonance as a function of position in said line.
3 more elements
A method of examining a body by nuclear magnetic resonance, the method including:
- applying to the body from one side only thereof a steady magnetic field which protrudes into the body from said one side so as to provide within the body a magnetic field which varies in strength with distance in at least a first direction in said body and which is of constant strength in curved surfaces in said body;
- preferentially exciting resonance of nuclei within the body lying on selected one of said surfaces;
- applying a second magnetic field to said body having a gradient in a second direction orthogonal to said first direction, thereby to restrict resonance to a line on said one surface wherein said one surface intersects a surface on which the second applied magnetic field is constant;
- dispersing the phase of the resonance along said line;
- and
- sensing the dispersed resonance as a function of position in said line.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.