# US 5,352,980 A · Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

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- Number: US 5,352,980 A
- Document ID: US5352980A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/022,956
- Filed: 1993-02-25
- Granted: 1994-10-04
- Earliest claimed: 1992-02-27
- Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
- Inventors: Yoshio Machida
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5352980A

## CPC

- G01R 33/56308: {Characterization of motion or flow; Dynamic imaging}
- G01R 33/56316: {involving phase contrast techniques}
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)

## Abstract

The MR imaging apparatus for imaging a moving spin, comprises a design unit for designing four sets of pulse sequences with four moment vectors, especially four first moment vectors, which can impart a phase shift to the moving spins, an acquiring unit for acquiring echo data by implementing the designed pulse sequences, a calculating unit for calculating a flow-related value of the moving spin, especially, a flow velocity using the echo data and a generating unit for generating image data of the moving spin using the calculated flow velocity. The first moment vectors correspond to four vertices of a tetrahedron respectively located in a 3-D moment space, a center of which coincides with an origin of the 3-D moment space.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for imaging a moving spin in an object being examined, comprising:
means for predetermining sets of pulse sequences corresponding to predetermined moment vectors respectively which impart a phase shift to the moving spin;
means for acquiring echo data by implementing said pulse sequences;
means for calculating a flow-related value of the moving spin using the echo data; and
means for generating image data of the moving spin using the flow-related value,
wherein the moment vectors correspond to four vertices and a center of a tetrahedron respectively located in a three-dimensional moment space.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the center of the tetrahedron is placed at an origin of the three-dimensional moment space.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the moment vectors are first-order moment vectors and the flow-related value is a flow velocity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the moment vectors are second-order moment vectors and the flow-related value is an acceleration of the moving spin.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the center of the tetrahedron is placed at a position other than an origin of the three-dimensional space.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tetrahedron is formed into a regular tetrahedron.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tetrahedron is formed into a non-regular tetrahedron.

### Claim 8

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus for imaging a moving spin in an object being examined, comprising:
means for predetermining sets of pulse sequences corresponding to predetermined moment vectors respectively which impart a phase shift to the moving spin;
means for acquiring echo data by implementing said pulse sequences;
means for calculating a flow-related value of the moving spin using the echo data; and
means for generating image data of the moving spin using the flow-related value,
wherein the moment vectors correspond to three vertices and a center of a triangle respectively located in a two-dimensional moment space.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the center of the triangle is placed at an origin of the two-dimensional moment space.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the moment vectors are first-order moment vectors and the flow-related value is a flow velocity.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the moment vectors are second-order moment vectors and the flow-related value is an acceleration of the moving spin.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the center of the triangle is placed at a position other than an origin of the two-dimensional space.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the triangle is formed into a regular triangle.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the triangle is formed into a non-regular triangle.