Method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of arteries using a magnetic resonance contrast agent
OwnerMartin R. Princeinventor
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Abstract
The present invention is a technique and apparatus for monitoring and detecting the arrival of a contrast agent in a region of interest (e.g., an artery or tissues of interest). In one embodiment, upon detecting a maximum, substantially elevated or elevated concentration of contrast agent in the region of interest, a predetermined portion of the magnetic resonance image data (e.g., data which is representative of the center of k-space) may be acquired. Thus, the present invention may be employed to facilitate synchronization between collecting the central portion of k-space image data with the arterial phase of contrast enhancement.
Claims45
A method of imaging an artery of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, comprising,
- detecting an elevated concentration of the administered magnetic resonance contrast agent in a region of interest;
- and
- imaging at least a portion of the artery including collecting image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space after detecting the elevated concentration of magnetic resonance contrast agent in the region of interest.
A method of imaging an artery of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, comprising,
- detecting a predetermined concentration of the administered magnetic resonance contrast agent in a region of interest;
- and
- imaging at least a portion of the artery including collecting image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space after detecting the predetermined concentration of the contrast agent in the region of interest and while the concentration in the artery is higher than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins adjacent to the artery.
An apparatus for imaging an artery of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, comprising,
- detecting means for detecting a predetermined concentration of the magnetic resonance contrast agent in a region of interest and for generating an imaging initiation signal in response to detecting the predetermined concentration of contrast agent in the region of interest;
- and
- imaging means, coupled to the detecting means, for collecting image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space in response to the imaging initiation signal.
An apparatus for imaging an artery of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, comprising,
- detecting means for detecting the magnetic resonance contrast agent in a region of interest and for generating an imaging initiation signal in response to detecting the magnetic resonance contrast agent in the region of interest;
- and
- imaging means, coupled to the detecting means, for collecting image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space in response to the imaging initiation signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.