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US 6,144,200 AGranted
Acquisition of segmented MRI cardiac data using an EPI pulse sequence
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsFrederick H. Epstein, Steven D. Wolff
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Abstract
A method is disclosed to reconstruct multiphase MR images that accurately depict the entire cardiac cycle. A segmented, echo-planar imaging (EPI) pulse sequence is used to acquire data continuously during each cardiac cycle. Images are retrospectively reconstructed by selecting views from each heartbeat based on cardiac phase.
Claims11
A method for acquiring a cardiac phase image of a patient's heart using an MRI system, the steps comprising:
- a) producing a cardiac signal which indicates phase of the patient's heart during each cardiac cycle;
- b) acquiring a segment of k-space NMR data at a first cardiac phase during each of a succession of cardiac cycles by performing a plurality of pulse sequences with the MRI system, wherein the acquired segments sample a sufficient portion of k-space that an image may be reconstructed from the acquired NMR data;
- and
- c) reconstructing a cardiac phase image from the acquired NMR data;
- wherein each pulse sequence is performed by producing transverse magnetization with an RF excitation pulse and acquiring a plurality of separately phase encoded NMR echo signals.
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An MRI system for producing a cardiac phase image of a subject's heart, which comprises:
- a) a magnet for producing a polarizing magnetic field in the subject;
- b) an RF system for producing an RF excitation field in the subject and for receiving NMR signals produced by excited spins in the subject;
- c) a magnetic field gradient system for producing a plurality of imaging gradients, including a phase encoding gradient;
- d) means coupled to the subject for producing a cardiac signal indicative of the phase of the subject's heart during each cardiac cycle;
- e) a pulse generator for receiving the cardiac signal and at a first cardiac phase in each of a plurality of cardiac cycles acquiring a segment of k-space NMR data by directing elements b) and c) to perform a plurality of echo-planar pulse sequences which each acquiring a plurality of NMR signals;
- and
- f) a processor for reconstructing an image from the acquired segments of k-space NMR data that depicts the subject's heart at the first cardiac phase.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.