Method and apparatus for the non-invasive imaging of anatomic tissue structures

An apparatus comprising:

• an input device for receiving magnetic imaging data from a patient;
• a processing unit comprising:
• a first program for segmenting magnetic imaging data to isolate imaging data for a anatomic tissue structure from imaging data for surrounding tissues;
• a second program for separating said anatomic tissue structure imaging data into data populations corresponding to tissue microstructures;
• a third program for constructing an image from imaging data for at least one of said microstructures;
• and
• a processor for sequentially executing said first, second and third programs;
• wherein said processor executes:
• said first program using said imaging data from said input device;
• said second program using said anatomic tissue structure imaging data isolated by execution of said first program;
• and
• said third program using at least one of said data population obtained by execution of said second program;
• and
• an output device for displaying said image or a storage device for storing said image.

A method for imaging demyelination of the median nerve within one of a patient's carpal tunnels, comprising:

• receiving from an input device, magnetic imaging data from a patient comprising at least a portion of the median nerve passing through a carpal tunnel;
• segmenting said imaging data to isolate the median nerve imaging data from imaging data for surrounding tissues;
• separating said median nerve damaging data into data populations corresponding to the fasciculi and other microstructures of said median nerve;
• constructing an image from at least said imaging data for said fasciculi of said median nerve;
• and
• storing or displaying said image.

A method for the imaging an nerve trunk or tract suspected of demyelination comprising:

• receiving from an input device, magnetic imaging data from a patient of a nerve trunk or tract suspected of demyelination and the surrounding tissues;
• segmenting said imaging data to separate said imaging data for said nerve trunk or tract from solid imaging data for said surrounding tissues;
• separating said imaging data for said nerve trunk or tract into data populations corresponding to the fasciculi and other microstructures of said nerve trunk or tract;
• constructing an image from at least said imaging data for said fasciculi of said nerve trunk or tract;
• and
• storing or displaying said image.

An apparatus comprising:

• an input device for receiving magnetic imaging data from a patient for a nerve trunk or tract and the surrounding tissues;
• a processing unit comprising:
• a first program for segmenting said magnetic imaging data for said nerve trunk or tract from said magnetic imaging data for said surrounding tissues;
• a second program for separating said nerve trunk or nerve trunk imaging data into data populations corresponding to fasciculi and other nerve trunk or tract microstructures;
• a third program for calculating the presence or loss of myelin in said nerve trunk or tract from said fasciculi imaging data;
• and
• a processor for sequentially executing said first, second and third programs;
• wherein said processor executes:
• said first program using imaging data from said input device;
• said second program using said nerve trunk or track imaging data isolated by execution of said first program;
• and
• said third program using said fasciculi data population obtained by execution of said second program;
• and
• an output device for displaying said myelin calculation or a storage device for storing said myelin calculation.

A method for the quantitative measurement of a nerve trunk or tract suspected of demyelination comprising:

• receiving from an input device, magnetic imaging data from a patient of a nerve trunk or tract suspected of demyelination and the surronding tissues;
• segmenting said imaging data to separate said imaging data for said nerve trunk or tract from said imaging data for said surrounding tissues;
• separating said imaging data for said nerve trunk or tract into data populations corresponding to the fasciculi and other microstructures of said nerve trunk or tract;
• calculating from said fasciculi imaging data the presence or loss of myelin in said nerve trunk or tract;
• and
• storing or displaying said myelin calculation.

A method for the quantitative measurement of median nerve demyelination within one of a patient's carpal tunnels, comprising:

• receiving from an input device, magnetic imaging data from a patient including at least a portion of the median nerve passing through a carpal tunnel;
• segmenting said imaging data to isolate said median nerve imaging data from any imaging data for surrounding tissues;
• separating said median nerve imaging data into data populations corresponding to the fasciculi and other microstructures of said median nerve;
• calculating from said imaging data for said median nerve fasciculi, the presence or loss of myelin in said median nerve within said carpal tunnel;
• and
• storing or displaying said myelin calculation.