Magnetic resonance angiography data
AssigneeEpix Medical, Inc.
InventorsRobert M. Stefancik, Randy J. Earnest, Robert M. Weisskoff
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Abstract
A method is provided for improved visualization of vascular structures contained within magnetic resonance angiograms, particularly steady-state contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiograms. The disclosed methods include manipulating the relative enhancement levels of the arterial and venous blood pools images with respect to each other and to the surrounding anatomy. This manipulation is meant to optimize visualization of one or both of the individual blood pools without the necessity of completely obscuring or removing the supporting information given by presentation of the other blood pool and/or the surrounding anatomy.
Claims22
A method for improving visualization of magnetic resonance angiography data taken from a patient, the method comprising:
- providing a display device;
- acquiring a first set of data representing a steady state contrast enhancement of an arterial blood pool and a venous blood pool of the patient;
- acquiring a single second set of data that, in combination with the first set of data, provides information sufficient to differentiate between the arterial blood pool and the venous blood pool of the patient;
- combining intensities in predetermined locations by a predetermined amount of the first and the second sets of data to produce a third set of data representing the arterial and the venous blood pools in comparable resolution with each other;
- and
- displaying the third set of data upon the display device.
A method for improving visualization of magnetic resonance angiography data taken from a patient, the method comprising:
- providing a display device;
- acquiring a first set of data representing a three dimensional magnetic resonance angiogram at a time delayed from an introduction of a contrast media to the patient so as to obtain information defining a steady state contrast enhancement of an arterial blood pool and a venous blood pool of the patient;
- acquiring a single second set of data that, in combination with the first set of data, provides information sufficient to differentiate between the arterial blood pool and the venous blood pool of the patient;
- registering the first set and the second set of data with respect to each other;
- interpolating the data from one of the first and the second sets to the other of the first and the second sets;
- combining a predetermined percentage of the first data set to a predetermined percentage of the second data set such that a third set of data is created representing the arterial and the venous blood pools in comparable resolution with each other;
- and
- displaying the third set of data upon the display device.
A method for improving visualization of magnetic resonance angiography data taken from a patient, the method comprising:
- providing a display device;
- acquiring a first set and a single second set of data, consisting essentially of:
- acquiring the first set of data defining a three dimensional magnetic resonance angiogram at a time delayed from an introduction of a contrast media to the patient so as to obtain information representing a steady state contrast enhancement of an arterial blood pool and a venous blood pool of the patient;
- and
- acquiring the single second set of data representing information sufficient to differentiate between the arterial blood pool and the venous blood pool of the patient;
- registering the first set and the second set of data with respect to each other;
- interpolating the data from one of the first and the second sets to the other of the first and the second sets;
- combining intensities in predetermined locations by a predetermined amount of the first and the second sets of data to create a third set of data representing the arterial and the venous blood pools in comparable resolution with each other;
- and
- displaying the third set of data upon the display device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.