Method and apparatus for examining a substance, particularly tissue, to characterize its type
AssigneeDune Medical Devices Ltd.
InventorsDan Hashimshony, Gil Cohen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for examining a substance volume to characterize its type, particularly useful for examining tissue to characterize it as cancerous or non-cancerous. The method comprises: applying a polarizing magnetic field through the examined substance; applying RF pulses locally to the examined substance volume such as to invoke electrical impedance (EI) responses signals corresponding to the electrical impedance of the substance, and magnetic resonance (MR) responses signals corresponding to the MR properties of the substance; detecting the EI and MR response signals; and utilizing the detected response signals for characterizing the examined substance volume type.
Claims51
A method of examining a substance volume to characterize its type, comprising:
- applying locally a polarizing magnetic field through the examined substance volume:
- applying RF pulses locally to said examined substance volume such as to invoke electrical response signals corresponding to the electrical impedance (EI) of the examined substance volume, and magnetic resonance (MR) response signals corresponding to the MR properties of the examined substance volume;
- detecting locally said EI and MR response signals;
- and
- utilizing said detected response signals for characterizing the type of substance in the examined substance volume based on said electrical impedance and said magnetic resonance properties of the examined substance.
Apparatus for examining a substance volume to characterize its type, comprising:
- a probe, having a transmission line and means for applying locally a polarizing magnetic field through the examined substance volume;
- and an electrical control and processing system for:
- applying RF pulses locally via said transmission line to said examined substance volume such as to invoke reflection of electrical impedance (EI) response signals corresponding to the electrical impedance of the examined substance volume, and magnetic resonance (MR) response signals corresponding to the MR properties of the examined substance volume;
- detecting locally, via said transmission line, said EI and MR response signals;
- and
- utilizing said detected response signals for characterizing the examined substance volume type based on said electrical impedance and said magnetic resonance properties of the examined substance.
A method of examining a substance volume to characterize its type, comprising:
- applying locally a polarizing magnetic field through the examined substance volume;
- applying RF pulses locally to said examined substance volume such as to invoke electrical response signals corresponding to the electrical impedance (EI) of the examined substance volume, and magnetic resonance (MR) response signals corresponding to the MR properties of the examined substance volume;
- varying said polarizing magnetic field such as to vary said EI and MR response signals;
- detecting locally said EI and MR response signals including said variations of said EI and MR response signals;
- and
- utilizing said detected response signals and said variations for characterizing the type of substance in the examined substance volume based on said electrical impedance and said magnetic resonance properties of the examined substance.
Apparatus for examining a substance volume to characterize its type, comprising:
- means for applying locally a polarizing magnetic field through the examined substance volume;
- a probe;
- and an electrical control and processing system for:
- applying RF pulses locally via said probe to said examined substance volume such as to invoke electrical impedance (EI) response signals corresponding to the electrical impedance of the examined substance volume, and magnetic resonance (MR) response signals corresponding to the MR properties of the examined substance volume;
- varying said polarizing magnetic field such as to vary said EI and MR response signals;
- detecting locally said EI and MR response signals including said variations of said EI and MR response signals;
- and
- utilizing said detected response signals and said variations for characterizing the type of substance in the examined substance volume based on said electrical impedance and said magnetic resonance properties of the examined substance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.