Method, examination apparatus and antenna array for magnetic resonance data acquisition
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsOliver Heid, Markus Vester
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a method for implementation of a magnetic resonance examination, and a magnetic resonance apparatus, and an array for acquisition of magnetic resonance signals, and a magnetic resonance signal at a magnetic resonance frequency are acquired from an examination region with an array of frequency conversion units after an RF excitation and are radiated as frequency-converted signals. The resulting signal field is acquired by a number of reception antennas of a second antenna array, which are arranged at different spatial positions and thus allow a spatial resolution of the frequency-converted signals. The acquired acquisition signals are used for image reconstruction.
Claims45
A method for acquiring magnetic resonance data with a magnetic resonance examination apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- exciting nuclear spins in an examination region of a subject by irradiating the subject with RF energy, thereby causing emission of magnetic resonance signals from the examination region;
- with an array of frequency conversion units, receiving said magnetic resonance signals and converting said magnetic resonance signals into frequency-converted signals in a common frequency band;
- radiating said frequency-converted signals to generate a signal field that contains location information identifying a location of acquisition of the magnetic resonance signals;
- spatially positioning a plurality of reception antennas in an antenna array for spatially-resolved acquisition of said signal field, each reception antenna generating an acquisition signal that contains said location information;
- and
- computationally reconstructing an image of said examination region from said acquisition signals received by said plurality of reception antennas in said antenna array.
A magnetic resonance examination apparatus comprising:
- an RF transmitter that excites nuclear spins in an examination region of a subject by irradiating the subject with RF energy, thereby causing emission of magnetic resonance signals from the examination region;
- an array of frequency conversion units that receive said magnetic resonance signals and converting said magnetic resonance signals into frequency-converted signals in a common frequency band;
- a radiator that radiates said frequency-converted signals to generate a signal field that contains location information identifying a location of acquisition of the magnetic resonance signals;
- a plurality of reception antennas in an antenna array for spatially-resolved acquisition of said signal field, each reception antenna generating an acquisition signal that contains said location information;
- and
- an image reconstruction unit that computationally reconstructs an image of said examination region from said acquisition signals received by said plurality of reception antennas in said antenna array.
An apparatus for acquisition of magnetic resonance signals in a magnetic resonance examination, comprising:
- an antenna array comprised of a plurality of antenna elements that respectively acquires spatially-resolved magnetic resonance signals from an examination subject in a magnetic resonance frequency band, said magnetic resonance signals having been triggered by an RF excitation of the subject;
- and
- a plurality of frequency converters respectively connected to said plurality of antenna elements, each frequency converter generating a signal in a conversion frequency band from the magnetic resonance signal supplied thereto by the antenna element connected thereto, by frequency conversion of the magnetic resonance signals supplied thereto in the magnetic resonance frequency band, said signal in the conversion frequency band comprising information identifying a location in the subject from which the magnetic resonance signal in the magnetic resonance frequency band originated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.