Method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of arteries using a magnetic resonance contrast agent
OwnerMartin R. Princeinventor
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Abstract
The present invention is a technique and apparatus for providing preferential enhancement of an artery of interest relative to adjacent veins and background tissue by correlating the collection of a predetermined portion of data (for example, image data which is representative of the central portion of k-space) of a magnetic resonance contrast image during the arterial phase of the magnetic resonance contrast enhancement.
Claims25
A magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging an artery of a patient using an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, the magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
- a monitor unit to allow an operator to visually observe an arrival of the contrast agent in an artery of interest and determine when to start 3D gradient echo imaging;
- and
- a magnetic resonance imaging unit to collect image data of a 3D gradient echo imaging sequence to image the artery, wherein the magnetic resonance imaging unit, in response to an input from the operator after arrival of the contrast agent in the artery of interest and during the arterial phase of contrast enhancement, collects image data which is representative of a central portion of k-space near the beginning of the 3D gradient echo imaging sequence.
A method of imaging an artery of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging and an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, the method comprising:
- monitoring an artery of interest to allow an operator to visually observe the arrival of the contrast agent in the artery of interest to determine when to start 3D gradient echo imaging;
- collecting image data of a 3D gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging sequence, after the operator observes the arrival of the contrast agent in the artery of interest and in response to an input from the operator, wherein the image data which is representative of a central portion of k-space is collected near the beginning of the imaging sequence and while the concentration of contrast agent in the artery is substantially greater than a concentration of contrast agent in veins adjacent to the artery.
A method of imaging an artery of a human patient using magnetic resonance imaging and an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, the method comprising:
- applying a series of magnetic resonance pulses to an artery of interest in the human patient;
- measuring a response to the series of magnetic resonance pulses;
- generating a series of images using the response to the series of magnetic resonance pulses;
- visually displaying the series of images as a temporal pattern of the concentration of the contrast agent in the artery of interest to allow an operator to (i) detect the arrival of the administered magnetic resonance contrast agent in the artery of the human patient, or (ii) detect the onset of the arterial phase of contrast enhancement in the artery of the human patient;
- and
- collecting image data of a 3D gradient echo magnetic resonance imaging sequence, after the operator observes the arrival of the contrast agent in the artery of interest and in response to an input from the operator, wherein the image data which is representative of a central portion of k-space is collected near the beginning of the imaging sequence and during the arterial phase of contrast enhancement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.