Method and apparatus for magnetic resonance arteriography using contrast agents
First Claim
1. A method of imaging arteries in a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging system having an imaging coil, wherein the arteries including a first artery which is located in a first image volume and a second artery in a second image volume, the method comprising:
- administering a contrast agent to the patient;
positioning the patient in a first location in the imaging coil;
collecting image data of the first image volume including collecting image data which is representative of a center of k-space while a concentration of the administered contrast agent in the first artery is substantially higher than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the first artery and while the patient is in the first location;
re-positioning the patient in a second location in the imaging coil; and
collecting image data of a second image volume, including collecting image data which is representative of a center of k-space while a concentration of the administered contrast agent in the second artery is substantially higher than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the second artery and while the patient is in the second location.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a technique of, and system for, imaging vascular anatomy over distance considerably greater than the maximum practical field of view of a magnetic resonance imaging system while using substantially one contrast agent injection. The technique and system of the present invention acquires image data of a plurality of image volumes which are representative of different portions of the patient'"'"'s body. The image data of each image volume includes image data which is representative of the center of k-space. The acquisition of image data which is representative of the center of k-space is correlated with a concentration of contrast agent in the artery(ies) residing in the image volume being substantially greater than the concentration of contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the artery(ies). This provides preferential enhancement of arteries relative to adjacent veins and background tissue for each acquisition, wherein each acquisition is representative of a different portion of the arterial system (e.g., abdominal aorta, femoral, popliteal, and tibial arteries).
-
Citations
59 Claims
-
1. A method of imaging arteries in a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging system having an imaging coil, wherein the arteries including a first artery which is located in a first image volume and a second artery in a second image volume, the method comprising:
-
administering a contrast agent to the patient;
positioning the patient in a first location in the imaging coil;
collecting image data of the first image volume including collecting image data which is representative of a center of k-space while a concentration of the administered contrast agent in the first artery is substantially higher than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the first artery and while the patient is in the first location;
re-positioning the patient in a second location in the imaging coil; and
collecting image data of a second image volume, including collecting image data which is representative of a center of k-space while a concentration of the administered contrast agent in the second artery is substantially higher than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the second artery and while the patient is in the second location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging arteries in a patient using an injected contrast agent of substantially one injection, the arteries include a first artery which is located in a first image volume and a second artery which is located in a second image volume, the system comprises:
-
an imaging coil, a platform for supporting the patient in a substantially horizontal posture, the platform being moveable with respect to the imaging coil and between a plurality of locations along a longitudinal axis of the platform;
imaging means for collecting image data of the first image volume while the platform is positioned at a first location and image data of the second image volume while the platform is positioned at a second location, wherein the image data of the first image volume includes image data which is representative of a center of k-space while a concentration of contrast agent in the first artery is substantially higher than a concentration of contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the first artery, and wherein the image data of the second image volume includes image data which is representative of a center of k-space while a concentration of contrast agent in the second artery is substantially higher than a concentration of contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the second artery. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
-
-
53. A magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging arteries in a patient using an injected contrast agent of substantially one injection, the arteries include a first artery which is located in a first image volume, a second artery which is located in a second image volume, and a third artery which is located in a third image volume, the system comprises:
-
an imaging coil, a platform for supporting the patient, the platform being moveable along a horizontal axis of the platform between a first location on the longitudinal axis, a second location on the longitudinal axis, and a third location on the longitudinal axis;
an imaging unit, electrically coupled to the imaging coil, the imaging unit collects image data of the first image volume while the platform is positioned in the first location and image data of the second image volume while the platform is positioned in the second location, and image data of the third image volume while the platform is positioned in the third location;
wherein the image data of the first image volume includes image data which is representative of a center of k-space while a concentration of contrast agent in the first artery is substantially higher than a concentration of contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the first artery, wherein the image data of the second image volume includes image data which is representative of a center of k-space while a concentration of contrast agent in the second artery is substantially higher than a concentration of contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the second artery, and wherein the image data of the third image volume includes image data which is representative of a center of k-space while a concentration of contrast agent in the third artery is substantially higher than a concentration of contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the third artery. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
-
Specification