Method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of arteries using a magnetic resonance contrast agent
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
-
Citations
39 Claims
-
1-24. -24. (canceled).
-
25. 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 observe a change in the concentration of the contrast agent in a region of interest; and
a magnetic resonance imaging unit to collect image data of an imaging sequence to image the artery, wherein the magnetic resonance imaging unit, in response to an input from an operator, collects image data which is representative of the central portion of k-space near the beginning of the imaging sequence and a portion of the periphery of k-space thereafter and, wherein the operator provides the input to the magnetic resonance imaging unit after observing a change in the concentration of the contrast agent in the region of interest. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. A method of imaging an artery of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging and an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, the method comprising:
-
monitoring a region of interest to observe the arrival of the contrast agent in a region of interest;
collecting image data of a magnetic resonance imaging sequence wherein the image data which is representative of the 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 and wherein the image data which is representative of a peripheral portion of k-space is collected after collecting the central portion of k-space. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
-
Specification