Method and apparatus for imaging abdominal aorta and aortic aneurysms
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Abstract
The present invention is a technique and apparatus for acquiring anatomic information used in diagnosing and characterizing abdominal aortic aneurismal disease and the like. This technique provides anatomic information, in the form of images, using a combination of a plurality of magnetic resonance angiography sequences, including a spin-echo and four contrast enhanced (e.g., gadolinium) magnetic resonance angiography sequences. The anatomic images may be used in, for example, pre-operative, operative and post-operative evaluation of aortic pathology, including aneurysms, atherosclerosis, and occlusive disease of branch vessels such as the renal arteries. The gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography provides sufficient anatomic detail to detect aneurysms and all relevant major branch vessel abnormalities seen at angiography operation. This technique and apparatus allows for imaging the aorta at a fraction of the cost of conventional aortography and without the risks of arterial catheterization or iodinated contrast.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1-26. -26. (canceled)
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27. A method of imaging a portion of the aorta of a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging system and a magnetic resonance contrast agent, the method comprising:
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temporally correlating an administration of the magnetic resonance contrast agent with an acquisition of magnetic resonance image data which is representative of the center of k-space, using an arrival time of the magnetic resonance contrast agent in a region of interest wherein the region of interest includes at least a portion of the aorta; and
acquiring the magnetic resonance image data using a 3D pulse sequence, wherein the magnetic resonance image data which is representative of the center of k-space is acquired while the concentration of the contrast agent in the portion of the aorta is greater than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins adjacent to the portion of the aorta and background tissue adjacent to the portion of the aorta. - View Dependent Claims (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, 54, 55)
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Specification