Mri Probe for Prostate Imaging
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A rectal probe adapted for ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate, comprising:
- a) an ultrasound imaging probe;
b) an MRI probe comprising a first magnetic field source for creating a static magnetic field in an MRI imaging region outside the rectal probe, a second magnetic field source for creating a time-varying magnetic field which excites nuclei in the MRI imaging region, and a receiver for receiving NMR signals from the excited nuclei and generating MRI imaging data indicative thereof; and
c) a link joining the ultrasound probe and the MRI probe.
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Abstract
A rectal probe adapted for ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate, comprising: a) an ultrasound imaging probe; b) an MRI probe comprising a first magnetic field source for creating a static magnetic field in an MRI imaging region outside the rectal probe, a second magnetic field source for creating a time-varying magnetic field which excites nuclei in the MRI imaging region, and a receiver for receiving NMR signals from the excited nuclei and generating MRI imaging data indicative thereof; and c) a link joining the ultrasound probe and the MRI probe.
101 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A rectal probe adapted for ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate, comprising:
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a) an ultrasound imaging probe; b) an MRI probe comprising a first magnetic field source for creating a static magnetic field in an MRI imaging region outside the rectal probe, a second magnetic field source for creating a time-varying magnetic field which excites nuclei in the MRI imaging region, and a receiver for receiving NMR signals from the excited nuclei and generating MRI imaging data indicative thereof; and c) a link joining the ultrasound probe and the MRI probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of diagnosing prostate cancer, comprising:
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a) inserting into the rectum an MRI probe with a longitudinal axis, the MRI probe comprising a first magnetic field source for creating a substantially inhomogeneous static magnetic field in an MRI imaging region outside the probe, a second magnetic field source for creating a time-varying magnetic field which excites nuclei in an extended sub-region of the MRI imaging region, and a receiver for receiving the NMR signals from the excited nuclei and generating MRI imaging data indicative thereof; b) acquiring a diffusion-weighted MRI image of the prostate using the MRI probe; and c) finding prostate cancer on the MRI image by using the difference in diffusion rate between cancerous and healthy tissue.
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23. An imaging system comprising:
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a) an MRI rectal probe adapted for imaging of the prostate, the probe having a longitudinal axis and comprising a first magnetic field source for creating a static magnetic field in an MRI imaging region outside the probe, a second magnetic field source for creating a time-varying magnetic field which excites nuclei in the MRI imaging region, and a receiver for receiving NMR signals from the excited nuclei and generating MRI imaging data indicative thereof; and b) an RF power supply which supplies power to the second magnetic field source; wherein the RF power supply is capable of supplying the second magnetic field source with sufficient power at a great enough frequency range to simultaneously excite nuclei in the imaging region to generate NMR signals having a frequency bandwidth of more than 5% of their mean frequency, and wherein the static magnetic field monotonically decreases with increasing radial distance from the longitudinal axis, everywhere outside the probe.
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24. An MRI probe having a longitudinal axis, the probe comprising:
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a) a first magnetic field source for creating a static magnetic field in an MRI imaging region outside the probe, which static magnetic field monotonically decreases with increasing distance from the longitudinal axis to the probe, everywhere outside the probe; b) a second magnetic field source for creating a time-varying magnetic field which excites nuclei in the MRI imaging region; c) a receiver for receiving the NMR signals from the excited nuclei and generating MRI imaging data thereof; and d) at least one z gradient coil which produces a magnetic field gradient in the direction of the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification