COMPRESSION DEVICE FOR ENHANCING NORMAL/ABNORMAL TISSUE CONTRAST IN MRI INCLUDING DEVICES AND METHODS RELATED THERETO
First Claim
1. A device for selectively compressing target tissue for magnetic resonance imaging of the target tissue, said compression device comprising:
- a non-moving structure;
a moveable structure including a contact surface that is configured to contact the target tissue;
a moving mechanism operably coupled to the moveable member, the mechanism including a plurality of fluid actuatable devices, each being operably coupled to the moveable structure;
wherein the fluid actuatable devices are each configured and arranged such that the device selectively moves the moveable structure in a first direction to compress the tissue between the non-moving structure and the moveable structure, responsive to admission of pressurized fluid in one fluid direction and moves the moveable structure in a second direction so as to allow the tissue to relax responsive to admission of pressurized fluid in another fluid direction; and
wherein the moveable member and the member moving mechanism are made of MRI-compatible materials.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Featured are devices for compression of target tissue while magnetic resonance imaging the target tissue and methods and systems related thereto. The method includes disposing target tissue between the fixed surface and the moveable member of a compression device and compressing the target tissue between the fixed surface and the moveable member. The method also includes acquiring one or more, more specifically a plurality, of sequences of image data of the compressed target tissue using an MRI imaging technique (MRI). In particular embodiments, the MRI technique is a SENC MRI technique, where tissue encoding is done prior to compressing the tissue and acquiring includes adding a gradient moment in the slice-selection direction to cause demodulation with a specific frequency. In further embodiments, the sequences of image data are acquired one of during successive periodic compressions of the tissue or successive periodic relaxation of the tissues.
20 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A device for selectively compressing target tissue for magnetic resonance imaging of the target tissue, said compression device comprising:
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a non-moving structure; a moveable structure including a contact surface that is configured to contact the target tissue; a moving mechanism operably coupled to the moveable member, the mechanism including a plurality of fluid actuatable devices, each being operably coupled to the moveable structure; wherein the fluid actuatable devices are each configured and arranged such that the device selectively moves the moveable structure in a first direction to compress the tissue between the non-moving structure and the moveable structure, responsive to admission of pressurized fluid in one fluid direction and moves the moveable structure in a second direction so as to allow the tissue to relax responsive to admission of pressurized fluid in another fluid direction; and wherein the moveable member and the member moving mechanism are made of MRI-compatible materials. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for imaging tissue while compressing the tissue;
- comprising the steps of;
providing a tissue compression device that selectively and periodically compresses target tissue; periodically and successively compressing target tissue using the tissue compression device; providing an output signal to an MRI imaging apparatus so image data is acquired for each periodic compression of the tissue; and acquiring sequences of image data for the compressed target tissue using an MRI imaging technique (MRI) each time the tissue is compressed.
- comprising the steps of;
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10. The imaging method of claim 10, wherein the MRI imaging technique is a Strain Encoded (SENC) MRI technique and wherein tissue encoding is done prior to said compressing the target tissue and said acquiring includes adding a gradient moment in the slice-selection direction to cause demodulation with a specific frequency.
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11. A method for assessing relation effects of previously compressed tissue;
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comprising the steps of; providing a tissue compression device that selectively and periodically compresses target tissue; periodically and successively compressing target tissue using the tissue compression device; wherein the MRI imaging technique is a Strain Encoded (SENC) MRI technique; wherein tissue encoding is done while the tissue is being compressed by the tissue compression device, said tissue encoding including adding a gradient moment in the slice-selection direction to cause demodulation with a specific frequency providing an output signal to an MRI imaging apparatus so image data is acquired after each periodic compression of the tissue; and acquiring sequences of image data for the compressed target tissue using an MRI imaging technique (MRI) after each time the tissue is compressed.
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Specification