Method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging of arteries using a magnetic resonance contrast agent
First Claim
1. A method of imaging an artery of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, comprising,detecting an elevated concentration of the administered magnetic resonance contrast agent in a region of interest;
- andimaging at least a portion of the artery including collecting image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space after detecting the elevated concentration of magnetic resonance contrast agent in the region of interest.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a technique and apparatus for monitoring and detecting the arrival of a contrast agent in a region of interest (e.g., an artery or tissues of interest). In one embodiment, upon detecting a maximum, substantially elevated or elevated concentration of contrast agent in the region of interest, a predetermined portion of the magnetic resonance image data (e.g., data which is representative of the center of k-space) may be acquired. Thus, the present invention may be employed to facilitate synchronization between collecting the central portion of k-space image data with the arterial phase of contrast enhancement.
199 Citations
45 Claims
-
1. A method of imaging an artery of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, comprising,
detecting an elevated concentration of the administered magnetic resonance contrast agent in a region of interest; - and
imaging at least a portion of the artery including collecting image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space after detecting the elevated concentration of magnetic resonance contrast agent in the region of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- and
-
15. A method of imaging an artery of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, comprising,
detecting a predetermined concentration of the administered magnetic resonance contrast agent in a region of interest; - and
imaging at least a portion of the artery including collecting image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space after detecting the predetermined concentration of the contrast agent in the region of interest and while the concentration in the artery is higher than a concentration of the contrast agent in veins adjacent to the artery. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- and
-
22. An apparatus for imaging an artery of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, comprising,
detecting means for detecting a predetermined concentration of the magnetic resonance contrast agent in a region of interest and for generating an imaging initiation signal in response to detecting the predetermined concentration of contrast agent in the region of interest; - and
imaging means, coupled to the detecting means, for collecting image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space in response to the imaging initiation signal. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
- and
-
34. An apparatus for imaging an artery of a patient using magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with an administered magnetic resonance contrast agent, comprising,
detecting means for detecting the magnetic resonance contrast agent in a region of interest and for generating an imaging initiation signal in response to detecting the magnetic resonance contrast agent in the region of interest; - and
imaging means, coupled to the detecting means, for collecting image data which is representative of at least a portion of a center of k-space in response to the imaging initiation signal. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
- and
Specification