Method and apparatus for magnetic resonance arteriography using contrast agents
First Claim
1. A method of imaging arteries in a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging system and an administered contrast agent of substantially one injection which provides an arterial phase of contrast enhancement, wherein the arteries include a first artery which is located in a first image volume and a second artery in a second image volume, the method comprising:
- positioning the patient in a first location in the imaging apparatus;
collecting magnetic resonance image data of the first image volume, including image data which is representative of a center of k-space, during the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the first artery and while the patient is in the first location;
re-positioning the patient in the second location in the imaging apparatus; and
collecting magnetic resonance image data of the second image volume, including image data which is representative of a center of k-space, during the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the second artery and while the patient is in the second location.
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Abstract
The present invention is a technique of, and system for, imaging vascular anatomy over distance considerably greater than the maximum practical field of view of a magnetic resonance imaging system while using substantially one contrast agent injection. The technique and system of the present invention acquires image data of a plurality of image volumes which are representative of different portions of the patient'"'"'s body. The image data of each image volume includes image data which is representative of the center of k-space. The acquisition of image data which is representative of the center of k-space is correlated with a concentration of contrast agent in the artery(ies) residing in the image volume being substantially greater than the concentration of contrast agent in veins and background tissue adjacent to the artery(ies). This provides preferential enhancement of arteries relative to adjacent veins and background tissue for each acquisition, wherein each acquisition is representative of a different portion of the arterial system (e.g., abdominal aorta, femoral, popliteal, and tibial arteries).
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Citations
77 Claims
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1. A method of imaging arteries in a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging system and an administered contrast agent of substantially one injection which provides an arterial phase of contrast enhancement, wherein the arteries include a first artery which is located in a first image volume and a second artery in a second image volume, the method comprising:
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positioning the patient in a first location in the imaging apparatus; collecting magnetic resonance image data of the first image volume, including image data which is representative of a center of k-space, during the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the first artery and while the patient is in the first location; re-positioning the patient in the second location in the imaging apparatus; and collecting magnetic resonance image data of the second image volume, including image data which is representative of a center of k-space, during the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the second artery and while the patient is in the second location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging arteries in a patient using an injected contrast agent of substantially one injection which provides an arterial phase of contrast enhancement, the arteries include a first artery which is located in a first image volume and a second artery which is located in a second image volume, the system comprises:
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a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, a platform for supporting the patient in a substantially horizontal posture, the platform being moveable with respect to the imaging apparatus and between a plurality of locations, including a first location and a second location, along a longitudinal axis of the platform, wherein the platform moves at a rate sufficient to allow positioning between the first location and the second location in a time period less than the arterial phase of contrast enhancement; imaging means for collecting magnetic resonance image data of the first image volume during the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the first artery and while the platform is positioned at the first location, and for collecting magnetic resonance image data of the second image volume during the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the second artery and while the platform is positioned at the second location. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 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)
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53. A magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging arteries in a patient using an injected contrast agent of substantially one injection which provides an arterial phase of contrast enhancement, the arteries include a first artery which is located in a first image volume, a second artery which is located in a second image volume, and a third artery which is located in a third image volume, the system comprises:
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a platform for supporting the patient, the platform being moveable along a horizontal axis of the platform between a first location on the longitudinal axis, a second location on the longitudinal axis, and a third location on the longitudinal axis; an magnetic resonance imaging unit for collecting magnetic resonance image data of the first image volume, including image data which is representative of the center of k-space, during the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the first artery and while the platform is positioned in the first location and for collecting magnetic resonance image data of the second image volume, including image data which is representative of the center of k-space, during a portion of the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the second artery and while the platform is positioned in the second location, and for collecting magnetic resonance image data of the third image volume, including image data which is representative of the center of k-space, during a portion of the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the third artery and while the platform is positioned in the third location. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A method of imaging arteries in a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging system and using an injected magnetic resonance contrast agent of substantially one injection, wherein the arteries include a first artery which is located in a first image volume and a second artery which is located in a second image volume, the method comprising:
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positioning the patient in a first location to define a first field of view which encompasses the first artery; collecting magnetic resonance image data of the first image volume, including image data which is representative of a center of k-space, during the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the first artery and while the patient is in first location; positioning the patient in a second location to define a second field of view which encompasses the second artery; and collecting magnetic resonance image data of the second image volume, including collecting image data which is representative of a center of k-space, during the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the second artery and while the patient is in the second location; and constructing an image of the first artery using the image data of the first image volume and an image of the second artery using the image data of the second image volume. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A magnetic resonance imaging system for imaging arteries in a patient using an injected contrast agent of substantially one injection which provides an arterial phase of contrast enhancement, wherein the arteries include a first artery which is located in a first image volume and a second artery which is located in a second image volume, the system comprises:
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a platform for supporting the patient, the platform being moveable between a plurality of locations including a first location which defines a first field of view encompassing the first artery and a second location which defines a second field of view encompassing the second artery, wherein the platform moves at a rate sufficient to allow positioning between the first location and the second location in a time period less than the arterial phase of contrast enhancement; and a magnetic resonance imaging unit for collecting magnetic resonance image data of the first image volume during a portion of the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the first artery and while the platform is positioned at the first location, and for collecting magnetic resonance image data of the second image volume during a portion of the arterial phase of contrast enhancement of the second artery and while the platform is positioned at the second location. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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Specification