Method of magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopic analysis and associated apparatus employing a loopless antenna
First Claim
1. A method of magnetic resonance analysis of a specimen, said method comprisingpositioning said specimen within a main magnetic field,introducing a loopless antenna in close proximity to said specimen,imposing said main magnetic field on a region of interest of said specimen,applying radio frequency pulses to said region of interest to excite magnetic resonance signals within said specimen,applying gradient magnetic pulses to said region of interest to spatially encode said magnetic resonance signals,employing a coaxial cable with an outer shield and an inner conductor,employing a portion of said outer shield and a portion of said inner conductor as an antenna portion of said loopless antenna for receiving said magnetic resonance signals and employing another portion of said coaxial cable for emitting responsive output signals,employing processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals and converting them into magnetic resonance information, andemploying display means for receiving said magnetic resonance information from said processing means and displaying the same as an image or as chemical shift spectra.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method for magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopic analysis of a specimen which includes positioning the specimen within a main magnetic field and introducing an antenna having a loopless antenna portion in close proximity to the specimen. Radio frequency pulses are provided to the region of interest to excite magnetic resonance signals, gradient magnetic pulses are applied to the region of interest with the antenna receiving magnetic resonance signals and emitting responsive output signals. A processor processes the responsive output signals to provide image information for display in a desired manner. The method in a preferred form involves employing a flexible antenna. The method in another preferred form involves employing an impedance matching circuit electrically interposed between the loopless antenna and the processor to enhance radio frequency power transfer and magnetic resonance signal-to-noise ratio from the loopless antenna to the processor. The method may be used on a wide variety of specimens and in a preferred use is introduced into small blood vessels of a patient to facilitate determination of atherosclerotic plaque. Medical intervention procedures, such as plaque removal, may be employed generally simultaneously with the imaging of the present invention. Corresponding apparatus and magnetic resonance antenna assembly are provided.
-
Citations
73 Claims
-
1. A method of magnetic resonance analysis of a specimen, said method comprising
positioning said specimen within a main magnetic field, introducing a loopless antenna in close proximity to said specimen, imposing said main magnetic field on a region of interest of said specimen, applying radio frequency pulses to said region of interest to excite magnetic resonance signals within said specimen, applying gradient magnetic pulses to said region of interest to spatially encode said magnetic resonance signals, employing a coaxial cable with an outer shield and an inner conductor, employing a portion of said outer shield and a portion of said inner conductor as an antenna portion of said loopless antenna for receiving said magnetic resonance signals and employing another portion of said coaxial cable for emitting responsive output signals, employing processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals and converting them into magnetic resonance information, and employing display means for receiving said magnetic resonance information from said processing means and displaying the same as an image or as chemical shift spectra.
-
30. A method of magnetic resonance analysis of a specimen, said method comprising
positioning said specimen within a main magnetic field, introducing an antenna in close proximity to said specimen, employing as said antenna a loopless antenna, imposing said main magnetic field on a region of interest of said specimen, applying radio frequency pulses to said region of interest to excite magnetic resonance signals within said specimen, applying gradient magnetic pulses to said region of interest to spatially encode said magnetic resonance signals, said antenna receiving said magnetic resonance signals and emitting responsive output signals, employing processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals and converting them into magnetic resonance information, employing display means for receiving said magnetic resonance information from said processing means and displaying the same as an image or as chemical shift spectra, employing said antenna as a magnetic resonance biopsy needle, employing a coaxial cable with said antenna, with said coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor, and employing said inner conductor as said biopsy needle.
-
31. A method of magnetic resonance analysis of a specimen, said method comprising
positioning said specimen within a main magnetic field, introducing an antenna in close proximity to said specimen, employing as said antenna a loopless antenna, imposing said main magnetic field on a region of interest of said specimen, applying radio frequency pulses to said region of interest to excite magnetic resonance signals within said specimen, applying gradient magnetic pulses to said region of interest to spatially encode said magnetic resonance signals, said antenna receiving said magnetic resonance signals and emitting responsive output signals, employing processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals and converting them into magnetic resonance information, employing display means for receiving said magnetic resonance information from said processing means and displaying the same as an image or as chemical shift spectra, employing a dipole antenna portion of said loopless antenna for receiving said magnetic resonance signals, employing a connection portion of said loopless antenna for emitting said responsive output signals, employing said antenna as an invasive probe, introducing said invasive probe into said specimen to conduct internal magnetic resonance analysis thereof, employing a coaxial cable with an outer shield and an inner conductor, and employing a portion of said outer shield and a portion of said inner conductor as said dipole antenna portion of said loopless antenna for receiving said magnetic resonance signals.
-
35. A method of magnetic resonance analysis of a specimen, said method comprising
positioning said specimen within a main magnetic field, introducing an antenna in close proximity to said specimen, employing as said antenna a loopless antenna, imposing said main magnetic field on a region of interest of said specimen, applying radio frequency pulses to said region of interest to excite magnetic resonance signals within said specimen, applying gradient magnetic pulses to said region of interest to spatially encode said magnetic resonance signals, said antenna receiving said magnetic resonance signals and emitting responsive output signals, employing processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals and converting them into magnetic resonance information, employing display means for receiving said magnetic resonance information from said processing means and displaying the same as an image or as chemical shift spectra, employing a dipole antenna portion of said loopless antenna for receiving said magnetic resonance signals, employing a connection portion of said loopless antenna for emitting said responsive output signals, employing a coaxial cable as said connection portion of said loopless antenna for emitting said responsive output signals, employing said coaxial cable with an outer shield and an inner conductor, employing said outer shield as a first pole of said loopless antenna, and employing said inner conductor as a second pole of said loopless antenna.
-
37. Magnetic resonance analysis apparatus for a specimen, said apparatus comprising
magnetic field generating means for establishing a main magnetic field on said specimen, magnetic field gradient generating means for establishing gradients in said main magnetic field, radio frequency signal generating means for emitting pulsed radio frequency signals to at least portions of said specimen disposed within said main magnetic field, a loopless antenna assembly comprising a coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor, with a portion of said outer shield and a portion of said inner conductor of said coaxial cable forming an antenna portion of said loopless antenna assembly at least for receiving signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals, and with another portion of said coaxial cable for emitting responsive output signals, processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals from said loopless antenna assembly and creating magnetic resonance information related thereto, and display means for displaying said magnetic resonance information received from said processing means as an image or as chemical shift spectra.
-
57. Magnetic resonance analysis apparatus for a specimen, said apparatus comprising
magnetic field generating means for establishing a main magnetic field on said specimen, magnetic field gradient generating means for establishing gradients in said main magnetic field, radio frequency signal generating means for emitting pulsed radio frequency signals to at least portions of said specimen disposed within said main magnetic field, antenna means having a loopless antenna at least for receiving signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals from said antenna means and creating magnetic resonance information related thereto, display means for displaying said magnetic resonance information received from said processing means as an image or as chemical shift spectra, said antenna means including impedance matching means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said processing means for enhancing radio frequency power transfer and magnetic resonance signal-to-noise ratio from said loopless antenna to said processing means, and said antenna means also including coaxial cable means for emitting said responsive output signals, with said coaxial cable means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said impedance matching means, said coaxial cable means having an outer shield and an inner conductor, said outer shield having a portion thereof operatively associated with said first pole of said dipole antenna, and said inner conductor having a portion thereof operatively associated with said second pole of said dipole antenna.
-
60. Magnetic resonance analysis apparatus for a specimen, said apparatus comprising
magnetic field generating means for establishing a main magnetic field on said specimen, magnetic field gradient generating means for establishing gradients in said main magnetic field, radio frequency signal generating means for emitting pulsed radio frequency signals to at least portions of said specimen disposed within said main magnetic field, antenna means having a loopless antenna at least for receiving signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, said antenna means also including coaxial cable means for emitting said responsive output signals, said coaxial cable means having an outer shield, and said outer shield having balancing transformer means operatively associated with said first pole, processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals from said antenna means and creating magnetic resonance information related thereto, and display means for displaying said magnetic resonance information received from said processing means as an image or as chemical shift spectra.
-
61. Magnetic resonance analysis apparatus for a specimen, said apparatus comprising
magnetic field generating means for establishing a main magnetic field on said specimen, magnetic field gradient generating means for establishing gradients in said main magnetic field, radio frequency signal generating means for emitting pulsed radio frequency signals to at least portions of said specimen disposed within said main magnetic field, antenna means having a loopless antenna at least for receiving signals emitted from said specimen responsive to said pulsed radio frequency signals and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, processing means for receiving and processing said responsive output signals from said antenna means and creating magnetic resonance information related thereto, display means for displaying said magnetic resonance information received from said processing means as an image or as chemical shift spectra, said antenna means including impedance matching means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said processing means for enhancing radio frequency power transfer and magnetic resonance signal-to-noise ratio from said loopless antenna to said processing means, and said antenna means also including coaxial cable means for emitting said responsive output signals, with said coaxial cable means electrically interposed between said loopless antenna and said impedance matching means, said coaxial cable means having an outer shield and an inner conductor, with said outer shield as the first pole of said loopless antenna and said inner conductor as the second pole of said loopless antenna.
-
63. A magnetic resonance loopless antenna assembly comprising
a coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor, with a portion of said outer shield and a portion of said inner conductor forming an antenna portion of said loopless antenna assembly, said antenna portion at least for receiving magnetic resonance signals emitted from a specimen, with another portion of said coaxial cable for emitting responsive output signals.
-
69. A magnetic resonance antenna assembly comprising
an antenna having loopless antenna means at least for receiving magnetic resonance signals emitted from a specimen and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna means is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, said antenna also having a coaxial cable, with said coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor for emitting said responsive output signals, said outer shield having a portion thereof operatively associated with said first pole, and said inner conductor having a portion thereof operatively associated with said second pole.
-
72. A magnetic resonance antenna assembly comprising
an antenna having loopless antenna means at least for receiving magnetic resonance signals emitted from a specimen and emitting responsive output signals, said loopless antenna means is a dipole antenna having a first pole and a second pole, said antenna also having a coaxial cable, with said coaxial cable having an outer shield and an inner conductor for emitting said responsive output signals, with said outer shield as the first pole of said loopless antenna means and said inner conductor as the second pole of said loopless antenna means.
Specification