Inspection apparatus using nuclear magnetic resonance
First Claim
1. An inspection apparatus using nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising:
- static magnetic field generating means for generating a static magnetic field;
gradient magnetic field generating means for generating gradient magnetic fields in three directions, respectively;
radio frequency magnetic field generating means for generating a radio frequency magnetic field for exciting nuclear magnetization of a target to be inspected;
detection means for detecting a nuclear magnetic resonance signal from the target to be inspected; and
arithmetic and control means for calculating a detection signal of the signal detection means, exciting the nuclear magnetization in a predetermined cross section of the target to be inspected and controlling a pulse sequence for detecting the nuclear magnetic resonance signal,wherein the arithmetic and control means;
(a) controls an echo planar pulse sequence for acquiring a plurality of images of a predetermined same region of the target to be inspected; and
(b) (1) arranges echo signal data in a k-space, obtained by measuring the target to be inspected using the echo planar pulse sequence and forms an EPI data set corresponding to each image;
(2) designates a plurality of coordinate points in the k-space as observed points for detecting the body motion, the observed points being arranged in parallel with one of the coordinate axes in the k-space or being arranged in parallel with two or more coordinate axes, respectively, selected from the coordinate axes;
(3) designates a predetermined one of the EPI data sets to reference data for body motion for correcting influence by the body motion of the target to be inspected and calculates reference phase as a phase of the reference data for body motion at each observed point;
(4) calculates the phase of the EPI data set at each observed point;
(5) calculates a body motion correction value expressing the influence by the body motion of the target to be inspected by using the phase difference between the phase of the EPI data set and the reference phase; and
(6) executes a process for eliminating the influence by body motion of the target to be inspected by eliminating the phase difference of the EPI data set by using the body motion correction value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inspection apparatus using nuclear magnetic resonance having arithmetic and control means for controlling a pulse sequence for detecting a nuclear magnetic resonance signal from a target to be inspected and calculating the detected signal. The arithmetic and control means controls an echo planar pulse sequence for acquiring a plurality of images of a predetermined same region of the target to be inspected; and arranges echo signal data obtained by measuring the inspection target by the echo planar pulse sequence and forms an EPI data set; designates a plurality of data points in k-space as observed points; designates a predetermined EPI data set to reference data for body motion for correcting influence by the body motion of the inspection target and calculates a reference phase as a phase of the body motion reference data at the observed points; calculates the phase of the EPI data set at the observed points; calculates a body motion correcting value expressing the influence by the body motion of the inspection target by using the phase difference between the phase of the EPI data set and the reference phase; and executes a process for eliminating the influence by the body motion of the inspection target by removing the phase difference of the EPI data set of the target to be inspected by using the body motion correction values.
58 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An inspection apparatus using nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising:
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static magnetic field generating means for generating a static magnetic field; gradient magnetic field generating means for generating gradient magnetic fields in three directions, respectively; radio frequency magnetic field generating means for generating a radio frequency magnetic field for exciting nuclear magnetization of a target to be inspected; detection means for detecting a nuclear magnetic resonance signal from the target to be inspected; and arithmetic and control means for calculating a detection signal of the signal detection means, exciting the nuclear magnetization in a predetermined cross section of the target to be inspected and controlling a pulse sequence for detecting the nuclear magnetic resonance signal, wherein the arithmetic and control means; (a) controls an echo planar pulse sequence for acquiring a plurality of images of a predetermined same region of the target to be inspected; and (b) (1) arranges echo signal data in a k-space, obtained by measuring the target to be inspected using the echo planar pulse sequence and forms an EPI data set corresponding to each image; (2) designates a plurality of coordinate points in the k-space as observed points for detecting the body motion, the observed points being arranged in parallel with one of the coordinate axes in the k-space or being arranged in parallel with two or more coordinate axes, respectively, selected from the coordinate axes; (3) designates a predetermined one of the EPI data sets to reference data for body motion for correcting influence by the body motion of the target to be inspected and calculates reference phase as a phase of the reference data for body motion at each observed point; (4) calculates the phase of the EPI data set at each observed point; (5) calculates a body motion correction value expressing the influence by the body motion of the target to be inspected by using the phase difference between the phase of the EPI data set and the reference phase; and (6) executes a process for eliminating the influence by body motion of the target to be inspected by eliminating the phase difference of the EPI data set by using the body motion correction value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An inspecting apparatus using nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising:
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static magnetic field generating means for generating a static magnetic field; gradient magnetic field generating means for generating gradient magnetic fields in three directions, respectively; radio frequency magnetic field generating means for generating a radio frequency magnetic field for exciting nuclear magnetization of a target to be inspected; detection means for detecting a nuclear magnetic resonance signal from the target to be inspected; and arithmetic and control means for calculating a detection signal of the signal detection means, exciting the nuclear magnetization in a predetermined cross section of the target to be inspected and controlling a pulse sequence for detecting the nuclear magnetic resonance signal, wherein the arithmetic and control means; (a) controls an echo planar pulse sequence for acquiring a plurality of images of a predetermined same region of the target to be inspected; and (b) (1) calculates a value for correcting phase distortion occurring when an EPI pulse sequence is implemented from an echo signal obtained by measuring the target to be inspected at least in a part of the EPI pulse sequence; (2) arranges the echo signals obtained by measuring the target to be inspected using the EPI pulse sequence in a k-space, thereby forming an EPI data set corresponding to each image; (3) designates a plurality of data points in the k-space as observed points for detecting the body motion, the observed points being arranged in parallel to one of the coordinate axes in the k-space or being arranged in parallel to two or more coordinate axes, respectively, selected from the coordinate axes; (4) designates a predetermined one of the EPI data sets to reference data for body motion for correcting influence by the body motion of the target to be inspected and calculates a reference phase as a phase of the reference data for body motion at each observed point; (5) calculates a phase of the EPI data set at each observed point; (6) calculates a body motion correction value expressing the influence by the body motion of the target to be inspected by using the phase difference between the phase of the EPI data set and the reference phase; (7) removes the influence by the body motion of the target to be inspected by removing the phase difference of the EPI data set by using the body motion correction value; and (8) executes a process for reconstructing an image by using the EPI data set in which the influence by the body motion of the target to be inspected is removed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An inspection apparatus using nuclear magnetic resonance, comprising:
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static magnetic field generating means for generating a static magnetic field; gradient magnetic field generating means for generating gradient magnetic fields in three directions, respectively; radio frequency magnetic field generating means for generating a radio frequency magnetic field for exciting nuclear magnetization of a target to be inspected; detection means for detecting a nuclear magnetic resonance signal from the target to be inspected; and arithmetic and control means for calculating a detection signal of the signal detection means, exciting the nuclear magnetization in a predetermined cross section of the target to be inspected and controlling a pulse sequence for detecting the nuclear magnetic resonance signal, wherein the arithmetic and control means; (a) controls a predetermined pulse sequence for acquiring a plurality of images of a predetermined same region of the target to be inspected a plurality of times by an echo planar imaging; and (b) (1) arranges echo signal data in a k-space, obtained by measuring the target to be inspected using the echo planar pulse sequence and forms an EPI data set corresponding to each image; (2) estimates a phase rotation amount of the a zero-encode echo signal in which a phase encoding amount by a phase encoding gradient magnetic field pulse is zero in the EPI data set and a time difference between the center of the zero-encode echo signal and the center of a radio frequency pulse, and detects fluctuation in the phase rotation amount between the images from the estimated phase rotation amount; (3) determines a phase correction amount for each echo signal in the EPI data set; and (4) corrects the phase of each echo signal in the EPI data set.
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Specification