Method for time-resolved and location-resolved presentation of functional brain activities with magnetic resonance and apparatus for the implementation of the method

• US 6,289,234 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Mueller, Edgar
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANTIS MERCADER, ELENI M
• Application Number:
  US09/453,284
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 600/509, 600/407, 600/410, 600/425, 600/587, 600/544, 600/545, 600/411, 324/307, 324/309
• US Class Current: 600/410
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4261 Evaluating exocrine secretion production A61B3/101 takes precedence

Abstract

In a method for time-resolved and location-resolved presentation of functional brain activities with magnetic resonance and apparatus for the implementation of the method, the following control sequences are automatically implemented with a control unit on the basis of user inputs: generation of stimulation sequences for an examination subject, control of the data acquisition, post-processing and presentation of the data. A patient under examination can influence the control execution during the control execution.

Claims

1. An apparatus for obtaining magnetic resonance data representing functional brain activities of an examination subject, said apparatus comprising:

a magnetic resonance data acquisition system;

a stimulation unit for stimulating an examination subject in said magnetic resonance data acquisition system; and

a control unit connected to said magnetic resonance data acquisition system and to said stimulation unit for operating said stimulation unit and said magnetic resonance data acquisition system by the executing executive sequences, said control unit having first control output for causing said stimulation unit to emit a stimulus perceivable by said examination subject, a second control output for supplying a pulse sequence to said magnetic resonance data acquisition system for operating said magnetic resonance data acquisition system to obtain magnetic resonance data from said examination subject after said stimulus, a third control output for emitting said magnetic resonance data, and an input interacting with said examination subject to obtain physical parameters from said examination subject during execution of said executive sequences and entering said physical parameters of said examination subject into said control unit for influencing at least one of said pulse sequence and said stimulus during execution of said executive sequences; and

display and processing means connected to said third control output for processing said magnetic resonance data to generate a time-resolved and location-resolved presentation of functional brain activities of said examination subject.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an input interface operable by said examination subject, and wherein said control unit comprises a further input, connected to said input interface, to allow said examination subject to make an entry into said control unit during acquisition of said magnetic resonance data for influencing at least one of said pulse sequence and said stimulus.

3. A method for time-resolved and location-resolved presentation of functional brain activities using magnetic resonance, comprising the steps of:

executing a plurality of executive sequences in a control unit dependent on operator inputs to said control unit, said executive sequences including generating stimulation sequences for stimulating an examination subject, controlling acquisition of magnetic resonance data from said examination subject after stimulation, and post-processing and presenting said magnetic resonance data; and

allowing said examination subject to make an entry into said control unit during at least a portion of said executive sequences for influencing at least a portion of said executive sequences.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising operating said control unit with a plurality of selectable, pre-programmed sets of said executive sequences.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising entering physiological parameters of said examination subject into said control unit to influence said executive sequences.