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Determination of the arterial input function in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI

  • US 6,546,275 B2
  • Filed: 06/25/2001
  • Issued: 04/08/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for producing a magnetic resonance image (MRI) of a hemodynamic parameter in tissues, the steps comprising:

  • a) performing a contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance study of the tissues in which a series of MRI images are acquired as a contrast agent flows through the tissues;

    b) forming a time course NMR image data set with the acquired MRI images, the time course NMR image data set providing a plurality of time course voxel studies which indicate the magnitude of NMR signals produced during the study at voxels throughout the tissues;

    c) automatically producing an, arterial input function (AIF) by selecting one of the time course voxel studies based on an analysis of the NMR signals produced during the study;

    d) calculating a hemodynamic parameter for each voxel using the corresponding time course voxel study and the AIF produced in step c); and

    e) producing an image in which the brightness of pixels therein is modulated by the hemodynamic parameters calculated in step d).

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