Imaging system, computer, program product and method for detecting changes in rates of water diffusion in a tissue using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
First Claim
1. A computer program product for use in the detection of changes in rates of water diffusion in a tissue using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) comprising a computer useable medium comprising a computer readable program code embodied therein, wherein the computer program product is capable of storing and analyzing data input from a MRI device by a process comprising the following steps:
- (a) providing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device capable of outputting data to a computer;
(b) providing a computer capable of storing and analyzing data input from the MRI device comprising a computer program product embodied therein;
(c) projecting a sequence of magnetic field gradient pulses and radiofrequency pulses to the tissue of interest by the MRI device and collecting a first set of MRI signals from the tissue and outputting this data to the computer, wherein the MRI device collects MRI signals from the tissue of interest at multiple diffusion sensitivities and diffusion directions;
(d) analyzing the first set of diffusion-sensitive MRI signal readings by the computer program product to calculate an apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value for each diffusion direction, wherein an ADC value corresponds to a spatial origin of the signals used to determine the ADC value, and to generate a first spatial map of ADC values;
(e) projecting at least a second sequence of magnetic field gradient pulses and radiofrequency pulses and analyzing at least a second set of diffusion-sensitive MRI readings in the same tissue of interest as in steps (c) and (d) to generate at least a second subsequent spatial map of ADC values; and
(f) compare the first and subsequent spatial maps of ADC values to generate a spatial map that reflects the changes in ADC values over the time the several readings were taken by the MRI, wherein the changes in ADC values reflect the changes in spin diffusion properties which reflect changes in rates of water diffusion in the tissue.
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Abstract
The invention provides a computer-implemented method for detecting changes in rates of water diffusion in a tissue. The invention also provides a computer program product for use in the detection of changes in rates of water diffusion in a tissue using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) comprising a computer useable medium comprising a computer readable program code embodied therein, wherein the computer program product is capable of storing and analyzing data input from a MRI device. The invention also provides a computer system, comprising a processor and a computer program product of the invention. The invention also provides a tissue imaging system, comprising a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device capable of outputting data to a processor; a processor; and, a computer program product of the invention embodied within the processor.
61 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A computer program product for use in the detection of changes in rates of water diffusion in a tissue using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) comprising a computer useable medium comprising a computer readable program code embodied therein, wherein the computer program product is capable of storing and analyzing data input from a MRI device by a process comprising the following steps:
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(a) providing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device capable of outputting data to a computer;
(b) providing a computer capable of storing and analyzing data input from the MRI device comprising a computer program product embodied therein;
(c) projecting a sequence of magnetic field gradient pulses and radiofrequency pulses to the tissue of interest by the MRI device and collecting a first set of MRI signals from the tissue and outputting this data to the computer, wherein the MRI device collects MRI signals from the tissue of interest at multiple diffusion sensitivities and diffusion directions;
(d) analyzing the first set of diffusion-sensitive MRI signal readings by the computer program product to calculate an apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value for each diffusion direction, wherein an ADC value corresponds to a spatial origin of the signals used to determine the ADC value, and to generate a first spatial map of ADC values;
(e) projecting at least a second sequence of magnetic field gradient pulses and radiofrequency pulses and analyzing at least a second set of diffusion-sensitive MRI readings in the same tissue of interest as in steps (c) and (d) to generate at least a second subsequent spatial map of ADC values; and
(f) compare the first and subsequent spatial maps of ADC values to generate a spatial map that reflects the changes in ADC values over the time the several readings were taken by the MRI, wherein the changes in ADC values reflect the changes in spin diffusion properties which reflect changes in rates of water diffusion in the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
(a) a processor; and
(b) a computer program product as set forth in claim 1.
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3. A tissue imaging system, comprising:
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(a) a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device capable of outputting data to a processor;
(b) a processor; and
(c) a computer program product as set forth in claim 1 embodied within the processor.
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4. A computer-implemented method for detecting changes in rates of water diffusion in a tissue comprising the following steps:
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(a) providing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device capable of outputting data to a computer;
(b) providing a computer capable of storing and analyzing data input from the MRI device comprising a computer program product embodied therein;
(c) projecting a sequence of magnetic field gradient pulses and radiofrequency pulses to the tissue of interest by the MRI device and collecting a first set of MRI signals from the tissue and outputting this data to the computer, wherein the MRI device collects MRI signals from the tissue of interest at multiple diffusion sensitivities and diffusion directions;
(d) analyzing the first set of diffusion-sensitive MRI signal readings by the computer program product to calculate an apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value for each diffusion direction, wherein an ADC value corresponds to a spatial origin of the signals used to determine the ADC value, and to generate a first spatial map of ADC values;
(e) projecting at least a second sequence of magnetic field gradient pulses and radiofrequency pulses and analyzing at least a second set of diffusion-sensitive MRI readings in the same tissue of interest as in steps (c) and (d) to generate at least a second subsequent spatial map of ADC values; and
(f) compare the first and subsequent spatial maps of ADC values to generate a spatial map that reflects the changes in ADC values over the time the several readings were taken by the MRI, wherein the changes in ADC values reflect the changes in spin diffusion properties which reflect changes in rates of water diffusion in the tissue. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification