Imaging method

• US 6,891,372 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Forschungszentrum Jã¼Lich GmbH (Bundesrepublik Deutschland)
• Original Assignee: Forschungszentrum Jã¼Lich GmbH (Bundesrepublik Deutschland)
• Inventors: Zilles, Karl, Shah, Nadim Joni, Steinhoff, Sven
• Primary Examiner(s): ARANA, LOUIS M
• Application Number:
  US10/169,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20030076098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 324/309, 324/307, 324/306, 324/312, 324/314, 324/300
• US Class Current: 324/309
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/4835 of multiple slices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5619 by temporal sharing of data, e.g. keyhole, block regional interpolation scheme for k-Space [BRISK]

Abstract

The invention relates to an imaging method. Layer or volume areas are selected by radiating high-frequency pulses and applying at least one magnetic potential field. Nuclear magnetic resonances are excited and are detected as measuring signals in said areas. According to the invention, the method is carried out in such a way that different layer or volume areas are successively selected and the corresponding measuring signals are detected by means of the magnetic potential field and that layer or volume images of the individual layer or volume areas are produced after the measuring signals for the different layer or volume areas have been detected.

Claims

1. An echo-planar imaging method in which

high-frequency pulses are emitted;

at least one magnetic gradient field is applied in order to select slice or volume areas in which nuclear magnetic resonances are excited and ascertained as measuring signals whereby, through the magnetic gradient field, several slice or volume areas are consecutively selected and the appertaining measuring signals are detected, and whereby, following the detection of the measuring signals for various slice or volume areas, slice or volume images are formed of the individual slice or volume areas, and a high-resolution reference image (REF<

hi-res>

) is made, in that additional images having a lower resolution (KEY<

low-res>

) are made and in that the resolution of the additional images is improved by being linked to the reference image (REF<

hi-res>

); and

keyhole images are reconstructed by means of a phase correction in order to generate completely resolved images.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein first the high-resolution reference image (REF<

hi-res>

) is made and in that subsequently the additional images (KEY<

low-res>

) are made.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the linking of the additional images with the reference image (REF<

hi-res>

) is improved, essentially in accordance with the formula (REF<

hi-res>

)=(REF<

hi-k>

)+(REF<

low-k>

), wherein (REF<

hi-k>

) refers to outer areas in the k-space while (REF<

low-k>

) refers to central areas in the k-space.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein measuring signals are detected at different points in time for at least one of the slice or volume areas.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the measuring signals undergo a Fourier transformation.