Magnetic resonance imaging system, a method of magnetic resonance imaging and a computer program
First Claim
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1. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
- a data acquisition system including;
a main magnet which generates a magnetic field in an imaging volume,a gradient system which generates a gradient in said magnetic field;
an RF excitation system which generates a radio-frequency wave in the imaging volume, said radio-frequency wave being configured to interact with a contrast agent encapsulated in a thermo-sensitive shield introduced into matter, positioned in the imaging volume;
a signal acquisition system which detects a signal representative of a response of the matter and contrast agent to said radio-frequency wave;
a control system which controls the data acquisition system to generate a dataset including signal phase data and signal magnitude data;
an image processor which reconstructs based on the dataset, an image representative of;
(1) local thermometry data and (2) local longitudinal relaxation data using said phase data and said magnitude data and which generates a further signal upon an event of a detection of the contrast agent outside the shield.
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Abstract
A magnetic resonance imaging system (1) includes a data acquisition system (11) with a main magnet (12) with an imaging volume. A gradient system (G) generates field gradients (Gx), (Gy) and (Gz). An RF excitation system (10) generates radio-frequency (RF) excitation pulses. In a receiving mode, an RF coil senses a response, for example in the form of free induction decay signals, including echo signals. An image processor (26) is arranged to extract thermometry data and longitudinal relaxation time data from the acquired MR signals and to forward corresponding reconstructed images to a display unit (28).
16 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
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a data acquisition system including; a main magnet which generates a magnetic field in an imaging volume, a gradient system which generates a gradient in said magnetic field; an RF excitation system which generates a radio-frequency wave in the imaging volume, said radio-frequency wave being configured to interact with a contrast agent encapsulated in a thermo-sensitive shield introduced into matter, positioned in the imaging volume; a signal acquisition system which detects a signal representative of a response of the matter and contrast agent to said radio-frequency wave; a control system which controls the data acquisition system to generate a dataset including signal phase data and signal magnitude data; an image processor which reconstructs based on the dataset, an image representative of;
(1) local thermometry data and (2) local longitudinal relaxation data using said phase data and said magnitude data and which generates a further signal upon an event of a detection of the contrast agent outside the shield. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of magnetic resonance imaging comprising
positioning an object to be investigated in an imaging volume of a magnetic resonance apparatus, the object comprising a contrast agent encapsulated in a thermo-sensitive shield, said shield being configured to increase its permeability to the contrast agent and/or to surrounding water upon an event of a threshold temperature being reached; -
acquiring a magnetic resonance dataset representative of temperature data and longitudinal relaxation data of the matter object; reconstructing an image representative of said temperature data and said longitudinal relaxation data; heating region of the object using a heating device at least until a threshold temperature is reached; detecting an event of the contrast agent leaving the shield. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
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a data acquisition system including; a main magnet configured to generate a magnetic field in an imaging volume, a gradient system configured to generate gradients in the magnetic field in the imaging volume; an RF excitation system configured to transmit radio-frequency excitation signals in the imaging volume; a signal acquisition system configured to detect radio-frequency response signals from a subject in the imaging volume in response to the radio-frequency excitation signals; a control system configured to operate the data acquisition system to generate from the response signals a dataset including signal phase data and signal magnitude data; an image processing system configured to reconstruct based on said dataset an image representative of (1) local thermometry data and (2) local longitudinal relaxation data using said phase data and said magnitude data; a heating device configured to locally elevate a temperature in at least one subregion of the subject; the control system further being configured to monitor the local thermometry data in the subject and to control the heating device to control heating of the at least one subregion of the subject in accordance with a pre-set control program. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A method of magnetic resonance imaging comprising:
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acquiring a magnetic resonance dataset from a subject positioned in an imaging volume of a magnetic resonance apparatus from a subject, which subject has received a thermo-sensitive substance, the dataset being indicative of a temperature distribution in the subject and a longitudinal relaxation distribution in the subject; reconstructing an image representative of the temperature distribution and at least one of the longitudinal relaxation distribution and a thermo-sensitive substance distribution in the subject. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification