Steady state dark blood magnetic resonance imaging
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
- controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus to produce a steady state pulse sequence; and
controlling the MRI apparatus to generate radio frequency (RF) energy and magnetic gradients associated with the steady state pulse sequence;
where the steady state pulse sequence is characterized by;
regularly spaced in time slice selection excitation pulses to excite a region to be imaged in an object to be imaged using a consistent repetition time (TR),a readout module comprising a gradient that is active between readout RF pulses but not during the readout RF pulses, anda magnetization preparation module,where during a magnetization preparation modulean additional RF pulse associated with slice selection is produced between RF pulses associated with producing steady state,an additional fixed slice selection gradient correlated to the additional RF pulse is active between RF pulses in the readout module,a fixed phase selection gradient is active at a time not overlapping with the additional RF pulse or the additional fixed slice selection gradient, anda fixed readout gradient is active at a time correlated to the fixed phase selection gradient,andwhere signals from which an MR image of the object to be imaged can be reconstructed are to be acquired during the readout module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with steady state dark blood magnetic resonance imaging MRI are described. One example method includes controlling an MRI apparatus to produce a steady state pulse sequence. The example method may also include controlling the MRI apparatus to generate radio frequency (RF) energy and magnetic gradients associated with the steady state pulse sequence. The steady state pulse sequence is different from conventional steady state pulses in that it is characterized by regularly spaced slice selection excitation pulses to excite a region to be imaged in an object to be imaged using a consistent repetition time (TR), a set of readout modules, and a set of a magnetization preparation modules. A magnetization preparation module is characterized by gradients associated with imaging not being active, gradients associated with slice selection being active, and RF pulses associated with slice selection being active.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
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controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus to produce a steady state pulse sequence; and controlling the MRI apparatus to generate radio frequency (RF) energy and magnetic gradients associated with the steady state pulse sequence; where the steady state pulse sequence is characterized by; regularly spaced in time slice selection excitation pulses to excite a region to be imaged in an object to be imaged using a consistent repetition time (TR), a readout module comprising a gradient that is active between readout RF pulses but not during the readout RF pulses, and a magnetization preparation module, where during a magnetization preparation module an additional RF pulse associated with slice selection is produced between RF pulses associated with producing steady state, an additional fixed slice selection gradient correlated to the additional RF pulse is active between RF pulses in the readout module, a fixed phase selection gradient is active at a time not overlapping with the additional RF pulse or the additional fixed slice selection gradient, and a fixed readout gradient is active at a time correlated to the fixed phase selection gradient, and where signals from which an MR image of the object to be imaged can be reconstructed are to be acquired during the readout module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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a memory; a processor; and an interface that connects the processor, the memory, and a set of logics, the set of logics comprising; a pulse logic to produce a steady state pulse sequence that includes a set of readout modules and a set of magnetization preparation modules; and an output logic to produce radio frequency (RF) energy and magnetic gradients associated with the steady state pulse sequence; where the steady state pulse sequence includes; regularly spaced in time slice selection excitation pulses to excite a region to be imaged in an object to be imaged using a consistent repetition time (TR), a readout module comprising a gradient that is active between readout RF pulses but not during the readout RF pulses, and a magnetization preparation module, where during a magnetization preparation module an additional RF pulse associated with slice selection is produced between RF pulses associated with producing steady state, an additional fixed slice selection gradient correlated to the additional RF pulse is active between RF pulses in the readout module, a fixed phase selection gradient is active at a time not overlapping with the additional RF pulse or the additional fixed slice selection gradient, and a fixed readout gradient is active at a time correlated to the fixed phase selection gradient, and where signal from which an MR image can be reconstructed is to be acquired from the object to be imaged during the readout module. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A system, comprising:
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means for generating a steady state pulse sequence having; regularly spaced slice selection excitation pulses to excite a region to be imaged in an object to be imaged using a consistent repetition time (TR), a readout module comprising gradients between RF pulses but not including the RF pulses, and a magnetization preparation module, where during a magnetization preparation module; an additional RF pulse associated with slice selection is produced between RF pulses associated with producing steady state, an additional fixed slice selection gradient correlated to the additional RF pulse is active between RF pulses in the readout module, a fixed phase selection gradient is active at a time not overlapping with the additional RF pulse or the additional fixed slice selection gradient, and a fixed readout gradient is active at a time correlated to the fixed phase selection gradient, and where signal from which an MR image can be reconstructed is to be acquired from the object to be imaged during [[a]] the readout module; means for applying the steady state pulse sequence to an object to be imaged; and means for reconstructing a magnetic resonance image from signals acquired from the object to be imaged in response to applying the steady state pulse sequence.
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Specification