Magnetic resonance method and apparatus using dual echoes for data acquisition
First Claim
1. A method for acquiring magnetic resonance image data, comprising the steps of:
- providing a magnetic resonance scanner operated by a control computer and having a magnet system that generates a basic magnetic field;
using said control computer, making a designation of a division to place a dividing line in a planar section through a human or animal subject, dependent on anatomy represented in said planar section, that selectively divides said planar section into, and establishes in said planar section, a division comprising a first selected section on one side of said dividing line in which said basic magnetic field has a first homogeneity and a second selected section, on an opposite side of said dividing line and separated from said first selected section by said dividing line, in which said basic magnetic field has a second homogeneity that is less homogenous than said first homogeneity;
after making said division, using said control computer to generate a control protocol incorporating the designation of said division, that operates said magnetic resonance scanner to acquire magnetic resonance image data from the subject using an echo planar imaging sequence in which, according to said designation of said division, magnetic resonance image data are acquired from said first selected section only from gradient echo signals in said echo planar imaging sequence and magnetic resonance image data are acquired from said second selected section from both gradient echo signals and spin echo signals in said echo planar imaging sequence;
operating said magnetic resonance scanner from said control computer according to said control protocol to acquire said magnetic resonance image data from the subject; and
making the magnetic resonance image data from the subject available as an output from the control computer in a form allowing reconstruction of a visible image of the subject therefrom.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a method and system for acquiring magnetic resonance image data from a subject, using a data acquisition unit in which a basic magnetic field is generated, a division is designated in a planar section through the subject that divides the planar section into a first section and a second section, with the homogeneity of the basic magnetic field being better in said first section than in said second section. An echo planar imaging sequence is implemented to acquire the magnetic resonance imaging data, with magnetic resonance data being acquired from the first section only from gradient echo signals in the echo planar imaging sequence, and magnetic resonance data from said the second section being acquired from both gradient echo signals and spin echo signals in the echo planar imaging sequence. The method and apparatus are particularly suited for acquiring functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from the brain of a subject, in which the first section is an upper portion of the brain and the second section is a lower portion of the brain.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for acquiring magnetic resonance image data, comprising the steps of:
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providing a magnetic resonance scanner operated by a control computer and having a magnet system that generates a basic magnetic field; using said control computer, making a designation of a division to place a dividing line in a planar section through a human or animal subject, dependent on anatomy represented in said planar section, that selectively divides said planar section into, and establishes in said planar section, a division comprising a first selected section on one side of said dividing line in which said basic magnetic field has a first homogeneity and a second selected section, on an opposite side of said dividing line and separated from said first selected section by said dividing line, in which said basic magnetic field has a second homogeneity that is less homogenous than said first homogeneity; after making said division, using said control computer to generate a control protocol incorporating the designation of said division, that operates said magnetic resonance scanner to acquire magnetic resonance image data from the subject using an echo planar imaging sequence in which, according to said designation of said division, magnetic resonance image data are acquired from said first selected section only from gradient echo signals in said echo planar imaging sequence and magnetic resonance image data are acquired from said second selected section from both gradient echo signals and spin echo signals in said echo planar imaging sequence; operating said magnetic resonance scanner from said control computer according to said control protocol to acquire said magnetic resonance image data from the subject; and making the magnetic resonance image data from the subject available as an output from the control computer in a form allowing reconstruction of a visible image of the subject therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for acquiring magnetic resonance image data, comprising:
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a magnetic resonance scanner having a magnet system that generates a basic magnetic field; a control computer configured to place a dividing line in a planar section through a human or animal subject, dependent on anatomy represented in said planar section, that selectively divides said planar section into, and establishes in said planar section, a division comprising a first selected section on one side of said dividing line in which said basic magnetic field has a first homogeneity and a second selected section, on an opposite side of said dividing line and separated from said first selected section by said dividing line, in which said basic magnetic field has a second homogeneity that is less homogenous than said first homogeneity; a control computer configured to generate after making said division, a control protocol that incorporates the designation of said division, and to operate said magnetic resonance scanner to acquire magnetic resonance image data from the subject using an echo planar imaging sequence by, according to said designation of said division, acquiring magnetic resonance image data from said first selected section only from gradient echo signals in said echo planar imaging sequence and acquiring magnetic resonance image data from said second selected section from both gradient echo signals and spin echo signals in said echo planar imaging sequence; and said control computer being configured to make the magnetic resonance image data from the subject available as an output from the control computer in a form allowing reconstruction of a visible image of the subject therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification