Coil array autocalibration MR imaging
Patent 6289232 Issued on September 11, 2001. Estimated Expiration Date: 
March 30, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
March 30, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesNuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging with multiple surface coils Rapid MRI using multiple receivers producing multiply phase-encoded data derived from a single NMR response Magnetic resonance imaging system Simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging of multiple human organs Time encoded magnetic resonance imaging Simultaneous acquisition of spatial harmonics (SMASH): ultra-fast imaging with radiofrequency coil arrays Patent #: 5910728 InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 050404 filed on 03/30/1998US Classes:600/410, Magnetic resonance imaging or spectroscopy324/307, Using a nuclear resonance spectrometer system324/309, To obtain localized resonance within a sample324/318, Spectrometer components324/322, Electronic circuit elements600/422CoilExaminersPrimary: Lateef, Marvin M.Assistant: Mercader, Eleni Mantis Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassA61B 005/055AbstractA magnetic resonance (MR) imaging apparatus and technique exploits spatial information inherent in a surface coil array to increase MR image acquisition speed, resolution and/or field of view. Magnetic resonance response signals are acquired simultaneously in the component coils of the array and, using an autocalibration procedure, are formed into two or more signals to fill a corresponding number of lines in the signal measurement data matrix. In a Fourier embodiment, lines of the k-space matrix required for image production are formed using a set of separate, preferably linear combinations of the component coil signals to substitute for spatial modulations normally produced by phase encoding gradients. One or a few additional gradients are applied to acquire autocalibration (ACS) signals extending elsewhere in the data space, and the measured signals are fitted to the ACS signals to develop weights or coefficients for filling additional lines of the matrix from each measurement set. The ACS lines may be taken offset from or in a different orientation than the measured signals, for example, between or across the measured lines. Furthermore, they may be acquired at different positions in k-space, may be performed at times before, during or after the principal imaging sequence, and may be selectively acquired to optimized the fitting for a particular tissue region or feature size. The in vivo fitting procedure is readily automated or implemented in hardware, and produces an enhancement of image speed and/or quality even in highly heterogeneous tissue. A dedicated coil assembly automatically performs the calibration procedure and applies it to measured lines to produce multiple correctly spaced output signals. One application of the internal calibration technique to a subencoding imaging process applies the ACS in the central region of a sparse set of measured signals to quickly form a full FOV low resolution image. The full FOV image is then used to determine coil sensitivity related information and dealias folded images produced from the sparse set.Other References
Field of SearchMagnetic resonance imaging or spectroscopyIncluding any system component contacting (internal or external) or conforming to body or body part Coil Using a nuclear resonance spectrometer system To obtain localized resonance within a sample Spectrometer components Electronic circuit elements | |
