Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) fingerprinting tissue classification and image segmentation
US10261154B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 2014 |
| Grant date | Apr 16, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 8, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R33/50
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus, methods, and other embodiments associated with NMR fingerprinting are described. One example NMR apparatus includes an NMR logic that repetitively and variably samples a (k, t, E) space associated with an object to acquire a set of NMR signals that are associated with different points in the (k, t, E) space. Sampling is performed with t and/or E varying in a non-constant way. The NMR apparatus may also include a signal logic that produces an NMR signal evolution from the NMR signals, and a characterization logic that characterizes a resonant species in the object as a result of comparing acquired signals to reference signals. The NMR signal evolution may be assigned to a cluster based on the characterization of the resonant species. Cluster overlay maps may be produced simultaneously based, at least in part, on the clustering. The clusters may be associated with different tissue types.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.