Patent · US Expired

Quantization error reduction method for phase encode gradient in NMR imaging

US4713615A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
7References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 25, 1986
Grant dateDec 15, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 25, 2006

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R33/482
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In an improved NMR imaging method, where three-nominally orthogonal gradient fields are generated, the quantization error of the phase encode gradient is reduced without the necessity of a digital to analog converter of higher bit capacity. This is accomplished in one embodiment by providing a second smaller gradient waveform which is relatively narrow compared to the primary gradient waveform, the ratio of the waveforms being proportional to the improved resolution. The second waveform can occur either before or after the 180.degree. excitation pulse used to produce a spin-echo signal. In another embodiment pulse width modulation is used to vary the area of the phase encode waveform in discrete increments.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.