Magneto-acoustic resonance imaging
US5402786A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 1992 |
| Grant date | Apr 4, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 11, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R33/28
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A less expensive apparatus and associated method for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of body tissues are disclosed. A physician uses an ultrasonic detector in combination with a weak magnetic field and pulsed, low frequency R.F. generator. The patient lies partially within the field of a magnet and receives low frequency radio pulses. As is shown below, ultrasonic waves are produced within the patient's body by the ordinary occurrence of nuclear magnetic resonance. For this reason, ultrasonic acoustic detection replaces the usual radio detection of the magnetic resonance induced spin echoes. The physician manipulates a hand-held ultrasonic detector with real time image feedback in much the same way that an ultrasonic transducer is used to provide the usual ultrasonic images. In the present case, however, no ultrasonic waves are emitted by the transducer; instead, the waves emitted by the "slice" selected by the radio frequency resonance with tissue protons are the source of the ultrasonic image produced. The MRI advantages of image production emphasizing longitudinal, T1, spin relaxation or transverse, T2, relaxation are retained. The usual problem that MRI has in low-noise measur…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.