Patent · US Expired

Method for blood flow acceleration and velocity measurement using MR catheters

US5445151A · kind A · utility

47Cited by
2References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 23, 1994
Grant dateAug 29, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 23, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01R33/56308
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of magnetic resonance (MR) fluid flow measurement within a subject employs an invasive device with an RF transmit/receive coil and an RF transmit coil spaced a known distance apart. The subject is positioned in a static magnetic field. The invasive device is positioned in a vessel of a subject in which fluid flow is desired to be determined. A regular pattern of RF transmission pulses are radiated through the RF transmit/receive coil causing it to cause a steady-state MR response signal. Intermittently a second RF signal is transmitted from the RF coil positioned upstream which causes a change in the steady-state MR response signal sensed by the downstream transmit/receive coil. This is detected a short delay time later at the RF receive coil. The time delay and the distance between the RF coils leads directly to a fluid velocity. By exchanging the position of the RF transmit and transmit/receive coils, retrograde velocity may be measured. In another embodiment, more RF coils are employed. The changed MR response signal may be sensed at a number of locations at different times, leading to a measured change in velocity, or acceleration of the fluid.

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