Patent · US Expired

Biomedical magnetism imaging apparatus and method

US5594849A · kind A · utility

47Cited by
6References
4Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 9, 1991
Grant dateJan 14, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 9, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B5/242
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for performing biomagnetic imaging to determine the location and intensity of current sources within a subject includes a sensor unit for sensing the magnetic field within the subject and for providing sensing signals. A signal processor defines a grid having multiple grid points and performs inverse estimation to determine the distribution of current sources on the defined grid based on the sensing signals. The signal processor then modifies the grid to improve the resolution of the current sources distributed on the grid. A control unit controls the operation of the signal processor and processes image data to provide magnified and non-magnified displays on a display unit. The biomagnetic imaging method and apparatus can be combined with a system for providing magnetic resonance imaging data so as to produce a superimposed display including an MRI image and a biomagnetic image.

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