Systems and methods for correction of inhomogeneities in magnetic resonance images
US7782056B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 2008 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R33/5659
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Intensity inhomogeneities can obscure areas of interest and are problematic for MR image segmentation algorithms. An efficient approach to estimating these inhomogeneities by computing a calibration factor that is a function of an estimated bias field from a series of calibration scans is disclosed. This enables correction of T1W and T2W images by reducing inhomogeneities without the need to map T1 and T2. Because of interest in the shape of the intensity inhomogeneities a limited number of flip angles yield satisfactory performance. Additionally, an RF transmit field B1+ can be estimated and inhomogeneities resulting from the B1+ field reduced from the MR image using the estimated B1+ field.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.