Kristin E James

US Patent:

20180313925, Nov 1, 2018

Filed:

Jul 6, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/028768

Inventors:

- Santa Ynez CA, US
David R. Chase - Santa Barbara CA, US
Timothy W. James - Santa Barbara CA, US
Kristin James - Santa Barbara CA, US

International Classification:

G01R 33/56
G01R 33/48
G01R 33/483
G01R 33/561
G01R 33/563
G06T 7/00

Abstract:

A method for identifying the chemical species of various textural elements in a targeted region of tissue wherein a volume of interest (VOI) is selectively excited and a k-encode gradient pulse is applied to induce phase wrap to create a spatial encode for a specific k-value and orientation. The specific k-value is selected based on anticipated texture within the VOI. Multiple sequential samples of the NMR RF signal encoded with the specific k-value are recorded as signal data. The Fourier Transform of the acquired signal data is then taken, wherein for each k-encode, the signal recorded is indicative of the spatial frequency power density at that point in k-space. Each peak in the NMR spectrum is then evaluated, whereby the relative contribution to the texture of tissue in the VOI at a k-value for each chemical species is determined.

US Patent:

20160061917, Mar 3, 2016

Filed:

Aug 31, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/840327

Inventors:

- Santa Ynez CA, US
Timothy W. James - Santa Barbara CA, US
Kristin M. James - Santa Barbara CA, US

International Classification:

G01R 33/48
A61B 5/055
A61B 5/00
G01R 33/54
G01R 33/385

Abstract:

The disclosed embodiments provide a method for acquiring MR data at resolutions down to tens of microns for application in in-vivo diagnosis and monitoring of pathology for which changes in fine tissue textures can be used as markers of disease onset and progression. Bone diseases, tumors, neurologic diseases, and diseases involving fibrotic growth and/or destruction are all target pathologies. Further the technique can be used in any biologic or physical system for which very high-resolution characterization of fine scale morphology is needed. The method provides rapid acquisition of selected values in k-space, with multiple successive acquisitions of individual k-values taken on a time scale on the order of microseconds, within a defined tissue volume, and subsequent combination of the multiple measurements in such a way as to maximize SNR. The reduced acquisition volume, and acquisition of only select values in k-space along selected directions, enables much higher in-vivo resolution than is obtainable with current MRI techniques.

US Patent:

20140205541, Jul 24, 2014

Filed:

Mar 25, 2014

Appl. No.:

14/224502

Inventors:

- Swansea, GB
Samantha Telfer - Newport, GB
Amanda Davies - Cardiff, GB
Lance W. Farr - Swansea, GB
Ryan Pathak - Caerphilli, GB
Kristin James - Santa Barbara CA, US

Assignee:

Acuitas Medical Limited - Swansea

International Classification:

A61K 49/06

US Classification:

424 93

Abstract:

The disclosed invention is a method for detecting indications of the presence of liver disease and other fibrotic diseases using a magnetic-resonance based technique for measuring fine tissue and bone textures. Specifically, the invention focuses on adaptations to this prior art to facilitate assessment of the presence and severity of liver disease, lung disease, and other fibrotic disease by measuring spatial wavelengths characteristic of the specific disease process across an areal cross-section through an organ. The results may be presented using a mapping technique. In this way, the resolution of MR is extended further than possible with current MR imaging, so as to be able to measure the fine scale structures and tissue changes that are known to be characteristic of the degenerative processes involved in the development of these diseases.