Rebecca Cooper Mccann

US Patent:

6643534, Nov 4, 2003

Filed:

Mar 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/098013

Inventors:

Thomas K.F. Foo - Rockville MD
Vincent B. Ho - North Bethesda MD
Rebecca A. McCann - Sussex WI

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Milwaukee WI
Uniform Services University of Health Sciences - Bethesda MD
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Defense - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61B 5055

US Classification:

600420, 600415, 600419, 324306, 324309

Abstract:

A system and method for optimally imaging the peripheral vasculature is disclosed which includes defining a given number of scan stations along a patients peripheral vasculature and initially injecting a relatively small amount of contrast agent into the patient to pass a test bolus through the patients peripheral vasculature, and thereafter tracking the test bolus through the patient and adjusting the patient on a moveable table within the MR imaging device from one scan station to a next station to determine a maximum travel time that the test bolus takes to travel through each of the given number of scan stations. Additional contrast agent is then injected into the patient to pass an exam bolus through the patients peripheral vasculature, and using the test bolus travel time, MR data can be acquired from each scan station while it is known that the exam bolus is present in that station to optimize image resolution. Initially, central k-space data is acquired for each scan station, and if time permits, the higher spatial frequency k-space data can be acquired. Otherwise, once the central k-space data is acquired for each station, the patient table is adjusted to the scan stations that require additional data acquisition.

US Patent:

6425864, Jul 30, 2002

Filed:

Apr 15, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/292548

Inventors:

Thomas K. F. Foo - Rockville MD
Vincent B. Ho - North Bethesda MD
Rebecca A. McCann - Sussex WI

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Milwaukee WI
The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services - Washington DC

International Classification:

A61B 5055

US Classification:

600420, 600415, 600419, 324306, 324309

Abstract:

A system and method for optimally imaging the peripheral vasculature is disclosed which includes defining a given number of scan stations along a patients peripheral vasculature and initially injecting a relatively small amount of contrast agent into the patient to pass a test bolus through the patients peripheral vasculature, and thereafter tracking the test bolus through the patient and adjusting the patient on a moveable table within the MR imaging device from one scan station to a next station to determine a maximum travel time that the test bolus takes to travel through each of the given number of scan stations. Additional contrast agent is then injected into the patient to pass an exam bolus through the patients peripheral vasculature, and using the test bolus travel time, MR data can be acquired from each scan station while it is known that the exam bolus is present in that station to optimize image resolution. Initially, central k-space data is acquired for each scan station, and if time permits, the higher spatial frequency k-space data can be acquired. Otherwise, once the central k-space data is acquired for each station, the patient table is adjusted to the scan stations that require additional data acquisition.