The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 15, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 14, 1997
James A Halamek, Independence, OH (US);
Mark J Loncar, Richmond Heights, OH (US);
Heidi A Schlitt, Chesterland, OH (US);
Picker International, Inc., Highland Heights, OH (US);
Abstract
A method (100) of automatically tuning a radio frequency transmitter (24) and receiver (38) in a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus to an optimum frequency includes generating and acquiring (104) a magnetic resonance signal. The magnetic resonance signal is transformed to the frequency domain and spectral magnitude of the signal is computed (106). A center of gravity interpolation is performed (110) on the spectral magnitude to obtain a desired frequency sampling. A model function is generated based upon a strength of a main magnetic field which has peaks separated by the same separation as that for fat and water signals. The spectral magnitude is correlated (112) with the model function and a peak having the greatest magnitude is located therefrom. The location of a species peak along the spectral magnitude is estimated (114) from empirically derived information, the strength of the main magnetic field and the location of the correlation peak. A region of the spectral magnitude to be examined is defined (116) from empirically derived information, and a peak within this region is located (118) which is nearest the estimated location. Ultimately, the frequency of the radio frequency transmitter and receiver is set (122) to align with the peak located within the region that is nearest the estimated location.