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:
Aug. 09, 2011
Filed:
Apr. 22, 2009
Sean B Fain, Madison, WI (US);
Walter F. Block, Madison, WI (US);
James H. Holmes, Madison, WI (US);
Rafael L. O'halloran, Madison, WI (US);
Sean B Fain, Madison, WI (US);
Walter F. Block, Madison, WI (US);
James H. Holmes, Madison, WI (US);
Rafael L. O'Halloran, Madison, WI (US);
Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, Madison, WI (US);
Abstract
A method for measuring the apparent transverse relaxation time ('T*') and apparent diffusion coefficient ('ADC') of a hyperpolarized gas in a single breath-hold and consequently, with a single dose of the hyperpolarized gas contrast agent, is provided. The method employs a multiple-echo projection acquisition based pulse sequence. Individual images are reconstructed from data acquired during each of the individual echo times. Subsequently, T*and ADC are calculated using these reconstructed images. Furthermore, the method produces images indicative of ADC that have isotropic resolution, allowing for more reliable image registration. The inter-echo spacing and diffusion weighting b-value are varied during the pulse sequence employed when practicing the present invention; thus, a significant separation between the effects of diffusion and T*decay on the detected MR signals is possible. This separation allows for reliable measurements of these two parameters from a single echo-train.