Surgery – Diagnostic testing – Detecting nuclear – electromagnetic – or ultrasonic radiation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-02
2001-09-11
Lateef, Marvin M. (Department: 3737)
Surgery
Diagnostic testing
Detecting nuclear, electromagnetic, or ultrasonic radiation
C324S309000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289234
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a method for the presentation of functional brain activities in a time-resolved and location-resolved manner, by means of magnetic resonance, as well as to a magnetic resonance apparatus for implementing such a method.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,662,112 discloses a method for time-resolved and location-resolved presentation of functional brain activities. A stimulation sequence is thereby applied to the patient and image data from the brain are acquired with an MR tomography apparatus. In order to separate the signal changes caused by brain activities from other signal changes, for example caused by movements, a correlation coefficient between the stimulation function and the obtained chronological signal curve is calculated for each pixel of the acquired image data.
For example, visual, acoustic, motor or olfactory stimuli of the sensory organs can be used for stimulation of brain activities. Cognitive problems are also often applied. The data acquisition for the MR image is then synchronized with this stimulation sequence. The post-processing, i.e., for example, the aforementioned correlation, ensues by post-processing the data acquired at the MR tomography apparatus with the assistance of specific programs that, in conventional systems, are not integrated into the general control execution. The complexity of the functional imaging requires the use of experts who interactively work at parts of the overall problem. Dependent on the experimental conditions, different post-processing paths are utilized. Heretofore, thus, functional MR examinations have been extremely time-consuming and have required considerable special knowledge in addition to dexterity of a trained MR radiologist.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for time-resolved and location-resolved presentation of functional brain activities and an apparatus for the implementation of the method wherein the presentation of the functional brain activities with MR tomography is facilitated.
The above object is achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a method for time-resolved and location-resolved presentation of functional brain activities by means of magnetic resonance, employing a control unit which automatically controls executive sequences on the basis of operator inputs, these executive sequences including generating stimulation sequences for an examination subject, controlling the acquisition of data from the examination subject after stimulation, and post-processing and presentation of the acquired data, and wherein the examination subject can influence at least portions of these executive sequences during the control execution.
The above object is also achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a magnetic resonance apparatus for obtaining data for a time-resolved and location-resolved presentation of functional brain activities, having a control computer with a control input for a pulse sequence for operating the magnetic resonance apparatus, a control input for a stimulation unit for stimulating an examination subject, and a control input for processing data acquired from the examination subject dependent on a stimulus produced by the stimulation unit, and wherein the control computer also has an input for entering physical parameters of the examination subject. The control computer can also include input for an input unit which can be actuated by the examination subject during the data acquisition process.
By utilizing a specific control unit wherein all steps required for the functional imaging are integrated, an automatic execution of specific programs for the functional MR imaging is possible. Such programs, as is generally standard in MR imaging, can be called as protocols, so that the measuring execution itself can be implemented in a repeatable fashion by medical assistants. The use of special technical personnel trained for functional imaging is eliminated for the measuring execution. Of course, special knowledge is required for the interpretation of the images obtained.
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Lateef Marvin M.
Mantis Mercader Eleni
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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