US 7,467,006 B2
Magnetic resonance imaging system and contrast-enhanced angiography
Takayuki Abe, Matsudo (Japan); and Tetsuhiko Takahashi, Chiyoda-ku (Japan)
Assigned to Hitachi Medical Corporation, Tokyo (Japan)
Appl. No. 10/575,159
PCT Filed Oct. 05, 2004, PCT No. PCT/JP2004/014660
§ 371(c)(1), (2), (4) Date Apr. 04, 2006,
PCT Pub. No. WO2005/034749, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 21, 2005.
Claims priority of application No. 2003-347918 (JP), filed on Oct. 07, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2007/0078333 A1, Apr. 05, 2007
Int. Cl. A61B 5/05 (2006.01); A61B 6/00 (2006.01); G01V 3/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 600—420  [600/419; 600/431; 324/307; 324/309] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:
static magnetic field generating means for applying a static magnetic field to an object to be examined;
gradient magnetic field generating means for applying a gradient magnetic field:
RF magnetic field transmitting means for irradiating, to nuclear spins within said object, RF magnetic field pulses to cause nuclear magnetic resonance of the nuclear spins;
an echo signal receiving means for detecting an echo signal emitted by the nuclear magnetic resonance;
pulse sequence control means for controlling a pulse sequence including at least a repetition time TR as an imaging parameter and executed to receive the echo signal;
signal processing means for reconstructing an image of a blood vessel by using the echo signal detected by said echo signal receiving means; and
display means for displaying said blood vessel image,
wherein, during execution of said pulse sequence, said pulse sequence control means changes a value of the at least said repetition time TR in said pulse sequence depending on a concentration profile of a contrast agent, such that the repetition time has a shorter value during a higher concentration period than a value during a lower concentration period, which has been injected into said object, in said blood vessel.