United States Patent [19] [n] Patent Number: 4,830,012
Riederer [45] Date of Patent: May 16,1989
[54] HIGH SPEED NMR IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS
[75] Inventor: Stephen J. Riederer, Durham, N.C.
[73] Assignee: Duke University, Durham, N.C.
[21] Appl. No.: 85,545
[22] Filed: Aug. 14,1987
[51] Int. CI.* A61B5/05
[52] U.S. Q 128/653; 324/309;
324/312; 364/518; 364/413.3
[58] Field of Search 128/653; 324/309, 312;
364/415, 518
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,651,095 8/1984 Eastwood et al 324/312
4,702,257 10/1987 Moriyama et al 128/653
4,710,716 12/1987 Keren et al 128/653
4,721,912 1/1988 Kaufman et al 324/309
Primary Examiner—Ruth S. Smith
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Richard E. Jenkins
[57] ABSTRACT
Near real time imaging of materials within a body is accomplished by subjecting a body area to a predetermined plurality of applications of short repetition time NMR pulse sequences and constructing an image from data corresponding thereto. The image is continuously updated by collecting data from repetitive applications of one or more short repetition time NMR pulse sequences subsequent to the plurality of applications wherein each of the applications of one or more pulse sequences consists of fewer applications than the plurality of applications of pulse sequences. The imaging data from each of the applications of one or more pulse sequences is repetitively substituted for corresponding imaging data previously used to construct the image in order to provide for continuous partial updating of the image. A processing method and apparatus is also disclosed which operates in near real time and permits an operator to interactively control the angulation of an image slice by altering selectable gradient parameters.
26 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
