Patent ID: 9460507
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: G06K,G06T

Claim Text:
1. A method for detection and quantification of localized sources of magnetic susceptibility in magnetic resonance scan images obtained from a patient, the method comprising the steps of: subjecting a patient to scan by a magnetic resonance imaging device, whereby a phase image is obtained; reading the phase image into a storage; processing, using a computer, the stored phase image to identify an anatomical region; identifying, using a computer, a dipole pattern in the stored phase image using a scaled dipole template, the dipole pattern corresponding to a localized iron source in the anatomical region; measuring, using a computer, one or more than one image parameter of the dipole pattern, wherein the one or more than one image parameter is related to the localized iron source; relating, using a computer, the one or more than one image parameter from the measuring to a quantity of iron contained in the localized iron source or a concentration of iron in the localized iron source by using equation coefficients for calculating iron mass based on the measuring and information stored in a database; and outputting, from the computer, a decision, interpretation or conclusion based on the relating.