Patent ID: 6737866
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A method of imaging a vasculature of a patient using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system with an array of local coils, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a housing by which (I) a first plurality of said local coils is arrayed along an anterior surface of the patient from approximately a renal region thereof to a feet region thereof, (II) a second plurality of said local coils is arrayed along a posterior surface of the patient from approximately the renal region thereof to the feet region thereof and (LII) the patient is oriented such that at least one of: (A) a renal portion of the vasculature is aligned in a substantially coplanar manner with a pelvic portion of the vasculature, (B) a femoral portion of the vasculature is aligned in a substantially coplanar manner with the pelvic portion of the vasculature, (C) a lower leg portion of the vasculature is aligned in substantially coplanar manner with the femoral portion of the vasculature, and (D) a feet portion of the vasculature is aligned in a substantially coplanar manner with the lower leg portion of the vasculature; (b) enabling a first desired set of said local coils corresponding to first desired one of the portions of the vasculature to be imaged; (c) imaging the first desired one of the portions of the vasculature using said first desired set of said local coils; (d) enabling a next desired set of said local coils corresponding to next desired one of the portions of the vasculature to be imaged; and (e) imaging the next desired one of the portions of the vasculature using said next desired set of said local coils.