Patent ID: 8115482
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: A61B,G01R

Abstract:
1. A method for generating an anatomical image of an examination area of a subject by magnetic resonance, comprising the steps of: loading at least one magnetic resonance image data set, representing a tissue-containing examination area of a subject into a processor, said image data set being comprised of image elements collectively representing a spatially resolved anatomical image of said examination area, said tissue exhibiting a magnetic resonance relaxation time constant that affects a visual appearance of said anatomical image; loading a spatially resolved relaxation parameter value map of said examination area of said subject into said processor, said relaxation parameter value map being comprised of map elements at respective locations in said parameter value MAP corresponding to respective locations of said image elements in said image data set, and collectively representing a spatially resolved mapping of values calculated from, and thus differing from, of said magnetic resonance relaxation time constant of said tissue at locations respectively corresponding to and matching said locations of said image elements in said anatomical image; in said processor, processing said at least one magnetic resonance image data set and said relaxation parameter value map to form a weighted anatomical image of the examination area, by weighting respective image elements of said anatomical image represented by said at least one magnetic resonance image data set with respective weighting factors that depend on respective values of said magnetic resonance relaxation time constant in said relaxation parameter value map at said map elements at locations respectively corresponding to the locations of the respective image elements in the magnetic resonance image data set; and making said weighted anatomical image available as an output from the processor in a form for at least one of display or storage thereof.