Patent ID: 6522142
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: A61B,A61N,G01R

Abstract:
A method using magnetic resonance imaging for monitoring the temperature of a tissue mass being heated in a focal zone encompassing at least a portion of the tissue mass, the focal zone being generally elongate and symmetrical about a focal axis, the method comprising:acquiring a first plurality of images of the tissue mass in a first image plane aligned substantially perpendicular to the focal axis; defining a cross-section of the focal zone in the first image plane from the first plurality of images; and acquiring a second plurality of images of the tissue mass in a second image plane aligned substantially parallel to the focal axis, the second image plane bisecting the first image plane at approximately a midpoint of the defined focal zone cross-section, such that images acquired in the first plane are substantially orthogonal to images acquired in the second plane.