Patent ID: 6546274
Filing Date: 2003-04-08
Classification: A61B,G01R

Abstract:
A nuclear magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, comprising:static magnetic field generating means for generating a static magnetic field; gradient magnetic field generating means for generating a gradient magnetic field in three directions which are mutually perpendicular to one another; radiofrequency magnetic field generating means for generating a radiofrequency magnetic field; signal detecting means for detecting a nuclear magnetic resonance signal generated by a subject to be inspected; physiological signal detecting means for detecting a periodic physiological signal generated by the subject to be inspected; and control means for controlling the gradient magnetic field generating means, the radiofrequency magnetic field generating means, the signal detecting means, and the physiological signal detecting means to: (1) detect the periodic physiological signal, and generate, from the periodic physiological signal, a synchronizing signal which initiates a pulse sequence for detecting the nuclear magnetic resonance signal; and (2) apply to the subject to be inspected, in synchronism with the synchronizing signal, a radiofrequency burst pulse including plural sub-pulses which are formed at equidistant intervals on a time axis and which have amplitudes modulated by a sinc function, and apply to the subject to be inspected, in synchronism with the synchronizing signal, the gradient magnetic field in one direction of the three directions, wherein the radiofrequency burst pulse is applied to the subject to be inspected while the gradient magnetic field in the one direction is being applied to the subject to be inspected to modulate nuclear magnetizations of the subject to be inspected in the one direction.