Patent ID: 6603992
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
A method of synchronizing initiation of a magnetic resonance image (MRI) acquisition to the arrival of a contrast agent in a structure of interest, comprising:performing a first MRI scan that acquires a first three-dimensional MRI data set from the structure of interest; repeating said first performing step at least until said first MRI scan indicates that the contrast agent has arrived in the structure of interest; displaying images of said structure of interest to an operator in real-time, said images being generated based on said first data sets acquired during said first performing step and said repeating step; and performing a second MRI scan that acquires a second three-dimensional MRI data set from the structure of interest, said second performing step being initiated based on when said first MRI scan indicates that the contrast agent has arrived in the structure of interest.