Patent ID: 9116218
Filing Date: 2015-08-25
Classification: A61B,G01R

Abstract:
1. A method for magnetic resonance (MR) imaging comprising: exciting a resonant frequency of a contrast agent by transmitting a first RF pulse and a second RF pulse, and wherein at least one of the first RF pulse and the second RF pulse is spectrally limiting; spatially limiting the excitation of the contrast agent to a slice or volume of interest; detecting a first set of MR signals from the spatially limited excitation of the contrast agent; after a metabolic mixing time, exciting resonant frequencies for the contrast agent and at least one metabolic product formed from the contrast agent by transmitting at least one non-spectrally selective RF pulse after the metabolic mixing time; detecting a second set of MR signals resulting from the excitation of the contrast agent and the at least one metabolic product after the metabolic mixing time, wherein detecting the second set of MR signals comprises detecting stimulated echoes generated by the first and second RF pulses and the at least one non-spectrally selective RF pulse; and generating a spectroscopic image from the detected first and second set of MR signals; wherein the detected second set of MR signals excludes signals from metabolic products formed outside the slice or volume of interest, so as to separate systemic metabolic activity from local metabolic activity in the slice or volume of interest.