Patent ID: 7307420
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: G01R

Abstract:
1. A method for use with a magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI) for simultaneously tracking an invasive device disposed within a patient and acquiring an imaging signal of the patient during a single echo acquisition time period of the MRI system, the method comprising: (a) immersing the patient in a main static magnetic field; (b) applying, at a start of a first echo acquisition time period, a radio frequency excitation pulse while applying a slice selection magnetic field gradient pulse; (c) applying a bipolar flow encoding magnetic field gradient pulse having a first portion and a second portion having a polarity opposite the first portion; (d) acquiring a tracking signal generated by an invasive device disposed within the patient, the tracking signal being responsive to the bipolar flow encoding magnetic field gradient pulse; (e) applying at least one imaging magnetic field gradient pulse; (f) acquiring, at an end of the first echo acquisition time period, an imaging signal responsive to the at least one imaging magnetic field gradient pulse so that acquisition of the tracking signal and the imaging signal are performed within a single echo acquisition time period; and (g) simultaneously tracking the invasive device while acquiring and producing a phase contrast angiography image, during the single echo acquisition time period.