Patent ID: 8369599

Claim:
A method for efficiently determining spatial distribution images of a macromolecular proton fraction and a cross-relaxation rate constant, in a biological object, comprising the steps of: (a) producing a first and a second magnetic resonance (MR) image with magnetization transfer contrast characterized by a first and a second signal intensity; (b) producing a reference MR image without magnetization transfer; (c) calculating a first and a second saturation rate respectively corresponding to the first and second MR images; (d) producing a T 1 map for the spatial distribution of the longitudinal relaxation time of the biological object; and (e) determining said spatial distribution images of the macromolecular proton fraction and the cross-relaxation rate constant based on said first and second MR images, said reference MR image, said first and second saturation rates, and said T 1 map, such that additional magnetic resonance images are not required to construct the macromolecular proton fraction and the cross-relaxation rate constant spatial distribution images, thereby substantially reducing a time required to produce the spatial distribution images of the macromolecular proton fraction and the cross-relaxation rate constant in the biological object.