Patent ID: 7050617

Claim:
A method for homogenizing an image obtained by a magnetic resonance apparatus measurement of a body region, comprising the steps of: obtaining first signal amplitudes from coil elements of an antenna arrangement disposed outside of a body region from which said signal amplitudes originate; simultaneously obtaining second signal amplitudes from said body region with a local antenna having smaller dimensions than said antenna arrangement, said first and second signal amplitudes respectively representing a plurality of pixels; forming a homogenous reference image from said first signal amplitudes; for each pixel, referencing said second signal amplitudes to intensity values for the same pixels in said reference image, to obtain a reception profile referenced to said reference image for said local antenna, said reception profile containing noise; reducing said noise in said reception profile by noise suppression processing; and combining said first and second signal amplitudes to form a combined image and normalizing said combined image to said reception profile to obtain a homogenized image.