Low field magnetic resonance methods and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016128592-A1
Application number	US-201514938333-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 11, 2015
Priority date	Nov 11, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

According to some aspects a system is provided comprising a low-field magnetic resonance (MR) device, at least one electrophysiological device, and at least one controller configured to operate the low-field MR device to obtain MR data and to operate the at least one electrophysiological device to obtain electrophysiological data.

First claim

1 . A system, comprising:
a low-field magnetic resonance (MR) device; at least one electrophysiological device; and at least one controller configured to operate the low-field MR device to obtain MR data and to operate the at least one electrophysiological device to obtain electrophysiological data.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrophysiological device comprises an electroencephalography (EEG) device comprising a plurality of electrodes configured to obtain EEG data when the patient is within the field of view of the low-field magnetic resonance device, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to operate the EEG device to obtain the EEG data.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrophysiological device comprises at least one of an electromyography (EMG) device comprising at least one sensor configured to obtain EMG data, an electrooculography (EOG) device comprising at least one sensor configured to obtain EOG data, and an electrocardiography (ECG) device comprising at least one sensor configured to obtain ECG data.

4 - 9 . (canceled)

10 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one controller comprises at least one processor configured to use the MR data to perform source localization of the EEG data to generate at least one EEG image.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate at least one three-dimensional (3D) EEG image from the EEG data using the MR data.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to operate the EEG device to obtain EEG data over time and wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate at least one spatiotemporal EEG image.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the EEG device comprises at least one marker configured to be placed on the patient, and wherein the at least one controller is configured to determine a spatial position of the at least one marker from the MR data for use in generating the at least one EEG image.

15 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the low-field magnetic resonance device comprises magnetics components configured to produce a B0 field having a strength equal to or less than approximately 0.2 T and greater than or equal to approximately 0.1 T.

23 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the low-field magnetic resonance device comprises magnetics components configured to produce a B0 field having a strength equal to or less than approximately 0.1 T and greater than or equal to approximately 50 mT.

24 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the low-field magnetic resonance device comprises magnetics components configured to produce a B0 field having a strength equal to or less than approximately 50 mT and greater than or equal to approximately 20 mT.

25 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the low-field magnetic resonance device comprises magnetics components configured to produce a B0 field having a strength equal to or less than approximately 20 mT and greater than or equal to approximately 10 mT.

26 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to adapt at least one characteristic of the low-field magnetic resonance device based, at least in part, on the EEG device.

27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to modify a B0 field produced by the low-field magnetic resonance device based, at least in part, on the EEG device.

28 . (canceled)

29 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to adapt at least one characteristic of the low-field magnetic resonance device based, at least in part, on the EEG data.

30 . (canceled)

31 . The system of claim 29 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to change at least one of field of view, signal-to-noise ratio and resolution of an MR acquisition process based on the EEG data.

32 - 37 . (canceled)

38 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to generate at least one MR image from the MR data, and wherein the at least on controller is configured to present at least one electrophysiological image in conjunction with at least one MR image.

39 - 40 . (canceled)

41 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a transportable apparatus on which the low-field magnetic resonance device and the at least one electrophysiological device are disposed that allows the system to be transported and operated in different locations.

42 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the transportable apparatus is configurable in a configuration for transporting the system and a configuration for operating the system.

43 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the low-field magnetic resonance device is configured to generate an MR image having an in-plane resolution of at least three millimeters and up to and including approximately one millimeter.

44 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the low-field magnetic resonance device is configured to generate an MR image having a resolution up to and including approximately three millimeters isotropic.

45 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the EEG device is operably connected to the low-field magnetic resonance device by at least one communications connection.

46 . The system of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the EEG device is integrated with the low-field magnetic resonance device.

47 . The system of claim 46 , wherein at least a portion of a EEG signal processing chain is integrated with processing components of the low-field magnetic resonance device.

48 . The system of claim 47 , wherein at least one component of the system performs both EEG signal processing and MR signal processing.

49 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to operate the low-field MR device and the electrophysiological device to obtain the MR data and the electrophysiological data while a patient remains in a field of view of the low-field MR device.

50 . (canceled)

51 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller is configured to operate the low-field magnetic resonance device and the at least one electrophysiological device simultaneously.

52 - 60 . (canceled)

61 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one therapeutic device configured to deliver therapy to the patient within the field of view of the low-field magnetic resonance device, wherein the therapy is guided, at least in part, using the MR data.

62 . A method of operating a system comprising a low-field magnetic resonance (MR) device and at least one electrophysiological device, the method comprising:
while a patient is positioned within a field of view of the low-field MR device:
operating the low-field magnetic resonance device to obtain MR data; and
operating the at one electrophysiological device to obtain electrophysiological data.

63 . The method of claim 62 , further comprising using the MR data to generate at least one electrophysiological image from the electrophysiological data.

64 . At least one computer readable medium having instruction encoded thereon that, when executed b

Assignees

• Hyperfine Res Inc

Inventors

• Rosen Matthew Scot
• Charvat Gregory L
• Sacolick Laura
• Sarracanie Mathieu
• Rothberg Jonathan M
• Ralston Tyler S

Classifications

• G16H30/40

  for processing medical images, e.g. editing · CPC title

• G01R33/3806

  Open magnet assemblies for improved access to the sample, e.g. C-type or U-type magnets · CPC title

• G01R33/445

  MR involving a non-standard magnetic field B0, e.g. of low magnitude as in the earth's magnetic field or in nanoTesla spectroscopy, comprising a polarizing magnetic field for pre-polarisation, B0 with a temporal variation of its magnitude or direction such as field cycling of B0 or rotation of the direction of B0, or spatially inhomogeneous B0 like in fringe-field MR or in stray-field imaging · CPC title

• G01R33/381

  using electromagnets · CPC title

• A61B5/7425

  Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image · CPC title