Apparatus and method for rapid and comfortable magnetic imaging of breast tissues, with cultural sensitivity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017234946-A1
Application number	US-201715431180-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 13, 2017
Priority date	Feb 17, 2016
Publication date	Aug 17, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments provide an apparatus and method for imaging breast tissue of a subject, wherein a subject is positioned on a structure so that at least a portion of the subject's body is supported by the structure, magnetic resonance imaging is performed on the portion of the subject's body using an MRI system including a plurality of MRI coils positioned in proximity to the structure, wherein, while the portion of the subject's body is positioned upon the structure, breast tissue of the subject's body is compressed in the proximity of plurality of MRI coils.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for imaging breast tissue of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
structure upon which at least a portion of the subject's body is positioned; an magnetic resonance imaging system including a plurality of MRI coils positioned in proximity to the structure, wherein, while the portion of the subject's body is positioned upon the structure, breast tissue of the subject's body is compressed in the proximity of plurality of MRI coils with no external pressure applied.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , where the magnetic resonance imaging system is single-sided.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic resonance imaging system generates ultra-fast magnetic gradients pulses to detect and/or segment signals from or near microcalcifications within the breast tissue.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pixel size of images obtained with the apparatus is less than 50 microns.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the subject is positioned upon the structure with bended knees during the examination.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a fabric may be present between the patient and the MRI system.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the MRI system includes electro-permanent magnets.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the electro-permanent magnets are rapidly demagnetized in the case of nearby ferromagnetic materials as detected by the MRI system or technician.

9 . A method for imaging breast tissue of a subject, the method comprising:
positioning at least a portion of the subject's body on a structure; and imaging breast tissue of the subject's body using an magnetic resonance imaging system including a plurality of MRI coils positioned in proximity to the structure, wherein, while the portion of the subject's body is positioned upon the structure, breast tissue of the subject's body is compressed in the proximity of plurality of MRI coils with no external pressure applied.

10 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the magnetic gradients are fired rapidly enough to detect and/or segment signals from or near microcalcifications.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the pixel size of images obtained by the imaging is less than 50 microns.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the subject's knees are bent during the examination.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the examination is completed in 10 seconds or less.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the patient need not disrobe during examination with the MRI system.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a static magnetic field is rapidly diminished in the case where nearby ferromagnetic materials are detected by the MRI system or technician.

Assignees

• Weinberg Medical Physics Inc
• Weinberg Medical Physics Inc

Inventors

• Weinberg Irving N
• Nacev Aleksandar Nelson

Classifications

• A61B5/055

  involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging · CPC title

• A61B5/708

  Breast positioning means · CPC title

• G01R33/3806

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

• G01R33/288

  Provisions within MR facilities for enhancing safety during MR, e.g. reduction of the specific absorption rate [SAR], detection of ferromagnetic objects in the scanner room · CPC title

• G01R33/3415 Primary

  comprising arrays of sub-coils {, i.e. phased-array coils with flexible receiver channels} · CPC title