Imaging By Magnetic Resonance Adsorption, Elastography And Tomography

Abstract

A microwave imaging system provides superior breast imaging resolution by combining MR microwave absorption and MR-compatible microwave tomography calculations. These techniques may also be supplemented with magnetic resonance elastography calculations, for example, to facilitate quick multispectral imaging.

1 . A method of determining electrical properties of an inhomogeneous target in an MR environment, comprising:
 measuring electric field values external to said target using an antenna array that is MR-compatible, in which an active transmitting antenna transmits a microwave signal, and an active receiving antenna receives said microwave signal, and   using said measured electric field values with a mathematical model to compute an electric property distribution in said target to compensate for an effect of a non-active antenna of the array on said measured electric field values by:   presenting a matched characteristic impedance to a non-active antenna of an antenna array; and   modeling said non-active antenna as an electromagnetic sink in a numerical model.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitting antenna transmits a microwave signal within the range of 300 MHz to 3 GHz.