Mr spectroscopy system and method for diagnosing painful and non-painful intervertebral discs

Abstract

An MR Spectroscopy (MRS) system and approach is provided for diagnosing painful and non-painful discs in chronic, severe low back pain patients (DDD-MRS). A DDD-MRS pulse sequence generates and acquires DDD-MRS spectra within intervertebral disc nuclei for later signal processing and diagnostic analysis. An interfacing DDD-MRS signal processor receives output signals of the DDD-MRS spectra acquired and is configured to optimize signal-to-noise ratio by an automated system that selectively conducts optimal channel selection, phase and frequency correction, and frame editing as appropriate for a given acquisition series. A diagnostic processor calculates a diagnostic value for the disc based upon a weighted factor set of criteria that uses MRS data extracted from the acquired and processed MRS spectra for multiple chemicals that have been correlated to painful vs. non-painful discs. A display provides an indication of results for analyzed discs as an overlay onto a MRI image of the lumbar spine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An MRS system comprising an MRS pulse sequence, MRS signal processor, and MRS diagnostic processor, and which is configured to generate, acquire, and process an MRS spectrum representative of a region of interest in a body of a patient for providing diagnostically useful information associated with the region of interest.