Applications-MRI has become a valuable diagnostic tool

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Applications

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a valuable diagnostic tool for many lesions and disease states. MRI technology takes advantage of the various biochemical and biophysical properties of the internal structures. MR Imaging is based on much more than the simple density to X-rays as are radiographic and CT technologies. Magnetic resonance imaging provides the unique opportunity of color differentiation of tissues by digital "histologic staining" via Color Fusion MRI.

As such, subtle differences in tissue composition are depicted across a wider range of intensities, while the deleterious effect of ionizing radiation is avoided. Because of its multiband character, MRI lends itself well to color visualization and mapping techniques. In addition to enhancing perception of anatomical structures, the technology may help to discriminate features and physiologic status of tissues to enable more effective diagnosis. The diagnostic utility of Color Fusion MRI is being explored further as well as applications in medical education.

This patented methodology employs a Color Fusion procedure which uses various color masks to produce full Color Fusion images. The resulting color images can be quickly viewed as a cine stack of semi-natural Color Fusion images. Previous pseudo-color methodology assigned color values to pixel intensity levels, thus creating erroneous contour lines in the images (this problem resulted in the initial rejection of colorization in MRI). This new patented approach eliminates this problem and opens the way for widespread acceptance and utilization of Color Fusion MRI for many applications in tissue segmentation and 3-D visualization/modeling. This methodology is not intended for diagnostic purposes pending further clinical trials.

H. Keith Brown, Ph.D.
North Georgia College & State University
Department of Physical Therapy
Dahlonega, GA 30597