Magnetic resonance imaging device and magnetic resonance imaging method using the same device

• US 10,073,152 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2015
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation (Korea University)
• Original Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation (Korea University)
• Inventors: Park, Jaeseok, Lee, Hoonjae
• Primary Examiner(s): Vargas, Dixomara
• Application Number:
  US14/629,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20150241533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/243 Spatial mapping of the polarizing magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/4824 using a non-Cartesian trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5617 using RF refocusing, e.g. RARE

Abstract

There is provided a magnetic resonance imaging device comprising: a pulse generating unit that generates a saturation pulse for reducing a signal of a water molecule within the living body and a pulse sequence after saturation time for the saturation pulse; a sampling implementing unit that implements sampling in each of a plurality of k-spaces acquired according to a repeated sequence applying the saturation pulse and the pulse sequence, and implements the sampling for a sampling area including a center portion of each of the k-spaces and a certain portion differently determined for each of the k-spaces; and an image acquiring unit that acquires a reconstructed image from the data acquired as a result of the sampling. Here, the pulse generating unit applies a saturation pulse having a different frequency per the sequence, and the sampling implementing unit acquires data for the center portion at a Nyquist rate.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance imaging device, comprising:

a pulse generating unit that generates a saturation pulse for reducing a signal of a water molecule within the living body and a pulse sequence after saturation time for the saturation pulse;

a sampling implementing unit that implements sampling in each of a plurality of k-spaces acquired according to a repeated sequence applying the saturation pulse and the pulse sequence, and implements the sampling for a sampling area including a center portion of each of the k-spaces and a certain portion differently determined for each of the k-spaces; and

an image acquiring unit that acquires a reconstructed image from the data acquired as a result of the sampling,

wherein the pulse generating unit applies a saturation pulse having a different frequency per the sequence, and

the sampling implementing unit acquires data for the center portion at a Nyquist rate and acquires data for the certain portion at a rate lower than the Nyquist rate.

2. The magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 1, wherein the image acquiring unit comprises:

an intermediate processing unit that weights and sums the data acquired for the center portion among the acquired data, and shares the data acquired for the certain portion among the acquired data; and

a data correcting unit that corrects at least one of the data acquired for the certain portion and the resulting data of the intermediate processing unit by using the data acquired for the center portion, and

a reconstructed image by the frequency of the saturation pulse is acquired.

3. The magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 1, further comprising a mapping implementing unit that maps the main magnetic field by using the reconstructed image and images perturbation of the main magnetic field.

4. The magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 1, wherein the frequency of the saturation pulse is determined based on an expected variation amount of the main magnetic field determined differently depending on the magnetic resonance imaging device.

5. The magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 1, wherein the pulse generating unit continuously or periodically generates a plurality of saturation pulses having an identical frequency within a random sequence.

6. The magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 1, wherein the sampling area is of a blade, spiral, radial or random shape.

7. A magnetic resonance imaging method, comprising:

repeatedly implementing a sequence applying a saturation pulse for reducing a signal of a water molecule within the living body and a pulse sequence after saturation time for the saturation pulse;

implementing sampling in each of a plurality of k-spaces acquired according to the sequence, and implementing the sampling for a sampling area including a center portion of each of the k-spaces and a certain portion differently determined for each of the k-spaces; and

acquiring a reconstructed image from data acquired as a result of the sampling,

wherein the implementing of the sequence comprises applying a saturation pulse having a different frequency per the sequence, and

the implementing of the sampling comprises acquiring data for the center portion at the Nyquist rate acquiring data for the certain portion at a rate lower than the Nyquist rate.

8. The magnetic resonance imaging method of claim 7, wherein the acquiring of the reconstructed image comprises:

weighted summing the data acquired for the center portion among the acquired data; and

sharing the data acquired for the certain portion among the acquired data, and a reconstructed image by the frequency of the saturation pulse is acquired based on the resulting data of the weighted summing stage and the resulting data of the sharing stage.

9. The magnetic resonance imaging method of claim 8, wherein the acquiring of the reconstructed image further comprises correcting at least one of the data acquired for the certain portion and the resulting data of the sharing stage by using the data acquired for the center portion.

10. The magnetic resonance imaging method of claim 7, further comprising mapping a main magnetic field by using the reconstructed image;

and

imaging perturbation of the main magnetic field.

11. The magnetic resonance imaging method of claim 7, wherein the implementing of the sequence continuously or periodically applies a plurality of saturation pulses having an identical frequency within a random sequence.