Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, magnetic resonance imaging method and magnetic resonance imaging system

• US 10,338,177 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2014
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kuhara, Shigehide, Nitta, Shuhei, Shiodera, Taichiro, Takeguchi, Tomoyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Arana, Louis M
• Application Number:
  US14/466,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20160054417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,775 Days
• Field of Search: 324309, 324307, 324306, 324314
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/704 Tables
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/4818 MR characterised by data acquisition along a specific k-space trajectory or by the temporal order of k-space coverage, e.g. centric or segmented coverage of k-space
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/4833 using spatially selective excitation of the volume of interest, e.g. selecting non-orthogonal or inclined slices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/543 Control of the operation of the MR system, e.g. setting of acquisition parameters prior to or during MR data acquisition, dynamic shimming, use of one or more scout images for scan plane prescription G01R33/546 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/546 Interface between the MR system and the user, e.g. for controlling the operation of the MR system or for the design of pulse sequences
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5602 by filtering or weighting based on different relaxation times within the sample, e.g. T1 weighting using an inversion pulse
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5608 Data processing and visualization specially adapted for MR, e.g. for feature analysis and pattern recognition on the basis of measured MR data, segmentation of measured MR data, edge contour detection on the basis of measured MR data, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of signal-to-noise ratio by means of noise filtering or apodization, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of resolution by means for deblurring, windowing, zero filling, or generation of gray-scaled images, colour-coded images or images displaying vectors instead of pixels image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/56509 due to motion, displacement or flow, e.g. gradient moment nulling G01R33/567 takes precedence

Abstract

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes a sequence control unit, an image generating unit, and a deriving unit. The sequence control unit executes first imaging scan for acquiring data of a range including a target internal organ and second imaging scan for acquiring data for a diagnostic image by controlling execution of a pulse sequence. The image generating unit generates an image by using data acquired by the first imaging scan. The deriving unit derives an imaging scan area in which data for the diagnostic image are acquired in the second imaging scan and a related area set associated with the imaging scan area in the second imaging scan, based on image processing using the image.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising:

MRI system components including static and gradient magnetic field generators, at least one radio frequency (RF) coil, RF transmitter and receiver circuits and at least one controlling processor configured to;

execute (i) a first imaging scan acquiring data in a range including a target internal organ and (ii) a second imaging scan acquiring data for a diagnostic image by controlling execution of pulse sequences;

generate an image by using data acquired by the first imaging scan; and

derive (i) an imaging scan area, by image processing using the first scan image and a model image, in which data for the diagnostic image are to be acquired in the second imaging scan and (ii) a related area set associated with the imaging scan area in the second imaging scan.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to detect both a landmark used for deriving the imaging scan area and a landmark used for deriving the related area from the first scan image, and to derive the imaging scan area and the related area based on the detected landmarks.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to derive the imaging scan area and the related area after adjusting a mutual positional relation between the imaging scan area and the related area.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one processor is further configured to receive an imaging scan condition setting that includes an input of imaging scan conditions, wherein

the model image to be used for the image processing is selected based on the imaging scan conditions, for which an input has been received.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to

execute the first imaging scan acquiring data of a range including a heart and a diaphragm and the second imaging scan acquiring data of the whole heart for a diagnostic image,

use data acquired by the first imaging scan to generate an image including the heart and the diaphragm, and

detect positions of the heart and an apex of a convex surface of the diaphragm from the image based on image processing and derive a heart area and an application area of a motion detection pulse for detecting a respiratory motion to move the imaging scan area, based on the detected positions.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the heart area and the application area of the motion detection pulse are derived after adjusting a mutual positional relation thereof so that the heart area and the application area of the motion detection pulse do not overlap on each other.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first imaging scan acquires data of a range including a liver and a portal vein and second imaging scan acquires data of the portal vein for a diagnostic image by using a Time-SLIP (Spatial Labeling Inversion Pulse),

data acquired by the first imaging scan is used to generate an image including the liver and the portal vein, and

positions of the liver and a bifurcation between the portal vein and mesenteric veins are detected from the image based on image processing, and the imaging scan area and an application area of a tag pulse are derived.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a position, a size, and a direction for the imaging scan area and the related area are derived.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first imaging scan and the second imaging scan are repeatedly executed alternately.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a list of model images to be used for the image processing is displayed and selection of a model image is received from an operator.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the model image includes a model of the target internal organ.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging processing includes rigid deformation or non-rigid deformation.

11. A magnetic resonance imaging method executed by a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, comprising:

executing a first imaging scan acquiring data of a range including a target internal organ and a second imaging scan acquiring data for a diagnostic image by controlling execution of a pulse sequence;

generating an image by using data acquired by the first imaging scan; and

deriving an imaging scan area in which the data for the diagnostic image are acquired in the second imaging scan and a related area set associated with the imaging scan area in the second imaging scan, based on image processing using the image and a model image.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

displaying a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for receiving an input of imaging scan conditions;

generating sequence information according to the received imaging scan conditions on the GUI, the first imaging scan being executed by executing a pulse sequence based on the generated sequence information,

wherein the deriving displays a confirmation screen for the operator to confirm the derived imaging scan area and the derived related area, receives a confirmation input or a correction input at least one of the derived imaging scan area and the derived related area on the confirmation screen, and displays, when the correction input has been received, the confirmation screen again for the operator to confirm the corrected area.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the executing, when the confirmation input has been received, sets the imaging scan area and the related area each of which is confirmed on the confirmation screen, and executes an imaging scan including the first imaging scan and the second imaging scan.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the executing, when the confirmation input has been received, performs preparation scans including at least a scan for acquiring profile data indicating a sensitivity of each coil element or each channel in an array direction, a scan for acquiring sensitivity maps indicating a sensitivity distribution of each coil element or each channel, a scan acquiring spectrum data for obtaining a center frequency of an RF pulse, and a scan for obtaining a current value that is caused to flow in a correction coil in order to adjust uniformity of a magnetostatic field, sets the imaging scan area and the related area, each of which is confirmed on the confirmation screen, and executes an imaging scan including the first imaging scan and the second imaging scan.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein

the displaying displays a model diagram of human body for receiving a selection of an image-captured region on a first GUI, and further displays, when a selection of the image-captured region has been received on the first GUI, a list of generic terms of a group of pulse sequences relating to the selected image-captured region on a second GUI.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein

the displaying further displays, when a selection of a generic term for imaging the selected image-captured region has been received on the second GUI, a list of a group of pulse sequences corresponding to the selected generic term on a third GUI, and

the generating the sequence information generates, when a specification of a group of pulse sequences to be executed has been received on the third GUI, the sequence information according to the specified group of pulse sequences.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the deriving

reads the model image in which positions of a heart and a top of a convex surface of a diaphragm are known when the imaging scan conditions is corresponding to an imaging scan of the heart,

performs rigid deformation or non-rigid deformation as the image processing with respect to the image so that the image is matched with the model image,

identifies positions of the heart and the top of the convex surface of the diaphragm in the deformed image,

performs inversely deformation of the deformed image,

detects positions of the heart and the top of the convex surface of the diaphragm in the inversely deformed image, and

derives the imaging scan area including the heart and the related area which is an application area of a motion detection pulse for detecting a respiratory motion to move the imaging scan area, based on the detected positions.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein the deriving

reads the model image in which positions of a liver, a spleen, a portal vein and mesenteric veins when the imaging scan conditions is corresponding to an imaging scan of the portal vein,

performs rigid deformation or non-rigid deformation as the image processing with respect to the image so that the image is matched with the model image,

identifies positions of the liver, the spleen, the portal vein and the mesenteric veins in the deformed image,

performs inversely deformation of the deformed image,

detects positions of the liver, the spleen, the portal vein and the mesenteric veins in the inversely deformed image, and

derives the imaging scan area including the liver and the spleen and the related area which is an application area of a tag pulse.

19. The method according to claim 12, wherein the deriving detects a heart as a landmark used for deriving the imaging scan area and a diaphragm as a landmark used for deriving the related area from the image, and derives the imaging scan area including the heart and the related area which is an application area of a motion detection pulse for detecting a respiratory motion to move the imaging scan area, based on the detected landmarks.

20. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

execute a first imaging scan acquiring data in a range including a target internal organ and a second imaging scan acquiring data for a diagnostic image by controlling execution of a pulse sequence;

generate an image using data acquired by the first imaging scan; and

derive an imaging scan area in which data for the diagnostic image are acquired in the second imaging scan and a related area set associated with the imaging scan area in the second imaging scan, based on image processing using the image.