Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method

• US 10,702,157 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2014
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nitta, Shuhei, Takeguchi, Tomoyuki, Matsumoto, Nobuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Vargas, Dixomara
• Application Number:
  US14/559,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20150150454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0044 for the heart
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7425 Displaying combinations of multiple images regardless of image source, e.g. displaying a reference anatomical image with a live image geometric transforms for image registration G06T3/14; enhancement using image fusion G06T5/50; algorithms for registration of images G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/48 NMR imaging systems
• 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 33/4835 of multiple slices

Abstract

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus acquires first imaging data of a three-dimensional image including a heart, having a plurality of two-dimensional first imaging area data superimposed one on top of another in parallel, and having a resolution at least in one direction different from a resolution in two other directions. A first axis is detected expressed in three dimensions relating to the heart from the three-dimensional first imaging data. A first vector is calculated passing through the first axis and having at least a predetermined resolution. First image data is generated on a plane passing through the first axis and the first vector from the first imaging data and a second axis is detected relating to the heart from the first image data, the second axis being a higher precision axis.

Claims

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

(a) an MRI system configured to acquire MR images;

(b) at least one data processor configured to;

(i) receive from said MRI system first MR imaging data that includes data representing a three-dimensional image of a heart;

(ii) detect data representing a characteristic anatomic portion of the heart included in the first MR imaging data, wherein the at least one data processor is further configured to;

acquire the first imaging data so as to include a heart and a plurality of cross-sectional two dimensional images that are parallel to each other;

detect a first axis relating to the heart from the first imaging data;

generate a first generated image from the first imaging data, on a plane containing the first axis, and detect a second axis relating to the heart from the acquired first image data based on the first generated image when resolution of the first generated image is higher than a predetermined resolution;

(iii) determine a plane to be scanned by said MRI system, based on a position of the second axis relating to the heart; and

(iv) cause said MRI system to perform a further MRI scan and acquire second imaging data in the plane; and

(c) a display configured to display the second imaging data superimposed with the second axis detected from the first imaging data.

2. The MRI apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic anatomic portion of the heart is an axis of the heart and/or a point on the axis of the heart.

3. The MRI apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said axis of the heart is a long axis of the heart;

and said point is a center of mitral valve or a cardiac apex.

4. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method comprising:

receiving first MR imaging data that includes data representing a three-dimensional image of a heart;

detecting data representing a characteristic anatomic portion of the heart included in the first MR imaging data;

acquiring the first imaging data so as to include the heart and a plurality of cross-sectional two-dimensional images that are parallel to each other,

detecting a first axis relating to the heart from the first imaging data,

generating a first generated image from the first imaging data, on a plane containing the first axis, and detecting a second axis relating to the heart from the acquired first imaging data based on the first generated image, when resolution of the first generated image is higher than a predetermined resolution;

determining a plane to be scanned by said MRI system to acquire further imaging data, based on a position of the second axis relating to the heart;

performing a further MRI scan with the MRI system acquiring second MR imaging data in the plane; and

displaying the second imaging data superimposed with the second axis detected from the first imaging data.

5. A non-transitory program stored in a computer-readable medium, said program, when executed by at least one computer coupled to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, causes said at least one computer to:

receive first MR imaging data that includes data representing a three-dimension image of a heart;

detect data representing a characteristic anatomic portion of the heart included in the first MR imaging data;

acquire the first imaging data so as to include the heart and a plurality of cross-sectional two-dimensional images that are parallel to each other;

detect a first axis relating to the heart from the first imaging data;

generate a first generated image from the first imaging data, on a plane containing the first axis and detect a second axis relating to the heart from the acquired first imaging data based on the first generated image, when resolution of the first generated image is higher than a predetermined resolution;

determine a plane to be scanned by said MRI system, based on a position of the second axis relating to the heart;

control said MRI system to perform a further MRI scan in the plane and acquire second imaging data in the plane; and

display the second imaging data superimposed with the second axis detected from the first imaging data.

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

(a) an MRI system configured to acquire MR images;

(b) at least one data processor;

(c) a memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one data processor, cause the at least one data processor to;

(i) receive from said MRI system first MR imaging data that includes data representing a three-dimensional image of a heart;

(ii) detect data representing a characteristic anatomic portion of the heart included in the first MR imaging data, wherein the processor-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to

acquire the first imaging data so as to include the heart and a plurality of cross-sectional two-dimensional images that are parallel to each other;

detect a first axis relating to the heart from the first imaging data;

generate a first generated image from the first imaging data, on a plane containing the first axis and detect a second axis relating to the heart from the acquired first imaging data based on the first generated image, when resolution of the first generated image is higher than a predetermined resolution;

(iii) determine a plane to be scanned by said MRI system and acquire further imaging data, based on a position of the second axis relating to the heart;

(iv) cause said MRI system to perform a further MRI scan and acquire second imaging data in the plane; and

(c) a display configured to display the second imaging data superimposed with the second axis

detected from the first imaging data.