Interventional MR imaging with detection and display of device position

• US 20060058633A1
• Filed: 08/23/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuhara, Shigehide, Kassai, Yoshimori, Hoshino, Tsutomu, Yamagata, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,920,911 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/410
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/287 involving active visualization of interventional instruments, e.g. using active tracking RF coils or coils for intentionally creating magnetic field inhomogeneities

Abstract

A magnetic resonance imaging system for interventional MR imaging involves operations to insert a device such as a catheter into an object. According to the system, a tip position of the catheter is detected, data indicative of moved loci of the catheter are produced from data indicative of the detected tip position, and the produced movement locus data are displayed. In addition, even when an operator changes the progress direction of the device such as a puncture needle, an imaging cross-section automatically tracks movements of the device. Appropriate preoperative planning is also provided.

Claims

1-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A magnetic resonance imaging system for interventional MRI involving an operator'"'"'s operation to insert a device into an object, the device having a tip and being inserted into the object from the tip thereof, comprising:

scanning means for magnetically scanning a region of the object to acquire image data of the region;

detection means for detecting positional information indicative of a position of the tip of the device within the object; and

display means for displaying both of an image based on the acquired image data of the region and, together with the image, a movement state of the tip of the device based the detected positional information.

25. The magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 24, wherein the display means is configured to display the movement state of the tip of the device, together with time information indicative of elapse during detecting the positional information.

26. The magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 24, wherein the display means is configured to display, in a superimposition manner, the positional information of the position of the tip on the image serving as a reference image.

27. The magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 24, wherein the device is a catheter to be inserted into the object.

28. A magnetic resonance imaging system for interventional MRI involving an operator'"'"'s operation to insert a catheter into an object, the catheter having a tip and being inserted into the object from the tip thereof, comprising:

scanning means for magnetically scanning a region of the object to acquire image data of the region;

an RF detection coil attached on the tip of the catheter;

means for acquiring, together with application of a gradient magnetic field to the RF detection coil, an MR signal from a vicinity of the RF detection coil excited by an RF magnetic field;

means for obtaining positional information indicative of a position of the RF detection coil as the position of the tip of the catheter through a frequency analysis of the MR signal;

display means for displaying both of an image based on the acquired image data of the region and, together with the image, a movement state of the tip of the device based the detected positional information.

29. The magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 28, wherein the RF detection coil is one in number.

30. The magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 28, wherein the display means is configured to display the movement state of the tip of the device, together with time information indicative of elapse during detecting the positional information.

31. The magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 28, wherein the display means is configured to display, in a superimposition manner, the positional information of the position of the tip on the image serving as a reference image.

32. A magnetic resonance imaging system for interventional MRI involving an operator'"'"'s operation to insert a device into an object, the device having a tip and being inserted into the object from the tip thereof, comprising:

a scanning unit configured to magnetically scan a region of the object to acquire image data of the region;

a detection unit configured to detect positional information indicative of a position of the tip of the device within the object; and

a display unit configured to display both of an image based on the acquired image data of the region and, together with the image, a movement state of the tip of the device based the detected positional information.

33. The magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 32, wherein the display unit is configured to display the movement state of the tip of the device, together with time information indicative of elapse during detecting the positional information.

34. The magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 32, wherein the display unit is configured to display, in a superimposition manner, the positional information of the position of the tip on the image serving as a reference image.

35. The magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 32, wherein the device is a catheter to be inserted into the object.

36. A magnetic resonance imaging system for interventional MRI involving an operator'"'"'s operation to insert a catheter into an object, the catheter having a tip and being inserted into the object from the tip thereof, comprising:

a scanning unit configured to magnetically scan a region of the object to acquire image data of the region;

an RF detection coil attached on the tip of the catheter;

an acquiring unit configured to acquire, together with application of a gradient magnetic field to the RF detection coil, an MR signal from a vicinity of the RF detection coil excited by an RF magnetic field;

an obtaining unit configured to obtain positional information indicative of a position of the RF detection coil as the position of the tip of the catheter through a frequency analysis of the MR signal;

a display unit configured to display both of an image based on the acquired image data of the region and, together with the image, a movement state of the tip of the device based the detected positional information.

37. The magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 36, wherein the RF detection coil is one in number.

38. The magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 36, wherein the display unit is configured to display the movement state of the tip of the device, together with time information indicative of elapse during detecting the positional information.

39. The magnetic resonance imaging system according to claim 36, wherein the display unit is configured to display, in a superimposition manner, the positional information of the position of the tip on the image serving as a reference image.

40. A method of magnetic resonance imaging for interventional MRI involving an operator'"'"'s operation to insert a device into an object, the device having a tip and being inserted into the object from the tip thereof, comprising steps of:

magnetically scanning a region of the object to acquire image data of the region;

detecting positional information indicative of a position of the tip of the device within the object; and

displaying both of an image based on the acquired image data of the region and, together with the image, a movement state of the tip of the device based the detected positional information.

41. The method according to claim 40, wherein the display step displays the movement state of the tip of the device, together with time information indicative of elapse during detecting the positional information.

42. The method according to claim 40, wherein the display step displays, in a superimposition manner, the positional information of the position of the tip on the image serving as a reference image.

43. The method according to claim 40, wherein the device is a catheter to be inserted into the object.

44. A method of magnetic resonance imaging for interventional MRI involving an operator'"'"'s operation to insert a catheter into an object, the catheter having a tip and being inserted into the object from the tip thereof, comprising steps of:

magnetically scanning a region of the object to acquire image data of the region;

acquiring, together with application of a gradient magnetic field to an RF detection coil attached to the tip of the catheter, an MR signal from a vicinity of the RF detection coil excited by an RF magnetic field;

obtaining positional information indicative of a position of the RF detection coil as the position of the tip of the catheter through a frequency analysis of the MR signal;

displaying both of an image based on the acquired image data of the region and, together with the image, a movement state of the tip of the device based the detected positional information.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein the RF detection coil is one in number.

46. The method according to claim 44, wherein the display step displays the movement state of the tip of the device, together with time information indicative of elapse during detecting the positional information.

47. The method according to claim 44, wherein the display step displays, in a superimposition manner, the positional information of the position of the tip on the image serving as a reference image.