Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method

• US 20060255801A1
• Filed: 05/09/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Hitoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,190,166 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/307
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/4835 of multiple slices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/54 Signal processing systems, e.g. using pulse sequences ; Generation or control of pulse sequences; Operator console
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and a magnetic resonance imaging method which improve the imaging efficiency. A preview scan initiator unit is provided for initiating a preview scan for scanning the slice position set prior to performing the actual imaging scan. Based on the magnetic resonance signals from the subject obtained by the review scan initiated by the preview scan initiator unit, the preview image for the slice position set by the slice position setting unit is generated to display on the display screen by the display unit.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus which includes a slice position setting unit for setting a slice position to perform an actual imaging scan on a subject, and which generates the actual scanning image at the slice position of said subject set by said slice position setting unit based on magnetic resonance signals obtained from said subject by means of said actual imaging scan, comprising:

a preview scan initiator unit, for initiating a preview scan to scan the slice position set by said slice position setting unit prior to performing said actual imaging scan; and

a preview image generator unit for generating a preview image at the slice position set by said slice position setting unit based on the magnetic resonance signals from said subject obtained by said preview scan initiated by said preview scan initiator unit.

2. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a preview image display unit for displaying the preview image generated by said preview image generator unit.

3. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said preview scan initiator unit initiates said preview scan in a scan condition that has a shorter scanning time than said actual imaging scan.

4. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

said preview scan initiator unit performs said preview scan in either Fast GRE method or single shot Fast SE method.

5. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said preview scan initiator unit initiates said preview scan in response to an instruction given by the operator.

6. A magnetic resonance imaging method, which sets a slice position to perform an actual imaging scan on a subject, and generates an actual scanning image at the slice position set on said subject based on the magnetic resonance signals obtained from said subject by said actual imaging scan, said method comprising:

a first step of initiating a preview scan to scan at the slice position having been set, prior to performing said actual imaging scan; and

a second step of generating a preview image at said slice position having been set based on the magnetic resonance signals from said subject obtained by said preview scan initiated in said first step.

7. A magnetic resonance imaging method according to claim 6, further comprising:

a third step of displaying the preview image generated in said second step.

8. A magnetic resonance imaging method according to claim 6, wherein

said preview scan is performed in said first step in a scan condition that has a shorter scanning time than said actual imaging scan.

9. A magnetic resonance imaging method according to claim 8, wherein

said preview scan is conducted in said first step according to either fast GRE method or single shot fast SE method.

10. A magnetic resonance imaging method according to claim 6, wherein

said preview scan is initiated in said first step in response to the instruction given by the operator.