MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING METHOD

• US 20100198050A1
• Filed: 02/04/2010
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Mori, Akio
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/413
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5673 Gating or triggering based on a physiological signal other than an MR signal, e.g. ECG gating or motion monitoring using optical systems for monitoring the motion of a fiducial marker

Abstract

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus collects raw data about a subject in a synchronized manner with an electrocardiographic signal of the subject. An Electrocardiogram (ECG) gating unit detects an irregular synchronization interval with respect to the electrocardiographic signal. When the ECG gating unit detects an irregular synchronization interval, a real-time sequencer controls a gradient magnetic-field power source, a transmitting unit, and the like so as to reacquire raw data that is acquired during the irregular synchronization interval.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

an acquiring unit that acquires raw data about a subject in a synchronized manner with an electrocardiographic signal of the subject;

a detecting unit that detects an irregular synchronization interval with respect to the electrocardiographic signal; and

an acquisition control unit that controls the acquiring unit such that when the detecting unit detects an irregular synchronization interval, the acquiring unit reacquires raw data that is acquired during the irregular synchronization interval.

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

a buffer unit that intermediates between the acquiring unit and a collecting unit that collects raw data acquired by the acquiring unit, buffers the raw data acquired by the acquiring unit, and then transfers the raw data to the collecting unit; and

a transfer control unit that controls the buffer unit such that when the detecting unit detects the irregular synchronization interval, buffered raw data is not to be transferred to the collecting unit, wherein when the detecting unit detects the irregular synchronization interval, the acquisition control unit controls the acquiring unit so as to reacquire raw data that is controlled by the transfer control unit not to be transferred.

3. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the buffer unit includes a region configured to buffer raw data of at least two heart-beat equivalent.

4. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the buffer unit includes a region configured to buffer raw data of a plurality of heart-beat equivalent more than at least two heart beats,

the transfer control unit controls the buffer unit such that after buffering raw data of a preset number of heart-beat equivalent, the buffer unit transfers raw data to the collecting unit, and when the detecting unit detects the irregular synchronization interval, buffered raw data is not to be transferred to the collecting unit, and

when the detecting unit detects the irregular synchronization interval, the acquisition control unit controls the acquiring unit so as to reacquire raw data that is controlled by the transfer control unit not to be transferred.

5. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an information output unit that counts a number of times of reacquisition controlled by the acquisition control unit, and when counted number of times reaches a preset number of times or more, outputs onto an output unit at least one of information that advises selecting stop of imaging and information that advises selecting retry of imaging.

6. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an information output unit that counts a number of times of reacquisition controlled by the acquisition control unit, and when counted number of times reaches a preset number of times or more, outputs onto an output unit at least one of information that advises selecting stop of imaging and information that advises selecting retry of imaging.

7. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an information output unit that counts a number of times of reacquisition controlled by the acquisition control unit, and when counted number of times reaches a preset number of times or more, outputs onto an output unit at least one of information that advises selecting stop of imaging and information that advises selecting retry of imaging.

8. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising an information output unit that counts a number of times of reacquisition controlled by the acquisition control unit, and when counted number of times reaches a preset number of times or more, outputs onto an output unit at least one of information that advises selecting stop of imaging and information that advises selecting retry of imaging.

9. A magnetic resonance imaging method comprising:

acquiring raw data about a subject in a synchronized manner with an electrocardiographic signal of the subject;

detecting an irregular synchronization interval with respect to the electrocardiographic signal; and

providing control such that when an irregular synchronization interval is detected, raw data that is acquired during the irregular synchronization interval is to be reacquired.