SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUIET MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to control auditory noise, the steps of the method comprising:
- directing an MRI system to perform a pulse sequence that includes;
i) maintaining a magnetic field gradient during each repetition of the pulse sequence;
ii) stepping the magnetic field gradient vector components through a plurality of different gradient amplitudes in a pattern that controls a difference between successive gradient component amplitudes to be less than a predetermined value to control auditory noise caused by forces generated during transitions between the successive gradient amplitudes; and
wherein the pattern is designed to control a transition between successive gradient amplitudes in successive repetitions of the pulse sequence to be less than the predetermined value to control auditory noise caused by forces generated during transitions between the successive gradient amplitudes between the successive repetitions of the pulse sequence.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for performing quiet magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) are provided. An MRI system is directed to perform a pulse sequence that includes a magnetic field gradient s tapped through a plurality of different gradient component amplitude values in a manner that controls the difference between successive gradient amplitudes. In this way, force changes generated during the transition from one gradient component amplitude to the next are controlled, thereby resulting in a significant noise reduction. Additionally, the gradient amplitude values are ordered such that the transition of the gradient component amplitude in successive repetitions of the pulse sequence is controlled, thereby mitigating the generation of forces between pulse sequence repetitions.
18 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system to control auditory noise, the steps of the method comprising:
-
directing an MRI system to perform a pulse sequence that includes; i) maintaining a magnetic field gradient during each repetition of the pulse sequence; ii) stepping the magnetic field gradient vector components through a plurality of different gradient amplitudes in a pattern that controls a difference between successive gradient component amplitudes to be less than a predetermined value to control auditory noise caused by forces generated during transitions between the successive gradient amplitudes; and wherein the pattern is designed to control a transition between successive gradient amplitudes in successive repetitions of the pulse sequence to be less than the predetermined value to control auditory noise caused by forces generated during transitions between the successive gradient amplitudes between the successive repetitions of the pulse sequence. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11)
-
-
7. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
-
a magnet system configured to generate a polarizing magnetic field about at least a portion of a subject arranged in the MRI system; a magnetic gradient system including a plurality of magnetic gradient coils configured to apply at least one magnetic gradient field to the polarizing magnetic field; a radio frequency (RF) system configured to apply an RF field to the subject and to receive magnetic resonance signals therefrom; a computer system programmed to; direct the magnetic gradient system to step the magnetic field gradient through a plurality of gradient component amplitude values in a pattern that controls a difference between successive gradient component amplitudes to be less than a predetermined value to control auditory noise caused by forces generated during transitions between the successive gradient amplitudes; direct the RF system to coordinate with the magnetic gradient system to acquire MR imaging data from the subject; and reconstruct an image of the subject from the MR imaging data. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
12. A method for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with significant noise reduction, the steps of the method comprising:
directing an MRI system to perform a pulse sequence that includes; i) continuously establishing a magnetic field gradient during each repetition of the pulse sequence; ii) stepping the continuously established magnetic field gradient through a plurality of different gradient component amplitudes such that a difference between successive gradient component amplitudes is sufficiently small so as to substantially mitigate force changes generated during transitions between the successive gradient amplitudes. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
16. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
-
a magnet system configured to generate a polarizing magnetic field about at least a portion of a subject arranged in the MRI system; a magnetic gradient system including a plurality of magnetic gradient coils configured to apply at least one magnetic gradient field to the polarizing magnetic field; a radio frequency (RF) system configured to apply an RF field to the subject and to receive magnetic resonance signals therefrom; a computer system programmed to; direct the magnetic gradient system to continuously establish a magnetic field gradient; direct the magnetic gradient system to step the continuously established magnetic field gradient through a plurality of gradient component amplitude values in which a difference between each successive gradient amplitude value is sufficiently small so as to substantially mitigate forces being generated between the magnet system and the magnetic gradient system; and direct the magnetic gradient system to order the plurality of magnetic gradient amplitude values such that a transition between successive repetitions of a pulse sequence that includes the continuously established magnetic field gradient is sufficiently small so as to substantially mitigate forces being generated between the magnet system and the magnetic gradient system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification