Method and apparatus for automated magnetic field shimming in magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging
First Claim
1. A method for adjusting currents in plural magnetic shim coils in an MRI/MRSI system comprising the steps of:
- (a) mapping an existing magnetic field distribution;
(b) machine calculating an adjusted set of currents for actual shim coils to improve uniformity of field distribution while also using in such calculation an assumed uniformly distributed fictitious pseudo shim coil which does not actually exist thereby permitting uniform offset adjustments to be included in the calculations; and
(c) applying said adjusted set of currents to the actual shim coils.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated magnetic field shimming process for magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) uses doubly phase encoded NMR spin echo responses in conjunction with multiple fourier transformation to derive a spectroscopic plot for each voxel in a three-dimensional array of voxels in an image volume (including portions of a living subject) which is to be subsequently subjected to MRSI using NMR FID or spin echo responses. The thus derived hydrogen peak frequency is taken as a measurement of existing static magnetic field intensity within that voxel and adjusted shim coil currents are calculated so as to reduce or minimize nonuniformity of the static magnetic field. A nonexistent pseudo shim coil having an assumed uniform shim contribution may enhance the resulting field homogeneity. The auto shimming procedure may be applied iteratively as required to achieve the predetermined degree of field uniformity.
-
Citations
47 Claims
-
1. A method for adjusting currents in plural magnetic shim coils in an MRI/MRSI system comprising the steps of:
-
(a) mapping an existing magnetic field distribution; (b) machine calculating an adjusted set of currents for actual shim coils to improve uniformity of field distribution while also using in such calculation an assumed uniformly distributed fictitious pseudo shim coil which does not actually exist thereby permitting uniform offset adjustments to be included in the calculations; and (c) applying said adjusted set of currents to the actual shim coils.
-
-
2. A method for adjusting currents in plural magnetic shim coils in an MRI/MRSI system comprising the steps of:
-
(a) acquiring an MRI image of a patient volume; (b) defining a desired MRSI image volume therewithin; and (c) automatically shimming a static magnetic field within the defined MRSI image volume by mapping the existing field distribution and calculating and applying adjusted shim coil currents to improve the homogeneity of the thus mapped distribution, including the step of using in such calculation an assumed uniformly distributed fictitious pseudo shim coil which does not actually exist thereby permitting uniform offset adjustments to be included in the calculations. - View Dependent Claims (44)
-
-
3. A method of automated shimming of static magnetic fields for homogeneity in an MRSI system comprising:
-
(a) acquiring and using NMR spin echo responses to create NMR spectral responses from plural voxels within an image area and a map of existing magnetic field variation therewithin corresponding to the NMR spectral peak frequency of a predetermined NMR species and using same to automatically reduce said variations; and (b) thereafter acquiring and using NMR FID responses to create MRSI plots of other NMR species from said image area.
-
-
4. A method of automated shimming of static magnetic fields for homogeneity in an MRSI system comprising:
-
(a) mapping the distribution of incremental magnetic field change for unit current to create a calibration value matrix for each of plural magnetic shim coils over a predetermined array of voxels; (b) mapping and recording variations in existing static magnetic field distribution for only some of said voxels; (c) using said recorded variations and a subset of said calibration value matrix corresponding to only some of said voxels to calculate adjusted shim coil currents required to reduce the magnitude of said variations, including the step of using in such calculation an assumed uniformly distributed fictitious pseudo shim coil which does not actually exist thereby permitting uniform offset adjustments to be included in the calculations; and (d) applying said adjusted shim coil currents to respectively corresponding shim coils. - View Dependent Claims (45)
-
-
5. A multiply-tuned RF coil for use in magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging, said coil comprising:
-
multiple pairs of resonant Helmholtz coils, the coils in each pair being capacitively over coupled to one another; and plural adjustably positionable loading and coupling loops, one of said loops being inductively coupled to each of said Helmholtz pairs and feed-connected to a respectively associated separate RF transmission line. - View Dependent Claims (6)
-
-
7. A method for adjusting currents in plural magnetic shim coils in a magnetic resonance imaging system, said method comprising the steps of
(a) mapping the distribution of a static magnetic field B within an imaging volume with a first set of currents I1 . . . In in shim coils S1 . . . Sn by magnetic resonance spectroscopy which maps the frequency of a predetermined NMR species at an array of locations within said imaging volume; -
(b) machine calculating an adjusted second set of shim coil currents AI1 . . . AIn using a calibration matrix of incremental B field distributions produced by the individual shim coils and the measured existing B field distribution so as to minimize variations in the B field distribution; and (c) applying said adjusted shim coil currents AI1 . . . AIn to respectively corresponding shim coils S1 . . . Sn. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. In a magnetic resonance spectrographic imaging (MRSI) system having shim coils S1 . . . . . Sn for adjusting the uniformity of a nominally static magnetic field Bo within an image volume, the improvement comprising:
-
first means for generating a map array of magnetic resonance spectrographic data representing actual Bo intensity at corresponding locations within said image volume; and second means for using said spectrographic data to generate and supply adjusted shim currents I1 . . . In to shim coils, S1 . . . Sn to make Bo intensity substantially more uniform within the image volume, including means for performing calculations using an assumed uniformly distributed fictitious pseudo shim coil which does not actually exist thereby permitting uniform offset adjustments to be included in the calculations. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 23, 46)
-
-
19. In a magnetic resonance spectrographic imaging (MRSI) system having shim coils S1 . . . . Sn for adjusting the uniformity of a nominally static magnetic field Bo within an image volume, the improvement comprising:
-
first means for generating a map array of magnetic resonance spectrographic data representing actual Bo intensity at corresponding locations within said image volume; and second means for using said spectrographic data to generate and supply adjusted shim currents I1 . . . In to shim coils, S1 . . . Sn to make Bo intensity substantially more uniform within the image volume, wherein said first means generated NMR spin echoes in an MRSI sequence which includes two degrees of phase encoding with magnetic gradient pulses and three degrees of Fourier Transformation to produce spectrographic data representing the NMR frequency of hydrogen nuclei at said locations.
-
-
22. In a magnetic resonance spectrographic imaging (MRSI) system having shim coils S1 . . . . . Sn for adjusting the uniformity of a nominally static magnetic field Bo within an image volume, the improvement comprising:
-
first means for generating a map array of magnetic resonance spectrographic data representing actual Bo intensity at corresponding locations within said image volume; second means for using said spectrographic data to generate and supply adjusted shim currents I1 . . . In to shim coils S1 . . . Sn to make Bo intensity substantially more uniform within the image volume; and means for generating a calibration map of magnetic resonance spectrographic data representing differential shim coil contributions to Bo per unit current at corresponding locations within said image volume for each of plural shim coils, wherein said second means utilizes said calibration maps to generate the adjusted shim currents using an approximated best fit algorithm, and said approximated best fit algorithm comprises at least squares fit of Bo +shim coils fields to a uniform spatial distribution within said image volume using said adjusted shim currents I1 . . . In and said calibration maps.
-
-
24. In a magnetic resonance spectrographic imaging (MRSI) system having shim coils S1 . . . . . Sn for adjusting the uniformity of a nominally static magnetic field Bo within an image volume, the improvement comprising:
-
first means for generating a map array of magnetic resonance spectrographic data representing actual Bo intensity at corresponding locations within said image volume; and second means for using said spectrographic data to generate and supply adjusted shim currents I1 . . . In to shim coils S1 . . . Sn to make Bo intensity substantially more uniform within the image volume; wherein said first means generates spectrographic data for each said location which includes measured NMR response versus NMR frequency data and includes an automated peak-picker program for selecting a predetermined NMR species response peak frequency as the spectrographic data representing Bo intensity at a corresponding location.
-
-
25. In a magnetic resonance spectrographic imaging (MRSI) system having shim coils S1 . . . . . Sn for adjusting the uniformity of a nominally static magnetic field Bo within an image volume, the improvement comprising:
-
first means for generating a map array of magnetic resonance spectrographic data representing actual Bo intensity at corresponding locations within said image volume; and second means for using said spectrographic data to generate and supply adjusted shim currents I1 . . . In to shim coils S1 . . . Sn to make Bo intensity substantially more uniform within the image volume; wherein said first means uses multiple phase encoding and multiple Fourier Transformations without any applied frequency encoding magnetic gradient during the reading of NMR signal responses to produce said spectrographic data.
-
-
26. In a magnetic resonance spectrographic imaging (MRSI) system having shim coils S1 . . . . . Sn for adjusting the uniformity of a nominally static magnetic field Bo within an image volume, the improvement comprising:
-
first means for generating a map array of magnetic resonance spectrographic data representing actual Bo intensity at corresponding locations within said image volume; and second means for using said spectrographic data to generate and supply adjusted shim currents I1 . . . In to shim coils, S1 . . . Sn to make Bo intensity substantially more uniform within the image volume, wherein said first means elicits NMR echo responses and generates said spectrographic data therefrom.
-
-
27. In a magnetic resonance spectrographic imaging (MRSI) system having shim coils S1 . . . . . Sn for adjusting the uniformity of a nominally static magnetic field Bo within an image volume, the improvement comprising:
-
first means for generating a map array of magnetic resonance spectrographic data representing actual Bo intensity at corresponding locations within said image volume; and second means for using said spectrographic data to generate and supply adjusted shim currents I1 . . . In to shim coils, S1 . . . Sn to make Bo intensity substantially more uniform within the image volume, wherein said first means comprises a multiple-tuned RF coil structure including plural pairs of resonant Helmholtz coils capacitively coupled to each other and individually tuned to resonate for a respectively corresponding NMR species. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
-
-
30. In a magnetic resonance spectrographic imaging (MRSI) system having shim coils S1 . . . . . Sn for adjusting the uniformity of a nominally static magnetic field Bo within an image volume, the improvement comprising:
-
first means for generating a map array of magnetic resonance spectrographic data representing actual Bo intensity at corresponding locations within said image volume; second means for using said spectrographic data to generate and supply adjusted shim currents I1 . . . In to shim coils, S1 . . . Sn to make Bo intensity substantially more uniform within the image volume; and means for generating a locator image using phase and frequency encoded NMR signals from a predetermined single species of NMR nuclei to define the image volume to be shimmed for more uniform Bo.
-
-
31. A magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) system comprising:
-
RF coils tuned to resonate at plural frequencies f1 and f2 and adapted to couple RF signals at such frequencies to/from an object to be imaged; RF signal transmit and receive circuits coupled (a) to transmit RF signals at said plural frequencies to said RF coils and (b) to receive RF signals at said plural frequencies from said RF coils; a main magnet for generating a nominally static magnetic field Bo throughout a predetermined image volume; plural shimming magnet coils S1 . . . Sn for controllably adjusting the uniformity of said static magnetic field Bo by passing adjusted shim currents AI1 . . . AIn through the corresponding shim coils S1 . . . Sn ; magnetic gradient coils Gx, Gy, Gz for controllably generating respective gradients in the magnetic field Bo, control means connected to control sequences of RF signal transmission and reception in conjunction with magnetic gradient pulses to generate MRSI image data; said control means including shim control means which; (1) generates a map of spectrographic data representative of actual Bo intensity within said image volume; (2) generates corrective shim current values AI1 . . . AIn based on said spectrographic data for making Bo intensity more uniform; and (3) adjusts the shim current values accordingly so as to make Bo intensity substantially more uniform prior to generation of said MRSI image data. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
-
-
34. Apparatus for adjusting currents in plural magnetic shim coils in an MRI/MRSI system comprising:
-
(a) means for mapping an existing magnetic field distribution; (b) means for machine calculating an adjusted set of currents for actual shim coils to improve uniformity of field distribution while also using, in such calculation a fictitious, assumed uniformly distributed pseudo-shim coil which does not actually exist thereby permitting uniform offset adjustments to be included in the calculations; and (c) means for applying said adjusted set of currents to the actual shim coils.
-
-
35. Apparatus for adjusting currents in plural magnetic shim coils in an MRI/MRSI system comprising:
-
(a) means for acquiring an MRI image of a patient volume; (b) means for defining a desired MRSI image volume therewithin; and (c) means for automatically shimming a static magnetic field within the defined MRSI image volume by mapping the existing field distribution and calculating and applying adjusted shim coil currents to improve the homogeneity of the thus mapped distribution, including means for performing calculations using an assumed uniformly distributed fictitious pseudo shim coil which does not actually exist thereby permitting uniform offset adjustments to be included in the calculations. - View Dependent Claims (47)
-
-
36. Apparatus for automated shimming of static magnetic fields for homogeneity in an MRSI system comprising:
-
(a) means for acquiring and using NMR spin echo responses to create NMR spectral responses from plural voxels within an image area and a map of existing magnetic field variation therewithin corresponding to the NMR spectral peak frequency of a predetermined NMR species and using same to automatically reduce said variations; and (b) means for thereafter acquiring and using NMR FID or spin echo responses to create MRSI plots of other NMR species from said image area.
-
-
37. Apparatus for automated shimming of static magnetic fields for homogeneity in an MRSI system comprising:
-
(a) means for mapping the distribution of incremental magnetic field change per unit current to create a calibration value matrix for each of plural magnetic shim coils over a predetermined array of voxels, including means for generating spectrographic data for each voxel which includes measured NMR response versus NMR frequency data, including automated peak-picking means for selecting a predetermined NMR species response peak frequency as the spectrographic data representing Bo intensity within a corresponding voxel; (b) means for mapping and recording variations in existing static magnetic field distribution for only some of said voxels; (c) means for using said recorded variations and a subset of said calibration value matrix corresponding to only some of said voxels to calculate adjusted shim coil currents required to reduce the magnitude of said variations; and (d) means for applying said adjusted shim coil currents to respectively corresponding shim coils.
-
-
38. Apparatus for adjusting currents in plural magnetic shim coils in a magnetic resonance imaging system, said apparatus comprising:
-
(a) means for mapping the distribution of a static magnetic field B within an imaging volume with a first set of currents I1 . . . In in shim coils S1 . . . Sn by magnetic resonance spectroscopy which maps the frequency of a predetermined NMR species at an array of locations within said imaging volume, including means for generating spectrographic data for each voxel which includes measured NMR response versus NMR frequency data, including automated peak-picking means for selecting a predetermined NMR species response peak frequency as the spectrographic data representing Bo intensity within a corresponding voxel; (b) means for machine calculating an adjusted second set of shim coil currents AI1 . . . AIn using a calibration matrix of field distributions produced by the individual shim coils and the measured existing B field distribution so as to minimize variations in the B field distribution; and (c) means for applying said adjusted shim coil currents AI1 . . . AIn to respectively corresponding shim coils S1 . . . Sn. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
-
Specification