Reconstructing two and three dimensional images by two and three dimensional Fourier transforms in an MRI system

• US 5,166,875 A
• Filed: 11/17/1989
• Issued: 11/24/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Machida, Yoshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes, Gail O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US07/437,608
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 364/413.13, 364/413.02, 364/413.22, 364/413.19, 324/309, 324/306, 324/307, 395/124, 395/125, 395/127
• US Class Current: 600/410
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/4822 in three dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5608 Data processing and visualization specially adapted for MR, e.g. for feature analysis and pattern recognition on the basis of measured MR data, segmentation of measured MR data, edge contour detection on the basis of measured MR data, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of signal-to-noise ratio by means of noise filtering or apodization, for enhancing measured MR data in terms of resolution by means for deblurring, windowing, zero filling, or generation of gray-scaled images, colour-coded images or images displaying vectors instead of pixels image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

In an MRI system, three dimensional data is acquired from a specific three dimensional region of a subject to be examined. An image reconstruction process using two dimensional Fourier transform is performed for two dimensional data in one direction of the three dimensional data. An image reconstruction process using three dimensional Fourier transform is performed for the three dimensional data. In this case, a two dimensional image is displayed before a three dimensional image is displayed.

Claims

1. A method for processing two and three dimensional data in an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) system, comprising the steps of:

acquiring three dimensional data having a plurality of two dimensional data;

storing the acquired three dimensional data;

reading out one of the plurality of two dimensional data from the stored three dimensional data;

reconstructing a two dimensional image by a two dimensional Fourier transform process for the read out two dimensional data;

displaying the reconstructed two dimensional image;

reading out the stored three dimensional data;

reconstructing a three dimensional image by a three dimensional Fourier transform process for the read out three dimensional data; and

displaying the reconstructed three dimensional image after the reconstructed two dimensional image is displayed.

2. A method for processing two and three dimensional data in an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) system, comprising the steps of:

acquiring first two dimensional data of a subject;

reconstructing a two dimensional image by a two dimensional Fourier transform process for the acquired first two dimensional data;

acquiring a plurality of second two dimensional data of the subject outside the first two dimensional data, three dimensional data being constituted by the first and second two dimensional data;

displaying the reconstructed two dimensional image during the time second two dimensional data are acquired;

reconstructing a three dimensional image by a three dimensional Fourier transform process for the three dimensional data; and

displaying the reconstructed three-dimensional image.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of second two dimensional data outside the first two dimensional data is acquired immediately after the first two dimensional data is acquired.

4. An apparatus for processing two and three dimensional data in an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) system, comprising:

acquiring means for acquiring three dimensional data including a plurality of two dimensional data;

storing means for storing the acquired three dimensional data;

reconstructing means for reconstructing a two dimensional image by a two dimensional Fourier transform process for one of the plurality of two dimensional data included in the stored three dimensional data, and reconstructing a three dimensional image by a three dimensional Fourier transform process for the stored three dimensional data;

displaying means for displaying the reconstructed two dimensional image after the dimensional image is acquired and displaying the reconstructed three dimensional image after the reconstructed two dimensional image is displayed.