Magnetic resonance image correction method and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus using the same

• US 6,076,004 A
• Filed: 09/05/1996
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanayama, Shoichi, Calderon, Arturo
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US08/708,667
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 128/653.2, 128/653.3, 128/653.4, 128/920, 128/922, 324/309, 324/312, 382/278, 382/280, 382/296, 382/298, 382/128, 382/130, 382/131
• US Class Current: 600/410
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/56 Image enhancement or correction, e.g. subtraction or averaging techniques , e.g. improvement of signal-to-noise ratio and resolution
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/922 including image analysis

Abstract

Cross-correlation between a first magnetic resonance image as a reference image and a second magnetic resonance image to be adjusted relative to the first magnetic resonance image is taken, deviation of the second magnetic resonance image to the first magnetic resonance image as correction values is calculated, and the second magnetic resonance image based on the correction values is corrected.

Claims

1. A method for magnetic resonance image correction comprising the steps of:

subjecting a reference magnetic resonance T₂ image and a second magnetic resonance T₂ * image to a fast Fourier transform;

calculating a cross-correlation between the reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image and the second magnetic resonance T₂ * image,

calculating scale and rotation correction values for the second magnetic resonance T₂ * image comprising scale and rotation deviation values of said second magnetic resonance T₂ * image relative to said reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image,

correcting said second magnetic resonance T₂ * image using the scale and rotation correction values to produce a scale/rotation-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image,

subjecting the scale/rotation-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image to a fast Fourier transform,

calculating a cross-correlation between the reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image and the scale/rotation-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image,

calculating a position correction value for the scale/rotation-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image comprising a position deviation value of the scale/rotation-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image relative to the reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image, and

correcting the scale/rotation-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image using the position correction value to produce a position-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image.

2. A magnetic resonance image correction method according to claim 1, wherein said scale, rotation and position correction values are coefficients that maximize the cross-correlation function.

3. A magnetic resonance image correction method according to claim 1, wherein said reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image and said second magnetic resonance T₂ * image subjected to the fast Fourier transform are transformed to polar coordinates prior to correction of deviations relating to scale and rotation.

4. A magnetic resonance image correction method according to claim 3, wherein coordinate scales in each respective radial direction of said reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image and said second magnetic resonance T₂ * image transformed to the polar coordinates are transformed logarithmically prior to correction of deviations relating to scale and rotation.

5. A magnetic resonance image correction method according to claim 1, wherein correction using the position correction value is performed using orthogonal coordinates.

6. A magnetic resonance image correction method according to claim 1, wherein each cross-correlation is a cross-correlation relating to phase.

7. A magnetic resonance image correction method according to claim 1, wherein each cross-correlation is a cross-correlation relating to amplitude.

8. A magnetic resonance image correction method according to claim 1, wherein each cross-correlation is a cross-correlation relating to phase and amplitude.

9. A magnetic resonance image correction method according to claim 1, further comprising repeating the steps of claim 1 plural times until a desired corrected T₂ * image is obtained.

10. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

a magnetostatic field-forming magnet for applying a uniform magnetostatic field to a body to be tested;

a gradient magnetic field-forming coil for applying a gradient magnetic field to said body to be tested;

means for applying radio frequency magnetic field to said body to be tested;

means for receiving a plurality of magnetic resonance signals from said body to be tested obtained according to the application of said radio frequency magnetic field;

means for forming an image from said plurality of magnetic resonance signals;

means for obtaining a reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image and a second magnetic resonance T₂ * image using said means for forming an image;

scale/rotation correction means for calculating a cross-correlation between the reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image and the second magnetic resonance T₂ * image, calculating scale and rotation correction values for the second magnetic resonance T₂ * image comprising scale and rotation deviation values of said second magnetic resonance T₂ * image relative to said reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image, and correcting said second magnetic resonance T₂ * image using the scale and rotation correction values to produce a scale/rotation-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image,

position correction means for calculating a cross-correlation between the reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image and the scale/rotation-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image, calculating a position correction value for the scale/rotation-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image comprising a position deviation value of the scale/rotation-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image relative to the reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image, and correcting the scale/rotation-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image using the position correction value to produce a position-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image, and

means for displaying the position-corrected second magnetic resonance T₂ * image.

11. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image used by the scale/rotation correction means is a first T₂ * image se among a series of magnetic resonance T₂ * images obtained by said image-forming means.

12. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said reference magnetic resonance T₂ * image used by the scale/rotation correction means is a T₂ * image selected via a console terminal by an operator from among a series of magnetic resonance T₂ * images obtained by said image-forming means.

13. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a stimulus device for giving stimuli to said body to be tested.

14. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said second magnetic resonance T₂ * image used by the scale/rotation correction means is a T₂ * image obtained while stimuli are given to said body to be tested.