Method and apparatus for magnetic resonance imaging intersecting slices

• US 6,301,497 B1
• Filed: 07/12/1999
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Neustadter, David Maier
• Primary Examiner(s): Lateef, Marvin M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHAW, SHAWNA JEANNINE
• Application Number:
  US09/351,495
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/410, 324/309, 128/920, 128/922, 382/128
• 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: G01R 33/4833 using spatially selective excitation of the volume of interest, e.g. selecting non-orthogonal or inclined slices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/5676 Gating or triggering based on an MR signal, e.g. involving one or more navigator echoes for motion monitoring and correction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A method and apparatus capable of interactively identifying and tracking the movement and orientation of a freely moving structure of interest is disclosed herein. The MR imaging system includes an operator interface for displaying three MR images that are oriented to and with each other in any pre-determined orientation including an intersecting orthogonal orientation and an intersecting radial orientation. The three MR images are continuously updated in real-time and acquired interleaved. The MR imaging system further includes interactive controls to prescribe a scan plane of at least one of the subsequent three MR images, to store at least one of the MR image, and to retrieve at least one of the stored MR image.

Claims

1. A method for viewing a structure of interest positioned in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, comprising:

(a) generating a main MR image having a main scan plane through a main slice of the structure of interest;

(b) configuring a main MR imaging pulse sequence of the main MR image to cause a main tip angle in the main slice;

(c) displaying the main MR image;

(d) generating a first intersecting MR image having a first intersecting scan plane through a first intersecting slice of the structure of interest, wherein the first intersecting scan plane intersects with the main scan plane;

(e) configuring a first intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the first intersecting MR image to cause a first intersecting tip angle in the first intersecting slice;

(f) displaying the first intersecting MR image;

(g) generating a second intersecting MR image having a second intersecting scan plane through a second intersecting slice of the structure of interest, wherein the second intersecting scan plane intersects with the main and first intersecting scan planes;

(h) configuring a second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the second intersecting MR image to cause a second intersecting tip angle in the second intersecting slice; and

(i) displaying the second intersecting MR image,

wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is smaller than the main tip angle in response to relative values of a time of repetition (TR) of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence and a T1 relaxation constant of the structure of interest, to minimize an undesirable artifact.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying steps (c), (f), and (i) include simultaneously displaying the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images to permit identification of the orientation of the main slice.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting MR image includes an indication of an intersecting region between the corresponding at least one of the first and second intersecting slice with the main slice when at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is smaller than the main tip angle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the main tip angle is 2 to 4 times at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is approximately 10 degrees and the main tip angle is approximately 40 degrees.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is approximately 15 degrees and the main tip angle is approximately 30 degrees.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence includes a dephasing gradient at the end thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating steps (a) to (i) a plurality of times as desired in continuous real-time, wherein the generating step (d) for the first intersecting MR image, the generating step (g) for the second intersecting MR image, and the generating step (a) for the main MR image are interleaved.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising prescribing the subsequent orientation of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan plane.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

storing at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image in the MR imaging system, wherein each MR image stored is associated with an identification scheme; and

retrieving at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image stored in the MR imaging system, wherein the identification scheme permits selective retrieval of the desired MR image.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes have orientations selected from a group including an intersecting orthogonal orientation, an intersecting radial orientation, and an any other pre-determined orientation, as desired.

12. A system for viewing a structure of interest positioned therein, comprising:

(a) means for generating a main MR image having a main scan plane through a main slice of the structure of interest;

(b) means for configuring a main MR imaging pulse sequence of the main MR image to cause a main tip angle in the main slice;

(c) means for displaying the main MR image;

(d) means for generating a first intersecting MR image having a first intersecting scan plane through a first intersecting slice of the structure of interest, wherein the first intersecting scan plane intersects with the main scan plane;

(e) means for configuring a first intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the first intersecting MR image to cause a first intersecting tip angle in the first intersecting slice;

(f) means for displaying the first intersecting MR image;

(g) means for generating a second intersecting MR image having a second intersecting scan plane through a second intersecting slice of the structure of interest, wherein the second intersecting scan plane intersects with the main and first intersecting scan planes;

(h) means for configuring a second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the second intersecting MR image to cause a second intersecting tip angle in the second intersecting slice; and

(i) means for displaying the second intersecting MR image,

wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is smaller than the main tip angle in response to relative values of a time of repetition (TR) of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence and a T1 relaxation constant of the structure of interest, to minimize an undesirable artifact.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the means for displaying (c), (f), and (i) include simultaneous display of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images to permit identification of the orientation of the main slice.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting MR image includes an indication of an intersecting region between the at least one of the first and second intersecting slice with the main slice when at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is smaller than the main tip angle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the main tip angle is 2 to 4 times at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is approximately 10 degrees and the main tip angle is approximately 40 degrees.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is approximately 15 degrees and the main tip angle is approximately 30 degrees.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence includes a dephasing gradient at the end thereof.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images can be updated repeatedly in continuous real-time as desired, the generation of each of the first and second intersecting MR image alternating and thereinbetween, interleaved with the generation of the main MR image.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for prescribing the subsequent orientation of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan plane.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for storing at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image in the system, wherein each MR image stored is associated with an identification scheme; and

means for retrieving and displaying at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image stored in the system, wherein the identification scheme permits selective retrieval of the desired MR image.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes have orientations selected from a group including an intersecting orthogonal orientation, an intersecting radial orientation, and an any other pre-determined orientation, as desired.

23. A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system for viewing a structure of interest positioned therein, comprising:

a MR imaging device configured to generate a main MR image having a main scan plane through a main slice of the structure of interest, a first intersecting MR image having a first intersecting scan plane through a first intersecting slice of the structure of interest, and a second intersecting MR image having a second intersecting scan plane through a second intersecting slice of the structure of interest,

and configured to cause a main MR imaging pulse sequence of the main MR image to generate a main tip angle in the main slice, a first intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the first intersecting MR image to generate a first intersecting tip angle in the first intersecting slice, and a second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the second intersecting MR image to generate a second intersecting tip angle in the second intersecting slice, wherein the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes intersect with each other; and

an operator interface coupled to the MR imaging device, configured to receive the generated main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images therefrom and to display the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images,

wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is smaller than the main tip angle in response to relative values of a time of repetition (TR) of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence and a T1 relaxation constant of the structure of interest, to minimize an undesirable artifact.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the operator interface includes an electronic display and the operator interface simultaneously displays the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images to permit identification of the orientation of the main slice.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting MR image includes an indication of an intersecting region between the corresponding at least one of the first and second intersecting slice with the main slice when at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is smaller than the main tip angle.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the main tip angle is 2 to 4 times at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is approximately 10 degrees and the main tip angle is approximately 40 degrees.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is approximately 15 degrees and the main tip angle is approximately 30 degrees.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence includes a dephasing gradient at the end thereof.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the MR imaging device continuously updates each of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images in real-time as desired and the operator interface correspondingly displays each updated MR image, the generation of each of the first and second intersecting MR image alternating and thereinbetween, interleaved with the generation of the main MR image.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the operator interface is configured to transmit a prescription signal in response to an operator prescribing the subsequent orientation of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan plane.

32. The system of claim 30, further comprising a storage device coupled to the MR imaging device and configured to store at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image, and an identification scheme associated with each MR image, in response to a store signal received from the operator interface, and wherein the operator interface is configured to transmit a retrieval signal in response to an image retrieval selection made on the operator interface to selectively retrieve at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image stored in the storage device.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the operator interface includes an input device selected from a group including a mouse, a joystick, a keyboard, a trackball, a touch screen, a light wand, a voice control, and a platform-mounted spatial manipulation device.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes have orientations selected from a group including an intersecting orthogonal orientation, an intersecting radial orientation, and an any other pre-determined orientation, as desired.

35. A method for viewing a structure of interest positioned in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, comprising:

(a) generating a main MR image having a main scan plane through a main slice of the structure of interest;

(b) displaying the main MR image;

(c) generating a first intersecting MR image having a first intersecting scan plane through a first intersecting slice of the structure of interest, wherein the first intersecting scan plane intersects with the main scan plane;

(d) displaying the first intersecting MR image;

(e) generating a second intersecting MR image having a second intersecting scan plane through a second intersecting slice of the structure of interest, wherein the second intersecting scan plane intersects with the main and first intersecting scan planes;

(f) displaying the second intersecting MR image; and

(g) repeating steps (a) to (f) a plurality of times as desired in continuous real-time, wherein the generating steps (c) and (e), respectively, of the first and second intersecting MR image alternates and thereinbetween, interleaved with the generating step (a) of each of the main MR image.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the displaying steps (b), (d), and (f) include simultaneously displaying the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images to permit identification of the orientation of the main slice.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

configuring a main MR imaging pulse sequence of the main MR image to cause a main tip angle in the main slice;

configuring a first intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the first intersecting MR image to cause a first intersecting tip angle in the first intersecting slice; and

configuring a second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the second intersecting MR image to cause a second intersecting tip angle in the second intersecting slice,

wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is smaller than the main tip angle in response to relative values of a time of repetition (TR) of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence and a T1 relaxation constant of the structure of interest, to minimize an undesirable artifact.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the main tip angle is 2 to 4 times at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence includes a dephasing gradient at the end thereof.

40. The method of claim 35, further comprising prescribing the subsequent orientation of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan plane.

41. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

storing at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image in the MR imaging system, wherein each MR image stored is associated with an identification scheme; and

retrieving and displaying at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image stored in the MR imaging system, wherein the identification scheme permits selective retrieval of the desired MR image.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes have orientations selected from a group including an intersecting orthogonal orientation, an intersecting radial orientation, and an any other pre-determined orientation, as desired.

43. A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system for viewing a structure of interest positioned therein, comprising:

(a) means for generating a main MR image having a main scan plane through a main slice of the structure of interest;

(b) means for displaying the main MR image;

(c) means for generating a first intersecting MR image having a first intersecting scan plane through a first intersecting slice of the structure of interest, wherein the first intersecting scan plane intersects with the main scan plane;

(d) means for displaying the first intersecting MR image;

(e) means for generating a second intersecting MR image having a second intersecting scan plane through a second intersecting slice of the structure of interest, wherein the second intersecting scan plane intersects with the main and first intersecting scan planes;

(f) means for displaying the second intersecting MR image; and

(g) means for repeating steps (a) to (f) a plurality of times as desired in continuous real-time, wherein the generation of each of the first and second intersecting MR image alternates and thereinbetween interleaved with the generation of each of the main MR image.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for displaying (b), (d), and (f) is configured to simultaneously display the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images to permit identification of the orientation of the main slice.

45. The system of claim 43, further comprising:

means for configuring a main MR imaging pulse sequence of the main MR image to cause a main tip angle in the main slice;

means for configuring a first intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the first intersecting MR image to cause a first intersecting tip angle in the first intersecting slice; and

means for configuring a second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the second intersecting MR image to cause a second intersecting tip angle in the second intersecting slice,

wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is smaller than the main tip angle in response to relative values of a time of repetition (TR) of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence and a T1 relaxation constant of the structure of interest, to minimize an undesirable artifact.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the main tip angle is 2 to 4 times at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence includes a dephasing gradient at the end thereof.

48. The system of claim 43, further comprising means for prescribing the subsequent orientation of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan plane.

49. The system of claim 43, further comprising:

means for storing at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image in the MR imaging system, wherein each MR image stored is associated with an identification scheme; and

means for retrieving and displaying at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image stored in the MR imaging system,

wherein the identification scheme permits selective retrieval of the desired MR image.

50. The system of claim 43, wherein the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes have orientations selected from a group including an intersecting orthogonal orientation, an intersecting radial orientation, and an any other pre-determined orientation, as desired.

51. A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system for viewing a structure of interest positioned therein, comprising:

a MR imaging device configured to generate a main MR image having a main scan plane through a main slice of the structure of interest, a first intersecting MR image having a first intersecting scan plane through a first intersecting slice of the structure of interest, and a second intersecting MR image having a second intersecting scan plane through a second intersecting slice of the structure of interest; and

an operator interface coupled to the MR imaging device, configured to receive the generated main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images therefrom and to display the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images,

wherein the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images are updated continuously in real-time as desired, and wherein the generation of each of the first and second intersecting MR image alternates and thereinbetween interleaved with the generation of each of the main MR image.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the operator interface includes an electronic display and includes simultaneous display of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images to permit identification of the orientation of the main slice.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the MR imaging device is configured to generate a main MR imaging pulse sequence of the main MR image to cause a main tip angle in the main slice, a first intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the first intersecting MR image to cause a first intersecting tip angle in the first intersecting slice, and a second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the second intersecting MR image to cause a second intersecting tip angle in the second intersecting slice,

wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is smaller than the main tip angle in response to relative values of a time of repetition (TR) of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence and a T1 relaxation constant of the structure of interest, to minimize an an desirable artifact.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the main tip angle is 2 to 4 times at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein at least one of the main, first intersecting, arid second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence includes a dephasing gradient at the end thereof.

56. The system of claim 51, wherein the operator interface is configured to transmit a prescription signal in response to an operator prescribing the subsequent orientation of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan plane.

57. The system of claim 51, further comprising a storage device coupled to the MR imaging device and configured to store at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image and an identification scheme associated with each MR image, in response to a store signal received from the operator interface, and wherein the operator interface is configured to transmit a retrieval signal in response to an image retrieval selection made on the operator interface to selectively retrieve at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image stored in the storage device.

58. The system of claim 51, wherein the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes have orientations selected from a group including an intersecting orthogonal orientation, an intersecting radial orientation, and an any other pre-determined orientation.

59. A method for viewing a structure of interest positioned in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, comprising:

(a) generating a main MR image having a main scan plane through a main slice of the structure of interest;

(b) displaying the main MR image;

(c) generating a first intersecting MR image having a first intersecting scan plane through a first intersecting slice of the structure of interest, wherein the first intersecting scan plane intersects with the main scan plane;

(d) displaying the first intersecting MR image;

(e) generating a second intersecting MR image having a second intersecting scan plane through a second intersecting slice of the structure of interest, wherein the second intersecting scan plane intersects with the main and first intersecting scan planes;

(f) displaying the second intersecting MR image;

(g) selectively storing at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image, its associated unique identification scheme, and optionally its unique image name label; and

(h) selectively retrieving at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image stored based on at least one criterion of the unique identification scheme.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the unique identification scheme includes an alphanumeric indicia in at least one data field.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the unique identification scheme includes at least one of a frame counter, a slice counter, and an echo counter, the at least one of the frame, slice, and echo counter being incremented for each MR image being stored.

62. The method of claim 59, further comprising:

configuring a main MR imaging pulse sequence of the main MR image to cause a main tip angle in the main slice;

configuring a first intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the first intersecting MR image to cause a first intersecting tip angle in the first intersecting slice; and

configuring a second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the second intersecting MR image to cause a second intersecting tip angle in the second intersecting slice,

wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is smaller than the main tip angle in response to relative values of a time of repetition (TR) of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence and a T1 relaxation constant of the structure of interest, to minimize an undesirable artifact.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the main tip angle is 2 to 4 times at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle.

64. The method of claim 59, further comprising prescribing the subsequent orientation of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan plane.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the prescribing step includes prescribing the main scan plane to any orientation within an imaging space of the MR imaging system.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the prescribing step includes prescribing an intersection point on the main MR image, the intersection point defining the intersecting point of the subsequent main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein the prescribing step includes selecting from a group including prescribing an in-plane rotation of the subsequent main slice, an in-plane translation of the subsequent main slice, an out-of-plane translation of the subsequent main slice, an out-of-plane rotation of the subsequent main slice, a perpendicular plane prescription of the subsequent main slice, a sagittal plane prescription of the subsequent main slice, a coronal plane prescription of the subsequent main slice, an axial plane prescription of the subsequent main slice, and an intersecting intersection point prescription of the subsequent first and second intersecting slices.

68. The method of claim 59, further comprising prescribing a field of view and a slice thickness of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image.

69. The method of claim 59, wherein the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes have orientations selected from a group including an intersecting orthogonal orientation, an intersecting radial orientation, and an any other orientation, as desired.

70. The method of claim 59, further comprising repeating steps (a) to (f) a plurality of time continuously in real-time, wherein the generating step (c) for the first intersecting MR image alternates with the generating step (e) for the second intersecting MR image, and the generating step (a) for the main MR image occurs after each of the generating steps (c) and (e).

71. The system of claim 59, wherein the means for displaying (b), (d), and (f) is configured to simultaneous display the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images to permit identification of the orientation of the main slice.

72. A graphical user interface for viewing a structure of interest positioned in a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, comprising:

a means for displaying a main MR image of the structure of interest;

a means for displaying a first intersecting MR image of the structure of interest;

a means for displaying a second intersecting MR image of the structure of interest;

a means for selectively storing at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image, its associated unique identification scheme, and optionally a unique image name label in the MR imaging system; and

a means for selectively retrieving at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image stored in the MR imaging system based on at least one criterion of the unique identification scheme.

73. The graphical user interface of claim 72, wherein the unique identification scheme includes an alphanumeric indicia in at least one data field.

74. The graphical user interface of claim 73, wherein the unique identification scheme includes at least one of a frame counter, a slice counter, and an echo counter, the at least one of the frame, slice, and echo counter being incremented for each MR image being stored.

75. The graphical user interface of claim 72, further comprising:

a means for configuring a main MR imaging pulse sequence of the main MR image to cause a main tip angle in the main slice;

a means for configuring a first intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the first intersecting MR image to cause a first intersecting tip angle in the first interesting slice; and

a means for configuring a second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the second intersecting MR image to cause a second intersecting tip angle in the second intersecting slice,

wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is smaller than main tip angle in response to relative values of a time of repetition (TR) of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence and a T1 relaxation constant of the structure of interest, to minimize an undesirable artifact.

76. The graphical user interface of claim 75, wherein the main tip angle is 2 to 4 times at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle.

77. The graphical user interface of claim 72, further comprising a means for prescribing the subsequent orientation of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan plane.

78. The graphical user interface of claim 77, wherein at least one of the means for displaying, the means for prescribing, the means for selectively storing, and the means for selectively retrieving are initiated by an input device selected from a group including a mouse, a joystick, a keyboard, a trackball, a touch screen, a light wand, voice control, and a platform-mounted spatial manipulation device.

79. The graphical user interface of claim 77, wherein the means for prescribing is configured to prescribe the main scan plane to any orientation within an imaging space of the MR imaging system.

80. The graphical user interface of claim 77, wherein the means for prescribing is configured to prescribe an intersection point on the main MR image, the intersection point defining the intersecting point of the subsequent main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes.

81. The graphical user interface of claim 77, wherein the means for prescribing includes selecting from a group including prescribing an in-plane rotation of the subsequent main slice, an in-plane translation of the subsequent main slice, an out-of-plane translation of the subsequent main slice, an out-of-plane rotation of the subsequent main slice, a perpendicular plane prescription of the subsequent main slice, a sagittal plane prescription of the subsequent main slice, a coronal plane prescription of the subsequent main slice, an axial plane prescription of the subsequent main slice, and an intersecting intersection point prescription of the subsequent first and second intersecting slices.

82. The graphical user interface of claim 72, further comprising a means for prescribing a field of view and a slice thickness of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image.

83. The graphical user interface of claim 72, wherein the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes have orientations selected from a group including an intersecting orthogonal orientation, an intersecting radial orientation, and an any other pre-determined orientation.

84. The graphical user interface of claim 72, wherein each of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images can be updated repeatedly in continuous real-time as desired, and wherein each of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image is acquired interleaved.

85. The graphical user interface of claim 84, further comprising a means for halting and resuming the acquisition and display of the first and second intersecting MR images as desired.

86. A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system for viewing a structure of interest positioned therein, comprising:

a MR imaging device configured to generate a main MR image having a main scan plane through a main slice of the structure of interest, a first intersecting MR image having a first intersecting scan plane through a first intersecting slice of the structure of interest, and a second intersecting MR image having a second intersecting scan plane through a second intersecting slice of the structure of interest, wherein the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes intersect with each other;

an operator interface coupled to the MR imaging device, configured to receive the generated main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images from the MR imaging device and to display the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images; and

a storage device coupled to the MR imaging device, configured to selectively store at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image, it associated unique identification scheme, and optionally a unique image name label, and configured to selectively retrieve at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image stored in the storage device, the retrieval base on at least one criterion of the unique identification scheme.

87. The system of claim 86, wherein the unique identification scheme includes an alphanumeric indicia in at least one data field of the storage device.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein the unique identification scheme includes at least one of a frame counter, a slice counter, and an echo counter, the at least one of the frame, slice, and echo counter being incremented for each MR image being stored.

89. The system of claim 86, wherein the MR imaging device is configured to generate a main MR imaging pulse sequence of the main MR image to cause a main tip angle in the main slice, a first intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the first intersecting MR image to cause a first intersecting tip angle in the first intersecting slice, and a second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence of the second intersecting MR image to cause a second intersecting tip angle in the second intersecting slice,

wherein at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle is smaller than the main tip angle in response to relative values of a time of repetition (TR) of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR imaging pulse sequence and a T1 relaxation constant of the structure of interest, to minimize an undesirable artifact.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein the main tip angle is 2 to 4 times at least one of the first and second intersecting tip angle.

91. The system of claim 86, wherein the operator interface is configured to transmit a prescription signal in response to an operator prescribing the subsequent orientation of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan plane.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein the prescription signal transmitted is in response to the operator prescribing the main scan plane to any orientation within an imaging space of the MR imaging system.

93. The system of claim 91, wherein the prescription signal transmitted is in response to the operator prescribing an intersection point on the main MR image, the intersection point defining the intersecting point of the subsequent main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes.

94. The system of claim 91, wherein the prescription signal transmitted is in response to the operator prescribing an in-plane rotation of the subsequent main slice, an in-plane translation of the subsequent main slice, an out-of-plane translation of the subsequent main slice, an out-of-plane rotation of the subsequent main slice, a perpendicular plane prescription of the subsequent main slice, a sagittal plane prescription of the subsequent main slice, a coronal plane prescription of the subsequent main slice, an axial plane prescription of the subsequent main slice, and an intersecting intersection point prescription of the subsequent first and second intersecting slices.

95. The system of claim 86, wherein the operator interface is configured to transmit a prescription signal in response to an operator prescribing a field of view and a slice thickness of at least one of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR image.

96. The system of claim 86, wherein the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting scan planes have orientations selected from a group including an intersecting orthogonal orientation, an intersecting radial orientation, and an any other pre-determined orientation.

97. The system of claim 86, wherein the MR imaging device is configured to update the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images in continuous real-time as desired, the generation of the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images being interleaved, and wherein the operator interface is configured to simultaneously display the main, first intersecting, and second intersecting MR images to permit identification of the orientation of the main slice.

98. The system of claim 86, wherein the operator interface includes an input device selected from a group including a mouse, a joystick, a keyboard, a trackball, a touch screen, a light wand, a voice control, and a platform-mounted spatial manipulation device.