MR imaging system with interactive image contrast control over a network
First Claim
1. An interactive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, comprising:
- a MR imaging device configured to acquire and reconstruct MR data in real-time of a current imaging section and displaying a MR image in real-time of the current imaging section;
a network coupling the MR imaging device and a remote facility, the network providing remote services to the MR imaging device;
an operator interface coupled to the MR imaging device and the network to permit an operator to select from a plurality of image contrast mechanisms;
a memory coupled to the MR imaging device to store a plurality of image contrast waveform segments and at least one imaging waveform segment, wherein each of the plurality of image contrast waveform segments and the at least one imaging waveform segment is distinctly addressable such that each waveform segment can be independently accessed from the memory; and
a sequence controller coupled to the memory to dynamically link the selected image contrast waveform segments and one imaging waveform segment, causing the MR imaging device to acquire a new image with the selected waveform segment mechanisms.
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Abstract
An interactive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system includes a MR imaging device, a network coupling the MR imaging device and a remote facility, an operator interface coupled to the MR imaging device and the network, a memory coupled to the MR imaging device, and a sequence controller coupled to the memory. The MR imaging device is configured to acquire and reconstruct MR data in real-time of a current imaging section and display a MR image in real-time of the current imaging section. The network provides remote services to the MR imaging device. The operator interface permits an operator to select from a plurality of image contrast mechanisms. The memory stores a plurality of image contrast waveform segments and at least one imaging waveform segment. Each of the plurality of image contrast waveform segments and the at least one imaging waveform segment is distinctly addressable such that each waveform segment can be independently accessed from the memory. The sequence controller dynamically links the selected image contrast waveform segments and one imaging waveform segment, causing the MR imaging device to acquire a new image with the selected waveform segment mechanisms.
88 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An interactive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, comprising:
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a MR imaging device configured to acquire and reconstruct MR data in real-time of a current imaging section and displaying a MR image in real-time of the current imaging section;
a network coupling the MR imaging device and a remote facility, the network providing remote services to the MR imaging device;
an operator interface coupled to the MR imaging device and the network to permit an operator to select from a plurality of image contrast mechanisms;
a memory coupled to the MR imaging device to store a plurality of image contrast waveform segments and at least one imaging waveform segment, wherein each of the plurality of image contrast waveform segments and the at least one imaging waveform segment is distinctly addressable such that each waveform segment can be independently accessed from the memory; and
a sequence controller coupled to the memory to dynamically link the selected image contrast waveform segments and one imaging waveform segment, causing the MR imaging device to acquire a new image with the selected waveform segment mechanisms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for interactively and remotely controlling the image contrast of a real-time magnetic resonance (MR) image produced in a MR system, comprising:
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a) establishing a communication connection over a network between the MR system and a remote facility;
b) storing a plurality of image contrast waveform segments in a waveform memory of the MR system;
c) storing at least one imaging waveform segment in the waveform memory of the MR system;
d) selecting from the plurality of image contrast waveform segments stored in the waveform memory;
e) selecting from the at least one imaging waveform segment stored in the waveform memory;
f) constructing a MR imaging pulse sequence in real-time by a sequence controller dynamically linking the selected image contrast waveform segment to the selected imaging waveform Segment stored in the waveform memory at run-time;
g) acquiring MR data using the dynamically linked MR imaging pulse sequence in real-time;
h) reconstructing the MR data acquired in real-time; and
i) displaying the newly acquired MR image as the current image. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An interactive magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system, comprising:
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a) means for establishing a communication connection over a network between the MR system and a remote facility;
b) means for storing a plurality of image contrast waveform segments in a waveform memory of the MR system;
c) means for storing at least one imaging waveform segment in the waveform memory of the MR system;
d) means for selecting from the plurality of image contrast waveform segments stored in the waveform memory;
e) means for selecting from the at least one imaging waveform segment stored in the waveform memory;
f) means for constructing a MR imaging pulse sequence in real-time by a sequence controller dynamically linking the selected image contrast waveform segment to the selected imaging waveform segment stored in the waveform memory at run-time;
g) means for acquiring MR data using the dynamically linked MR imaging pulse sequence in real-time;
h) means for reconstructing the MR data acquired in real-time; and
i) means for displaying the newly acquired MR image as the current image. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification