Dynamic real-time magnetic resonance imaging sequence designer

• US 6,801,037 B1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fonar Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fonar Corporation
• Inventors: Zhang, Guoping
• Primary Examiner(s): Gutierrez, Diego
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fetzner, Tiffany A.
• Application Number:
  US10/325,742
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 324/309, 324/318, 324/312, 324/322, 324/300, 324/307, 600/411, 600/523, 600/416, 395/700, 382/128, 382/131, 345/419
• US Class Current: 324/309
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/54 Signal processing systems, e.g. using pulse sequences ; Generation or control of pulse sequences; Operator console
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/543 Control of the operation of the MR system, e.g. setting of acquisition parameters prior to or during MR data acquisition, dynamic shimming, use of one or more scout images for scan plane prescription G01R33/546 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/546 Interface between the MR system and the user, e.g. for controlling the operation of the MR system or for the design of pulse sequences

Abstract

A system and method for facilitating RF pulse sequence generation and modification and for real-time sequence input modification for use in conjunction with magnetic resonance imaging equipment. A graphical user interface is provided through a display coupled to a digital computer operating as the primary control system for a magnetic resonance imaging scanner and associated hardware. Through the graphical user interface, an operator may choose or design sequences of radiofrequency pulses, gradient waveforms and other input parameters for the magnetic resonance imaging apparatus. Real-time information is also communicated to the operator through the graphical user interface allowing for real-time manipulation of the magnetic resonance imaging inputs and for displaying the magnetic resonance response thereto.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

a display, said display including at least one window with a graphical representation of a magnetic resonance pulse sequence therein; and

a user interface allowing user interaction between a user and the display,

said user interaction including dynamic, non-standard and on-the-fly manipulation of, and modification to, said graphical representation of a selected pulse sequence, that is currently undergoing user interaction with real time visual feedback of the interaction on the resultant modified pulse sequence provided to the user.

2. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

display means for displaying within at least one window a graphical representation of a magnetic resonance pulse sequence;

input means for receiving input from a user; and

user interface means coupling said input means and said display means, allowing user interaction with said graphical representation of said pulse sequence,

said user interaction including dynamic, non-standard and on-the-fly manipulation of, and modification to, said graphical representation of the pulse sequence, that is currently undergoing user interaction with real time visual feedback of the interaction on the resultant modified pulse sequence provided to the user.

3. The magnetic resonance imaging system in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

deficiency recognition means for identifying at least one deficiency of the modified pulse sequence.

4. The magnetic resonance imaging system in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

correction men for dynamically connecting said at least one deficiency of the modified pulse sequence.

5. A magnetic resonance imaging system that creates and customizes magnetic resonance pulse sequences, comprising;

a user interface, said user interface creating, on a display, a window that illustrates a plurality of menu editor items for user selection, said menu items including;

a sequence editor item with which said user creates a magnetic resonance pulse sequence from at least one of user entered values and default values or both, and

a sequence tailor editor item that enables user interaction with a graphical representation of a selected pulse sequence, wherein, during said user interaction,

 

the selected pulse sequence is graphically displayed to the user;

an input unit coupled to said user interface, said input unit allowing entry of at least one user value and a user selection or both;

a scan controller coupled to a computer and a magnetic resonance imaging unit, said scan controller providing real time data delivery between said computer and said magnetic resonance imaging unit, wherein said computer displays said user interface and transmits data to said scan controller; and

wherein said user interaction includes dynamic, non-standard and on-the-fly manipulation of, and modification to, said graphical representation of said selected pulse sequence, that is currently undergoing user interaction with real time visual feedback of the interaction on the manipulated pulse sequence provided to the user.

6. The magnetic resonance imaging system in accordance with claim 5, said system further comprising;

a storage Unit coupled to said computer, said storage unit storing at least one numerical representation of at least one magnetic resonance pulse sequence.

7. The magnetic resonance system in accordance with claim 5, said system further comprising:

at least one gradient digital-to-analog converter coupled to said scan controller and at least one gradient coil of said magnetic resonance imaging unit, said at least one gradient digital-to-analog converter receiving digital gradient information from said scan controller and converting said digital gradient information to an analog gradient signal, said analog gradient signal being transmitted to said at least one gradient coil.

8. The magnetic resonance imaging system in accordance with claim 5, said system further comprising;

at least one radio frequency shaper digital-to-analog converter coupled to said scan controller and at least one transmitter coil, said at least one radio frequency shaper digital-to-analog converter receiving digital radio frequency shape information from said scan controller, converting said digital radio frequency shape information to an analog radio frequency shape signal, and modulating said analog radio frequency shape signal on said at least one transmitter coil.

9. The magnetic resonance system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said scan controller further comprises at least one synthesizer said at least one synthesizer controlling the phase and frequency of modulation of said analog radio frequency shape signal.

10. The magnetic resonance system in accordance with claim 9, said system further comprising:

at least one receiver coil coupled to said scan controller and receiving an echo signal from application of said analog gradient signal and said analog radio frequency shape signal to a specimen aperture of said magnetic resonance imaging unit, said at least one synthesizer applying frequency and phase to a receiver channel and acquiring said echo signal, said frequency and phase settings included in at least one numerical representation transmitted to said at least one synthesizer from said computer.

11. A magnetic resonance imaging system that creates and customizes magnetic resonance pulse sequences, comprising;

a user interface that creates, on a display, a window illustrating a plurality of menu editor items for user selection, said menu items including;

a sequence editor item that creates a magnetic resonance pulse sequence from at least one of user entered values and default values or both, and

a sequence tailor editor item allowing user interaction with a graphical representation of a selected magnetic resonance pulse sequence, wherein during said user interaction, the selected pulse sequence is graphically displayed to the user;

a dialog box displayed on said display, said dialog box allowing input of at least one of a user value and a user selection or both;

a scan controller coupled to a computer and a magnetic resonance imaging unit, said scan controller providing real time data delivery between said computer and said magnetic resonance imaging unit, wherein said computer displays said user interface and transmits data to said scan controller; and

wherein said user interaction includes dynamic, non-standard and on-the-fly manipulation of, and modification to, said graphical representation of said selected pulse sequence, that is currently undergoing user interaction with real time visual feedback of the interaction on the manipulated pulse sequence provided to the user.

12. The magnetic resonance imaging system in accordance with claim 11, said system further comprising;

a storage unit coupled to said computer, said storage unit storing at least one numerical representation of at least one magnetic resonance pulse sequence.

13. The user interface in accordance with claim 11, said system further comprising:

at least one gradient digital-to-analog converter coupled to said scan controller and at least one gradient coil of said magnetic resonance imaging unit, said at least one gradient digital-to-analog converter receiving digital gent information from said scan controller and converting said digital gradient information to an analog gradient signal, said analog gradient signal being transmitted to said at least one gradient coil.

14. The magnetic resonance imaging system in accordance with claim 11, said system further comprising:

at last one radio frequency shaper digital-to-analog converter coupled to said scan controller ant at least one transmitter coil, said at least one radio frequency shaper digital-to-analog converter receiving digital radio frequency shape information from said scan controller, converting said digital radio frequency shape information to an analog radio frequency shape signal, and modulating said analog radio frequency shape signal on said at least one transmitter coil.

15. The magnetic resonance imaging system in accordance with claim 14, wherein said scan controller further comprises at least one synthesizer controlling the phase and frequency of modulation of said analog radio frequency shape signal.

16. The magnetic resonance imaging system in accordance with claim 15, said system further comprising:

at least one receiver coil coupled to said scan controller and receiving an echo signal from application of said analog gradient signal and said analog radio frequency shape signal to a specimen aperture of said magnetic resonance imaging unit, said at least one synthesizer applying frequency and phase settings to a receiver channel and acquiring said echo signal, said frequency and phase settings included in at least one numerical representation transmitted to said at least one synthesizer from said computer.

17. A magnetic resonance imaging system comprising:

a display window, said display window including a graphical representation of a magnetic resonance pulse sequence thereon;

an input device that receives input from a user; and

a user interface coupling said input device and said display window, allowing user interaction with said graphical representation of said pulse sequence,

said user interaction including dynamic, non-standard and on-the-fly manipulation of, and modification to, said graphical representation of the pulse sequence, that is currently undergoing user interaction with real time visual feedback of the interaction on the resultant modified pulse sequence provided to the user.

18. The magnetic resonance imaging system in accordance with claim 17, further comprising:

a deficiency recognition unit, said deficiency recognition unit identifying at least one deficiency of the modified pulse sequence.

19. The magnetic resonance imaging system in accordance with claim 18, further comprising:

a correction unit for dynamically correcting said at least one deficiency of the modified pulse sequence.

20. A magnetic resonance display interface that creates a magnetic resonance sequence on a magnetic resonance imaging machine, and displays multiple windows receiving input from a user, said multiple windows comprising:

a sequence parameters window displaying at least one sequence parameter;

a sequence tailor window displaying at least one control;

a sequence display window having a section displaying at least one of the group consisting of radio frequency characteristics of said sequence a slice select gradient graph, a signal acquisition graph, and a phase encoding graph; and

a scan window having at least one scan parameter,

wherein user interaction with a magnetic resonance pulse sequence formed by said user from said multiple windows includes dynamic, non-standard and on-the-fly manipulation of, and modification to, a graphical representation of said pulse sequence that is currently undergoing user interaction with real time visual feedback of the interaction on the manipulated pulse sequence provided to the user.

21. The display interface in accordance with claim 20, wherein said at least one sequence parameter accepts a user default value.

22. The display interface in accordance with claim 20, wherein said at least one sequence parameter accept a user entered value.

23. The display interface in accordance with claim 20, wherein said at least one sequence parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

a gradient resolution parameter, a radio frequency pulse resolution parameter, an echo gathering time parameter, a sequence name parameter, at least one gradient motion compensation parameter, at least one radio frequency pulse characteristic parameter, and at least one data acquisition parameter.

24. The display interface in accordance with claim 20, wherein said at least one control comprises at least one of a control section, a shape editor, a block editor, and a time scaler.

25. The display interface in accordance with claim 24, wherein said shape editor modifies at least one radio frequency pulse characteristic parameter and the radio frequency pulse shape associated with said sequence.

26. The display in accordance with claim 24, wherein said time scaler displays at least one vertical line through the graphically displayed selected pulse sequence assisting the user in analysis of timing relations of the pulse sequence.

27. The display interface in accordance with claim 20, wherein said at least one scan parameter is selected from the group coring of:

a number of slices parameter, a slice thickness parameter, a sequence repetition parameter, a number of phase encoding levels parameter, a discrete Fourier transform size parameter, a polarity flipping parameter, and combinations thereof.

28. The display interface in accordance with claim 27, wherein said at least one scan parameter accepts a default value.

29. The display interface in accordance with claim 27, wherein said at least one scan parameter accept a user entered value.

30. The display interface in accordance with claim 20, wherein said scan setting window initiates at least one type of scan to perform.

31. The display interface in accordance with claim 30, wherein said at least one type of scan comprises at least one scan selected from the group consisting of:

a two-dimensional scan, a combination scan, a three-dimensional scan a three-dimensional combination scan, a two-dimensional fist spin echo scan, and combinations thereof.

32. A method that creates a magnetic resonance pulse sequence used on a magnetic resonance imaging machine, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical user interface receiving;

input from a user and showing said magnetic resonance pulse sequence;

receiving at least one sequence parameter from a user;

displaying a sequence tailor window in said graphical user interface;

displaying a sequence display window in the graphical user interface, said sequence display window displaying at least one of the group consisting of;

radio frequency characteristics of said pulse sequence a slice select gradient graph, a signal acquisition graph, and a phase encoding graph;

receiving at least one command from the user to manipulate a graphical representation of said pulse sequence; and

displaying, in real time, visual feedback of the interaction on the manipulated pulse sequence provided to the user,

wherein user interaction includes dynamic, non-standard and on-the-fly manipulation of, and modification to, said graphical representation of the pulse sequence that is currently undergoing user interaction.

33. The method in accordance with claim 32, wherein said at least one sequence parameter accept a default value.

34. The method in accordance with claim 32, wherein said at least one sequence parameter accept a user entered value.

35. The method in accordance with claim 32, wherein said at least one sequence parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

a gradient resolution parameter, a radio frequency pulse resolution parameter, an echo gathering time parameter, a sequence name parameter, at least one gradient motion compensation parameter, at least one radio frequency pulse characteristic parameter, and at least one data acquisition parameter.

36. The method in accordance with claim 32, wherein said step of displaying a sequence tailor window further comprises the step of:

displaying at least one of a control section, a shape editor, a block editor, and a time scaler.

37. The method in accordance with claim 36, wherein said step of displaying at least one of a control section, a shape editor, a block editor, and a time scaler further comprises the steps of:

activating said shape editor; and

modifying at least one of the radio frequency pulse characteristic parameters and the radio frequency pulse shape associated with said pulse sequence.

38. The method in accordance with claim 36, wherein said step of displaying at least one of a control section, a shape editor, a block editor, and a time scaler further comprises the steps of:

activating said time scaler; and

displaying at least one vertical line through the graphically displayed pulse sequence for assisting the user in analysis of timing relations of the pulse sequence.

39. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of:

receiving at least one scan parameter from the user.

40. The method in accordance with claim 39, wherein said at least one scan parameter is selected from the group consisting of:

a number of slices parameter, a slice thickness parameter, a sequence repetition parameter, a number of phase encoding levels parameter, a discrete Fourier transform size parameter, a polarity flipping parameter, and combinations thereof.

41. The method in accordance with claim 40, wherein said at least one scan parameter accepts a default value.

42. The method in accordance with claim 40, wherein said at least one scan parameter accepts a user entered value.

43. The method in accordance with claim 42, wherein said step of initiating a magnetic resonance imaging scan initiates at least one type of scan.

44. The method in accordance with claim 43, wherein said at least one type of scan comprises at least one scan selected from the group consisting of:

a two dimensional scan, a combination scan, a three dimensional scan, a three dimensional combination scan, a two dimensional fast spin echo scan, and combinations thereof.