Specific absorption rate adjustment of scan parameters

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10451689-B2
Application number	US-201715455622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2017
Priority date	Mar 14, 2016
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

A method is provided to prevent a permissible specific absorption rate being exceeded during a magnetic resonance examination and to an evaluation unit. The method includes a first provisioning unit providing a permissible SAR to an evaluation unit. A second provisioning unit, which may be identical to the first provisioning unit, provides a scan protocol for the magnetic resonance examination to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit checks the scan protocol for the permissible SAR. If this check reveals that the permissible SAR is not adhered to, the scan protocol is modified. In this case, the modification of the scan protocol entails the amendment of at least one scan parameter of the scan protocol. The amendment of the at least one scan parameter is performed in dependence on at least one preference parameter.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for preventing a permissible specific absorption rate (SAR) from being exceeded during a magnetic resonance imaging examination, the method comprising:
providing, by a first provisioning unit, the permissible SAR to an evaluation unit;
providing, by a second provisioning unit, a scan protocol for the magnetic resonance imaging examination to the evaluation unit;
checking, by the evaluation unit, the scan protocol for the permissible SAR; and
modifying the scan protocol when the checking reveals that the permissible SAR is not adhered to,
wherein the modification of the scan protocol comprises amending at least one scan parameter of the scan protocol,
wherein the at least one scan parameter comprises a repetition time, a flip angle, a slice number, a gradient property, or a combination thereof,
wherein the amendment of the at least one scan parameter is performed in dependence on at least one preference parameter, and
wherein the at least one preference parameter is a preference with respect to an image quality, a scan time, a scan coverage, or a combination thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one scan parameter is the repetition time.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one preference parameter comprises a plurality of preference parameters, the plurality of preference parameters being weighted relative to one another.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one preference parameter is a preference with respect to the image quality.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one preference parameter is a preference with respect to the scan time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one preference parameter comprises a plurality of preference parameters, the plurality of preference parameters being weighted relative to one another.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one preference parameter is at least partially specified after the scan protocol has been checked.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein an operator sets the at least one preference parameter, weights a plurality of preference parameters, or sets the at least one preference parameter and weights the plurality of preference parameters relative to one another.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one preference parameter is at least partially stored.

10. The method as claimed of claim 1 , wherein the at least one preference parameter is stored partially in the scan protocol, in a database, or in the scan protocol and in the database.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
outputting information on the modification of the scan protocol.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one scan parameter is the flip angle.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one scan parameter is the slice number.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one scan parameter is the gradient property.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one preference parameter is a preference with respect to the scan coverage.

16. An evaluation unit comprising:
a processor configured to:
check a scan protocol with respect to adherence to a permissible specific absorption rate (SAR) for a magnetic resonance imaging examination; and
modify the scan protocol when the check of the scan protocol reveals that the permissible SAR is not adhered to,
wherein the modification of the scan protocol comprises amending at least one scan parameter of the scan protocol,
wherein the at least one scan parameter comprises a repetition time, a flip angle, a slice number, a gradient property, or a combination thereof,
wherein the amendment of the at least one scan parameter is performed in dependence on at least one preference parameter, and
wherein the at least one preference parameter is a preference with respect to an image quality, a scan time, a scan coverage, or a combination thereof.

17. A magnetic resonance imaging device comprising:
an evaluation unit;
a first provisioning unit configured to provide a permissible specific absorption rate (SAR) to the evaluation unit; and
a second provisioning unit configured to provide a scan protocol for a magnetic resonance imaging examination to the evaluation unit,
wherein the evaluation unit is configured to check the scan protocol with respect to adherence to the permissible SAR,
wherein the evaluation unit is configured to modify the scan protocol when the check of the scan protocol reveals that the permissible SAR is not adhered to, and
wherein the modification of the scan protocol comprises amending at least one scan parameter of the scan protocol,
wherein the at least one scan parameter comprises a repetition time, a flip angle, a slice number, a gradient property, or a combination thereof,
wherein the amendment of the at least one scan parameter is performed in dependence on at least one preference parameter, and
wherein the at least one preference parameter is a preference with respect to an image quality, a scan time, a scan coverage, or a combination thereof.

18. The magnetic resonance imaging device of claim 17 , wherein the magnetic resonance imaging device is configured to output information on the modification of the scan protocol.

19. An evaluation unit comprising:
a memory;
a computer program loaded in the memory of a computing unit of an evaluation unit, wherein the computer program is configured to cause the evaluation unit to:
receive a permissible specific absorption rate (SAR);
receive a scan protocol for a magnetic resonance imaging examination;
check the scan protocol for the permissible SAR; and
modify the scan protocol when the check reveals that the permissible SAR is not adhered to,
wherein the modification of the scan protocol comprises amending at least one scan parameter of the scan protocol,
wherein the at least one scan parameter comprises a repetition time, a flip angle, a slice number, a gradient property, or a combination thereof,
wherein the amendment of the at least one scan parameter is performed in dependence on at least one preference parameter, and
wherein the at least one preference parameter is a preference with respect to an image quality, a scan time, a scan coverage, or a combination thereof.

Assignees

• Jattke Kirstin
• Kroell Maria
• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Jattke Kirstin
• Kröll Maria

Classifications

• G01R33/543

  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 title

• G01R33/288 Primary

  Provisions within MR facilities for enhancing safety during MR, e.g. reduction of the specific absorption rate [SAR], detection of ferromagnetic objects in the scanner room · CPC title