Verifying specifications for magnetic resonance examinations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10788560-B2
Application number	US-201715430473-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2017
Priority date	Feb 11, 2016
Publication date	Sep 29, 2020
Grant date	Sep 29, 2020

Abstract

A method for verifying at least one default value for a magnetic resonance examination, a verifying unit, a magnetic resonance device and a computer program product are provided. According to the method, at least one default value for an electromagnetic property and a sequence segment are sent to a verifying unit. The verifying unit uses the sequence segment to determine at least one electromagnetic property. The at least one default value is verified by the verifying unit with respect to the at least one electromagnetic property.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for verifying one or more default values prior to a magnetic resonance examination, wherein the method comprises:
transmitting at least one default value of at least one electromagnetic property to a verifying unit, wherein the verifying unit comprises a computing device, and wherein the at least one electromagnetic property comprises a measure of a magnetic field strength, an electric field strength, or the magnetic field strength and the electric field strength;
transmitting a sequence segment of a radiofrequency pulse sequence to the verifying unit;
determining, by the verifying unit, a value of the at least one electromagnetic property based on the sequence segment, wherein determining the value of the at least one electromagnetic property comprises simulating the value;
verifying, by the verifying unit, whether the value of the at least one electromagnetic property exceeds the at least one default value; and
adapting, when the value of the at least one electromagnetic property exceeds the at least one default value, the sequence segment such that the at least one electromagnetic property observes the at least one default value, and a result of the adapting is an adapted sequence segment,
wherein the magnetic resonance examination is performed using the adapted sequence segment,
wherein the at least one default value contains a rate of change of a B value, and
wherein the rate of change of the B value is based on a magnetic field strength of a gradient field generatable by one or more gradient coils as a function of time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electromagnetic property is influenced by at least one gradient signal, a radio-frequency signal, or the at least one gradient signal and the radio-frequency signal.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one default value is specified by a standard.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one default value contains a B1+ value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a maximum of the magnetic field strength, the electric field strength, or the magnetic field strength and the electric field strength is determined by measurement, simulation, or measurement and simulation calculation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field strength, the electric field strength, or the magnetic field strength and the electric field strength of at least one gradient axis is determined.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein magnetic field strengths, electric field strengths, or the magnetic field strengths and the electric field strengths of a plurality of gradient axes are superimposed.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field strength, the electric field strength, or the magnetic field strength and the electric field strength are determined as a function of time.

9. A verifying unit for verifying one or more default values for a magnetic resonance examination, at least one default value of at least one electromagnetic property and a sequence segment being transmittable to the verifying unit, the verifying unit comprising;
a computing device configured to:
determine a value of the at least one electromagnetic property based on the sequence segment, wherein the at least one electromagnetic property comprises a measure of a magnetic field strength, an electric field strength, or the magnetic field strength and the electric field strength, and wherein the determination of the value of the at least one electromagnetic property comprises simulation of the value;
verify whether the value of the at least one electromagnetic property exceeds the at least one default value; and
adapt, when the value of the at least one electromagnetic property exceeds the at least one default value, the sequence segment such that the at least one electromagnetic property observes the at least one default value, and a result of the adaptation is an adapted sequence segment,

wherein the magnetic resonance examination is performed using the adapted sequence segment,
wherein the at least one default value contains a rate of change of a B value, and
wherein the rate of change of the B value is based on a magnetic field strength of a gradient field generatable by one or more gradient coils as a function of time.

10. The verifying unit of claim 9 , wherein the at least one electromagnetic property is influenced by at least one gradient signal, a radio-frequency signal, or the at least one gradient signal and the radio-frequency signal.

11. The verifying unit of claim 9 , wherein the at least one default value is specified by a standard.

12. The verifying unit of claim 9 , wherein the at least one default value contains a B1+ value.

13. A magnetic resonance device comprising:
a verifying unit for verifying one or more default values for a magnetic resonance examination, at least one default value of at least one electromagnetic property and a sequence segment being transmittable to the verifying unit, the verifying unit comprising;
a computing device configured to:
determine a value of the at least one electromagnetic property based on the sequence segment, wherein the at least one electromagnetic property comprises a measure of a magnetic field strength, an electric field strength, or the magnetic field strength and the electric field strength, and wherein the determination of the value of the at least one electromagnetic property comprises simulation of the value;
verify whether the value of the at least one electromagnetic property exceeds the at least one default value;
adapt, when the value of the at least one electromagnetic property exceeds the at least one default value, the sequence segment such that the at least one electromagnetic property observes the at least one default value, and a result of the adaptation is an adapted sequence segment; and
provide the adapted sequence segment for performing the magnetic resonance examination,

wherein the at least one default value contains a rate of change of a B value, and
wherein the rate of change of the B value is based on a magnetic field strength of a gradient field generatable by one or more gradient coils as a function of time.

14. In a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a computing device of a verifying unit to verify one or more default values for a magnetic resonance examination, the instructions comprising:
transmitting at least one default value of at least one electromagnetic property to the verifying unit, wherein the at least one electromagnetic property comprises a measure of a magnetic field strength, an electric field strength, or the magnetic field strength and the electric field strength;
transmitting a sequence segment of a radiofrequency pulse sequence to the verifying unit;
determining, by the verifying unit, a value of the at least one electromagnetic property based on the sequence segment, wherein determining the value of the at least one electromagnetic property comprises; simulating the value;
verifying, by the verifying unit, whether the value of the at least one electromagnetic property exceeds the at least one default value; and
adapting, when the value of the at least one electromagnetic property exceeds the at least one default value, the sequence segment such that the at least one electromagnetic property observes the at least one default value, and a result of the adapting is an adapted sequence segment,
wherein the magnetic resonance examination is performed using the adapted sequence segment,
wherein the at least one default value contains a rate of change of a B value, and
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Assignees

• Prinz Carsten
• Schnetter Volker
• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Prinz Carsten
• Schnetter Volker

Classifications

• 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

• 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

• G01R33/285

  Invasive instruments, e.g. catheters or biopsy needles, specially adapted for tracking, guiding or visualization by NMR · CPC title

• G01R33/58 Primary

  Calibration of imaging systems, e.g. using test probes {, Phantoms; Calibration objects or fiducial markers such as active or passive RF coils surrounding an MR active material} · CPC title

• G01R33/385

  using gradient magnetic field coils · CPC title