Systems and methods for avoiding MRI-originated interference with concurrently used systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11112473-B2
Application number	US-201514883785-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2015
Priority date	Aug 31, 2011
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

MRI interference with a concurrently operated system may be reduced or corrected by subtracting the MRI interference from signals measured using the concurrently operated system. Various approaches for performing MRI of an anatomic region in conjunction with a radio-frequency-sensitive (RF-sensitive) measurement of the region using the concurrently operated system include the steps of simultaneously performing an MR scan sequence including MR pulses and the RF-sensitive measurements; recording the RF-sensitive measurements as they are made; detecting intervals during the MR scan sequence when an RF level is sufficient to interfere with the RF-sensitive measurements; and retaining only the RF-sensitive measurements performed outside the detected intervals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of performing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of an anatomic region in conjunction with an ultrasound measurement of the region using an ultrasound system, the method comprising the steps of:
simultaneously performing an MR scan sequence including MR pulses and the ultrasound measurement;
recording the ultrasound measurement as the ultrasound measurement is made;
detecting time intervals during the MR scan sequence when a radio frequency (RF) level is sufficient to interfere with the ultrasound measurement; and
discarding the ultrasound measurement performed within the detected time intervals and retaining only the ultrasound measurement performed outside the detected time intervals.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting step is performed by the ultrasound system.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting step is performed by at least one dedicated sensor outside the ultrasound system.

4. A system for performing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of an anatomic region in conjunction with an ultrasound measurement of the region, the system comprising:
an MR imaging apparatus for imaging the anatomic region;
an ultrasound system for performing the ultrasound measurement; and
a controller in communication with the MR imaging apparatus and the ultrasound system, the controller being configured to:
simultaneously perform an MR scan sequence including MR pulses and the ultrasound measurement;
record the ultrasound measurement as the ultrasound measurement is made;
determine time intervals during the MR scan sequence when a radio frequency (RF) level is sufficient to interfere with the ultrasound measurement; and
discard the ultrasound measurement performed within the determined time intervals and retain only the ultrasound measurement performed outside the determined time intervals.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is implemented in the ultrasound system and the determination of the intervals is performed by the ultrasound system.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the determination of the intervals is performed by at least one dedicated sensor outside the ultrasound system.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the ultrasound system comprises at least one of a phased-array ultrasound transducer system, an ultrasound imaging probe, or a cavitation sensor.

Assignees

• Assif Benny
• Insightec Ltd

Inventors

• Assif Benny

Classifications

• A61B5/055

  involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging · CPC title

• A61B8/4416 Primary

  related to combined acquisition of different diagnostic modalities, e.g. combination of ultrasound and X-ray acquisitions · CPC title

• A61B2017/22007

  Cavitation or pseudocavitation, i.e. creation of gas bubbles generating a secondary shock wave when collapsing · CPC title

• A61B8/481

  involving the use of contrast agents, e.g. microbubbles introduced into the bloodstream · CPC title

• A61B2090/378

  using ultrasound · CPC title