MR imaging with optimized imaging workflow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11224355-B2
Application number	US-201715456045-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2017
Priority date	Mar 10, 2016
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

An MR imaging method with an imaging workflow is provided. Within the scope of the MR imaging method, at least one breath-holding command is output to a patient. An MR imaging is performed with an MR imaging method that may be used with free breathing. A breathing movement of the patient is detected based on measured data acquired when performing the MR imaging method. A time relationship is determined between the breathing movement of the patient and the breath-holding command. The imaging workflow is modified as a function of the determined time relationship. A breathing monitoring device and a magnetic resonance imaging system are also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging method with an imaging workflow, the MR imaging method comprising:
outputting at least one breath-holding command to a patient;
acquiring MR imaging data with the MR imaging method that is usable with free breathing;
detecting a breathing movement of the patient based on the MR imaging data acquired with the MR imaging method that is usable with free breathing;
determining a time relationship between the breathing movement of the patient and the at least one breath-holding command, the determining of the time relationship comprising determining a time difference between a time instant of the outputting of the at least one breath-holding command to the patient and a time instant of the detected breathing movement; and
modifying the imaging workflow as a function of the determined time relationship wherein modifying the imaging workflow comprises deciding whether and how the time instant of the outputting of the at least one breath-holding command is to be temporally adjusted, whether and how a start time instant of the MR imaging is to be temporally adjusted, or a combination thereof.

2. The MR imaging method of claim 1 , wherein determining the time relationship comprises determining the time relationship as to whether the patient has realized the at least one breath-holding command; and
wherein modifying the imaging workflow comprises deciding whether the at least one breath-holding command is to be entirely omitted.

3. The MR imaging method of claim 1 , wherein determining the time relationship comprises determining with which time difference the at least one breath holding command was performed by the patient.

4. The MR imaging method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the breathing movement of the patient takes place based on raw data resulting from acquired MR signals.

5. The MR imaging method of claim 1 , wherein the imaging workflow is a clocked workflow.

6. The MR imaging method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the imaging workflow as the function of the determined time relationship comprises modifying the imaging workflow as a function of the determined time difference.

7. The MR imaging method of claim 1 , wherein an imaging method with an iterative reconstruction technique is used as the MR imaging method.

8. The MR imaging method of claim 7 , wherein the MR imaging method includes radial scanning.

9. The MR imaging method of claim 8 , wherein the MR imaging method comprises an iGRASP imaging method.

10. A breathing monitoring device comprising:
a processor configured to:
output a breath-holding command to a patient to hold breath;
start acquisition of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging data with an MR imaging method that is usable with free breathing;
detect a breathing movement of the patient based on the MR imaging data acquired with the MR imaging method that is usable with free breathing;
determine a time relationship between the breathing movement of the patient and the breath-holding command, the determination of the time relationship comprising determination of a time difference between a time instant of the output of the breath-holding command to the patient and a time instant of the detected breathing movement; and
modify an imaging workflow as a function of the determined time relationship, the modification of the imaging workflow comprising a decision whether and how the time instant of the output of the breath-holding command is to be temporally adjusted, whether and how a start time instant of the MR imaging is to be temporally adjusted, or a combination thereof.

11. A magnetic resonance (MR) imaging system comprising:
a radio-frequency transmit system;
a gradient system;
a controller configured, in order to perform a desired measurement based on a predetermined pulse sequence, to actuate the radio-frequency transmit system and the gradient system; and
a breathing monitoring device comprising a processor, the processor being configured to:
output a breath-holding command to a patient to hold breath;
start acquisition of MR imaging data with an MR imaging method that is usable with free breathing;
detect a breathing movement of the patient based on the MR imaging data acquired with the MR imaging method that is usable with free breathing;
determine a time relationship between the breathing movement of the patient and the breath-holding command, the determination of the time relationship comprising determination of a time difference between a time instant of the output of the breath-holding command to the patient and a time instant of the detected breathing movement; and
modify an imaging workflow as a function of the determined time relationship, the modification of the imaging workflow comprising a decision whether and how the time instant of the output of the breath-holding command is to be temporally adjusted, whether and how a start time instant of the MR imaging is to be temporally adjusted, or a combination thereof.

12. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable by a computer of a magnetic resonance imaging system for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with an imaging workflow, the instructions comprising:
outputting at least one breath-holding command to a patient;
acquiring MR imaging data with an MR imaging method that is usable with free breathing;
detecting a breathing movement of the patient based on the MR imaging data acquired with the MR imaging method that is usable with free breathing;
determining a time relationship between the breathing movement of the patient and the at least one breath-holding command, the determining of the time relationship comprising determining a time difference between a time instant of the outputting of the at least one breath-holding command to the patient and a time instant of the detected breathing movement; and
modifying the imaging workflow as a function of the determined time relationship, wherein modifying the imaging workflow comprises deciding whether and how the time instant of the outputting of the at least one breath-holding command is to be temporally adjusted, whether and how a start time instant of the MR imaging is to be temporally adjusted, or a combination thereof.

13. In a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores instructions executable by a computer of a magnetic resonance imaging system for a magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with an imaging workflow, the instructions comprising:
outputting at least one breath-holding command to a patient;
acquiring MR imaging data with an MR imaging method that is usable with free breathing;
detecting a breathing movement of the patient based on the MR imaging data acquired with the MR imaging method that is usable with free breathing;
determining a time relationship between the breathing movement of the patient and the at least one breath-holding command, the determining of the time relationship comprising determining a time difference between a time instant of the outputting of the at least one breath-holding command to the patient and a time instant of the detected breathing movement; and
modifying the imaging workflow as a function of the determined time relationship wherein modifying the imaging workflow comprises deciding whether and how the time instant of the outputting of the at least one breath-holding command is to be temporally adjusted, whether and how a start time instant of the MR imaging is to be temporally adjusted, or a combination thereof.

14. The non-transitory comp

Assignees

• Kartaeusch Ralf
• Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Inventors

• Kartäusch Ralf

Classifications

• A61B5/055 Primary

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

• G01R33/543 Primary

  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

• A61B5/004

  adapted for image acquisition of a particular organ or body part (A61B5/0082 takes precedence; arrangements for optical scanning A61B5/0062) · CPC title

• G01R33/56509

  due to motion, displacement or flow, e.g. gradient moment nulling (G01R33/567 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B5/742

  using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339) · CPC title