System and method for improving magnetic resonance scanning workflow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12376759-B2
Application number	US-202218090131-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2022
Priority date	Dec 28, 2022
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A method for performing a scan of a subject utilizing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes triggering a prescan by an MRI scanner of the MRI system upon the subject being setup on a table of the MRI scanner and the table reaching an iso-center of the MRI scanner. The method includes subsequent to the prescan, triggering a calibration scan of the subject with the MRI scanner, wherein the calibration scan is an acoustic noise suppressed MRI scan. The method includes obtaining calibration data from the calibration scan. The method includes obtaining prescription parameters for subsequent scans of the subject with the MRI scanner from the calibration data. The method includes triggering at least one scan of the subject with the MRI scanner based on the prescription parameters.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for performing a scan of a subject utilizing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
triggering, via a processor, a prescan by an MRI scanner of the MRI system upon the subject being setup on a table of the MRI scanner and the table reaching an iso-center of the MRI scanner;
subsequent to the prescan, triggering, via the processor, a calibration scan of the subject with the MRI scanner, wherein the calibration scan is an acoustic noise suppressed MRI scan;
obtaining, via the processor, calibration data from the calibration scan;
obtaining, via the processor, prescription parameters for subsequent scans of the subject with the MRI scanner from the calibration data; and
triggering, via the processor, at least one subsequent scan of the subject with the MRI scanner based on the prescription parameters.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic noise suppressed MRI scan utilizes a zero echo time pulse sequence or other quiet pulse sequence using acoustic noise reduction via gradient deration.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the prescan, and subsequent data acquisition and processing occurs irrespective of whether a radio frequency (RF) door of a scan room where the MRI scanner is located is closed or open.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the calibration begins to occur while the RF door is open.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising removing, via the processor, RF interference artifacts from prescan data and/or subsequently acquired data from the at least one subsequent scan.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein obtaining the prescription parameters comprises utilizing a statistical or machine learning based model to obtain the prescription parameters.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising generating, via a processor, a geometry plan for a diagnostic scan based on both prescan data and the calibration data and a localizer image generated from a localizer scan.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein generating the geometry plan comprises utilizing, via the processor, deep learning algorithms to automatically identify anatomical structures and to prescribe slices for the diagnostic scan.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising triggering, via the processor, the diagnostic scan based on the geometry plan with the MRI scanner.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, via the processor, a start signal to trigger the prescan and consequent scanning.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the triggering the prescan, triggering the calibration scan, obtaining the calibration data, obtaining the prescription parameters, and triggering the at least one subsequent scan are automatically performed upon receiving the start signal.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one subsequent scan comprises a localizer scan or a diagnostic scan.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising performing, via the processor, an assessment of an image quality of the calibration data.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising, when an image quality of the calibration data is below a predetermined image quality threshold repeating triggering the prescan, triggering the calibration scan, and obtaining the calibration data immediately or upon closing a radio frequency (RF) door of a scan room where the MRI scanner is located.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising causing, via the processor, an auditory notification to be provided to the subject indicating the prescan and subsequent scanning is about to begin.

16. A system for performing a scan of a subject utilizing a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, comprising:
a memory encoding processor-executable routines; and
a processor configured to access the memory and to execute the processor-executable routines, wherein the routines, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
trigger a prescan by an MRI scanner of the MRI system upon the subject being setup on a table of the MRI scanner and the table reaching an iso-center of the MRI scanner;
subsequent to the prescan, trigger a calibration scan of the subject with the MRI scanner, wherein the calibration scan is an acoustic noise suppressed MRI scan;
obtain calibration data from the calibration scan;
obtain prescription parameters for subsequent scans of the subject with the MRI scanner from the calibration data; and
trigger at least one subsequent scan of the subject with the MRI scanner based on the prescription parameters.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the acoustic noise suppressed MRI scan utilizes a zero time echo pulse sequence or other quiet pulse sequence using acoustic noise reduction via gradient deration.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the calibration scan occurs irrespective of whether a radio frequency (RF) door of a scan room where the MRI scanner is located is closed or open.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable code that when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:
trigger a prescan by a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner of an MRI system upon a subject being setup on a table of the MRI scanner and the table reaching an iso-center of the MRI scanner;
subsequent to the prescan, trigger a calibration scan of the subject with the MRI scanner, wherein the calibration scan is an acoustic noise suppressed MRI scan;
obtain calibration data from the calibration scan;
obtain prescription parameters for subsequent scans of the subject with the MRI scanner from the calibration data; and
trigger at least one subsequent scan of the subject with the MRI scanner based on the prescription parameters.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the calibration scan occurs irrespective of whether a radio frequency (RF) door of a scan room where the MRI scanner is located is closed or open.

Assignees

• Ge Prec Healthcare Llc

Inventors

• Wiesinger Florian
• Shanbhag Dattesh Dayanand
• Manickam Kavitha
• Agarwal Harsh Kumar
• Gui Dawei
• Bhushan Chitresh

Classifications

• G01R33/58

  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

• G01R33/543

  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

• A61B5/055 Primary

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