Magnetic resonance imaging (mri) apparatus and method of controlling mri apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016235335-A1
Application number	US-201615045340-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 17, 2016
Priority date	Feb 17, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus and a method of controlling the MRI apparatus are provided. The MRI apparatus includes a signal transceiver configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal to an object, and receive a magnetic resonance (MR) signal from the object. The MRI apparatus further includes a controller configured to control the signal transceiver based on sequence information that is used according to an imaging protocol, determine a degree at which the object is able to move based on the sequence information, to generate operation information, and control a device connected to the MRI apparatus to provide the operation information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising:
a signal transceiver configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal to an object, and receive a magnetic resonance (MR) signal from the object; and a controller configured to:
control the signal transceiver based on sequence information that is used according to an imaging protocol;
determine a degree at which the object is able to move based on the sequence information, to generate operation information; and
control a device connected to the MRI apparatus to provide the operation information.

2 . The MRI apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine information of whether the object is able to move based on a time interval.

3 . The MRI apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a display configured to display the operation information to the object as an image.

4 . The MRI apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the display to display the operation information to the object during a time interval when the object is able to move.

5 . The MRI apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the display to:
display an image for inducing a concentration of the object while the signal transceiver is receiving MR signals of a low frequency region in a k-space; and display an image for helping the object relax while the signal transceiver is receiving MR signals of a high frequency region in the k-space.

6 . The MRI apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the display to display an image showing a level of progress of an examination of the object based on the operation information.

7 . The MRI apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the image comprises at least one among a progress bar and a text message.

8 . The MRI apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the image distinguishes a first time interval when the object is to remain stationary from a second time interval when the object is able to move.

9 . The MRI apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising a bore in which the object is disposed,
wherein the display comprises a first display disposed in the bore, a second display disposed outside the bore, a first projector disposed in the bore, and a second projector disposed outside the bore.

10 . The MRI apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bore in which the object is disposed; and an immobilizer disposed in the bore, and configured to immobilize motion of the object, wherein the controller is further configured to control the immobilizer based on the sequence information.

11 . The MRI apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the immobilizer to immobilize a part of the object to be measured based on the sequence information.

12 . The MRI apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the immobilizer to immobilize a part of the object to be measured during a time interval when the object is to remain stationary.

13 . The MRI apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sequence information comprises a strength and an application timing of a pulse signal for generating a gradient magnetic field around the object.

14 . A method of controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, the method comprising:
transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal to an object, and receiving a magnetic resonance (MR) signal from the object, based on sequence information that is used according to an imaging protocol; determining a degree at which the object is able to move based on the sequence information, to generate operation information; and providing the operation information.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the determining comprises determining information of whether the object is able to move based on a time interval.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the providing comprises displaying the operation information to the object as an image.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the providing comprises displaying the operation information to the object during a time interval when the object is able to move.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the providing comprises:
displaying an image for inducing a concentration of the object while the signal transceiver is receiving MR signals of a low frequency region in a k-space; and displaying an image for helping the object relax while the signal transceiver is receiving MR signals of a high frequency region in the k-space.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the providing comprises displaying an image showing a level of progress of an examination of the object based on the operation information.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the image comprises at least one among a progress bar and a text message.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the image distinguishes a first time interval when the object is to remain stationary from a second time interval when the object is able to move.

22 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising immobilizing motion of the object based on the sequence information.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the immobilizing comprises immobilizing a part of the object to be measured based on the sequence information.

24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the immobilizing comprises immobilizing a part of the object to be measured during a time interval when the object is to remain stationary.

25 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the sequence information comprises a strength and an application timing of a pulse signal for generating a gradient magnetic field around the object.

26 . A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising:
a signal transceiver configured to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal to an object, and receive a magnetic resonance (MR) signal from the object; a controller configured to:
control the signal transceiver based on sequence information that is used according to an imaging protocol; and
determine a degree at which the object is able to move based on the sequence information, to generate the operation information; and
a display configured to display an image to the object based on the operation information.

27 . The MRI apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the display to display an image for inducing a concentration of the object based on the operation information.

28 . The MRI apparatus of claim 26 , wherein the controller is further configured to control the display to display an image showing a level of progress of an examination of the object based on the operation information.

29 . A method of controlling a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus, the method comprising:
transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal to an object, and receiving a magnetic resonance (MR) signal from the object, based on sequence information that is used according to an imaging protocol; determining a degree at which the object is able to move based on the sequence information, to generate the operation information; and displaying an image to the object based on the operation information.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the displaying comprises displaying an image for inducing a concentration of the object

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Joon-Soo
• Jo Jae-Moon

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

• G01R33/283 Primary

  Intercom or optical viewing arrangements, structurally associated with NMR apparatus · CPC title

• G01R33/56509

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

• A61B5/704

  Tables · CPC title

• A61B5/055 Primary

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