Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016238682-A1
Application number	US-201615134815-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 21, 2016
Priority date	Nov 11, 2011
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes an acquiring unit, a detecting unit, a deriving unit, and an imaging controller. The acquiring unit acquires three-dimensional image data including a target organ. The detecting unit detects an upper end position and a lower end position of the target organ in the three-dimensional image data. The deriving unit derives an imaging range of subsequent imaging performed after acquisition of the three-dimensional image data based on the upper end position and the lower end position of the target organ. The imaging controller controls performance of the subsequent imaging in accordance with the imaging range.

First claim

1 .- 19 . (canceled)

20 . A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, comprising:
processing circuitry configured to: acquire three-dimensional image data including a target organ; detect region information related to the target organ in the three-dimensional image data; and control movement of a couch based on a positional relationship between the region information and a magnetic field center.

21 . The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein
the processing circuitry: detects as the region information an upper end position and a lower end position of the target organ; and determines, based on a positional relationship between the upper end position, the lower end position and the magnetic field center, whether the couch needs to be moved.

22 . The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the processing circuitry determines, based on whether the magnetic field center is located between the upper end position and the lower end position, whether the couch needs to be moved.

23 . The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein
the processing circuitry: detects as the region information an upper end position and a lower end position of the target organ, and derives, based on a positional relationship between the upper end position, the lower end position and the magnetic field center, a movement amount of the couch.

24 . The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein
the processing circuitry: further derives, based on the region information, an imaging range of multiple subsequent imaging performed after acquisition of the three-dimensional image data; and controls performance of the multiple subsequent imaging in accordance with the imaging range.

25 . The apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein the processing circuitry derives an imaging range of different types of multiple preliminary imaging performed before main imaging as the imaging range of the multiple subsequent imaging.

26 . The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the processing circuitry derives an imaging rage corresponding to a type of the multiple preliminary imaging.

27 . The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the multiple preliminary imaging includes at least one of shimming imaging for acquiring at least data used for homogeneity correction of magnetostatic field intensity, sensitivity map imaging for acquiring data indicating receiving sensitivity distribution of a radio frequency (RF) coil, and support imaging for acquiring support information supporting positioning of an imaging slice of the target organ in the main imaging.

28 . The apparatus according to claim 27 , wherein the processing circuitry derives an imaging range of the shimming imaging larger than the region information when the shimming imaging is included in the multiple preliminary imaging, derives an imaging range of the support imaging equal to or larger than the imaging range of the shimming imaging when the support imaging is included in the multiple preliminary imaging, and derives an imaging range of the sensitivity map imaging larger than the imaging range of the support imaging when the sensitivity map imaging is included in the multiple preliminary imaging.

29 . The apparatus according to claim 25 , wherein the processing circuitry performs control so as to perform the multiple subsequent imaging successively.

30 . The apparatus according to claim 24 , wherein
the processing circuitry: detects as the region information an upper end position and a lower end position of the target organ; determines, based on a positional relationship between the upper end position, the lower end position and the magnetic field center, whether the couch needs to be moved; acquires, after the movement of the couch, the three-dimensional image data including the target organ; and derives, based on the three-dimensional image data acquired after the movement of the couch, the imaging range of the multiple subsequent imaging.

31 . The apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein the target organ includes at least one of a heart and a liver.

32 . A method for controlling a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, comprising:
acquiring three-dimensional image data including a target organ; detecting region information related to the target organ in the three-dimensional image data; and controlling movement of a couch based on a positional relationship between the region information and a magnetic field center.

Assignees

• Toshiba Medical Sys Corp

Inventors

• Nitta Shuhei
• Takeguchi Tomoyuki
• Matsumoto Nobuyuki
• Kuhara Shigehide

Classifications

• G01R33/246

  Spatial mapping of the RF magnetic field B1 · CPC title

• G01R33/4835 Primary

  of multiple slices · CPC title

• G01R33/34

  Constructional details, e.g. resonators {, specially adapted to MR} · CPC title

• G01R33/30

  Sample handling arrangements, e.g. sample cells, spinning mechanisms · 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