System and method for magnetic resonance image acquisition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9696392-B2
Application number	US-201414774501-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

A method of data acquisition at a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system is provided. The system receives at least a portion of raw data for an image, and detects anomalies in the portion of raw data received. When anomalies are detected, the system can correct those anomalies dynamically, without waiting for a new scan to be ordered. The system can attempt to scan the offending portion of the raw data, either upon detection of the anomaly or at some point during the scan. The system can also correct anomalies using digital correction methods based on expected values. The anomalies can be detected based on variations from thresholds, masks and expected values all of which can be obtained using one of the ongoing scan, previously performed scans and apriori information relating to the type of scan being performed.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of data acquisition at a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system comprising:
receiving at least a portion of raw data for an image;
detecting anomalies in the portion of raw data; and
performing a correction of the anomalies by a data processing system, wherein performing the correction involves performing a partial scan by the MRI system to obtain replacements for the anomalous data, and wherein detecting anomalies further comprises:
comparing the portion of raw data received to a mask.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mask includes an upper boundary and the detection is based on whether one or more values of the portion of raw data received exceed corresponding upper boundary values.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the mask includes a lower boundary and the detection is based on whether one or more values of the portion of raw data received are below corresponding lower boundary values.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the mask is determined at least in part based on apriori information including at least one of: type of object being scanned, type of the MRI system, expected distribution of raw data values or raw data obtained from phantom scans.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein mask values are expected values for the partial data varied by a pre-determined percentage.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting anomalies further comprises comparing values for each cell of the portion of raw data to an expected value for that cell.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the expected value is based on values of each cell's neighbors.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein expected value is determined on the basis of at least one of averaging, interpolation or conjugate symmetry.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting anomalies further includes comparing a signal to noise ratio of at least a portion of raw data received to a predetermined signal to noise ratio for a phantom.

Assignees

• Piron Cameron Anthony
• Panther Alexander Gyles
• Luciani Vincent
• Harris Chad Tyler
• Synaptive Medical Barbados Inc

Inventors

• Piron Cameron Anthony
• Panther Alexander Gyles
• Luciani Vincent
• Harris Chad Tyler

Classifications

• G01R33/565 Primary

  Correction of image distortions, e.g. due to magnetic field inhomogeneities · CPC title

• G01R33/365

  Decoupling of multiple RF coils wherein the multiple RF coils have the same function in MR, e.g. decoupling of a receive coil from another receive coil in a receive coil array, decoupling of a transmission coil from another transmission coil in a transmission coil array · CPC title

• G01R33/3415

  comprising arrays of sub-coils {, i.e. phased-array coils with flexible receiver channels} · CPC title

• G01R33/34007

  Manufacture of RF coils, e.g. using printed circuit board technology; additional hardware for providing mechanical support to the RF coil assembly or to part thereof, e.g. a support for moving the coil assembly relative to the remainder of the MR system · CPC title

• G01R33/482

  using a Cartesian trajectory · CPC title