IP Library Granted Patent US 8,504,137
Granted Patent B2
US 8,504,137 · App. 13/352,781 · Granted Aug 6, 2013

Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,504,137
App. No.
13/352,781
Granted
Aug 6, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An exemplary magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a scan performing unit. The scan performing unit is configured to sequentially perform plural types of scans in a predetermined sequence, i.e., a first scan, a second scan, and a third scan, to acquire image data at a target region in a patient in a predetermined sequence. The first scan is performed to acquire image data in a first phase encoding direction during diastole in the patient. The second scan is performed to acquire image data in a second phase encoding direction approximately orthogonal to the first phase encoding direction during diastole in the patient. The third scan is performed to acquire image date in the second phase encoding direction during systole in the patient.

Claims (40)

1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

a scan performing unit configured to sequentially perform plural types of scans to acquire image data of images at a target region in a patient in a predetermined sequence, the scans including a first scan to acquire image data in a first phase encoding direction during diastole in the patient, a second scan to acquire image data in a second phase encoding direction approximately orthogonal to the first phase encoding direction during diastole in the patient, and a third scan to acquire image data in the second phase encoding direction during systole in the patient; and

an image processing unit configured to perform predetermined image processing on plural image data sets acquired by the plural types of scans after the scan performing unit completes the first scan, the second scan, and the third scan.

2. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the scan performing unit sequentially performs the first scan, the second scan, and the third scan in the predetermined sequence such that completion of a preceding scan triggers a start of a following scan in the predetermined sequence.

3. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the image processing unit performs a first subtraction between the image data acquired by the second scan and the image data acquired by the third scan, and a second subtraction between the image data acquired by the first scan and image data obtained by the first subtraction.

4. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein

the image processing unit additionally performs maximum intensity projection (MIP) processing as the predetermined image processing.

5. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the scan performing unit sequentially performs at least the first scan and the second scan, each of which being an image data acquisition scan during diastole in the patient, in the predetermined sequence.

6. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a receiving unit configured to receive operator input of a parameter that the scan performing unit needs when the scan performing unit performs the plural types of scans and a parameter that the image processing unit needs when the image processing unit generates an output image, wherein

the scan performing unit sequentially performs the plural types of scans in accordance with the parameter received by the receiving unit, and

the image processing unit performs the image processing in accordance with the parameter received by the receiving unit.

7. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the scan performing unit sequentially performs scans other than the first scan, the second scan, and the third scan, in addition to sequential execution of the first scan, the second scan, and the third scan.

8. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a resonance frequency pulse; and

a scan performing unit configured to sequentially perform plural types of scans to acquire image data of images at a target region in a patient in a predetermined sequence, the scans including a first scan to acquire image data in a first phase encoding direction during diastole in the patient, a second scan to acquire image data in a second phase encoding direction approximately orthogonal to the first phase encoding direction during diastole in the patient, and a third scan to acquire image data in the second phase encoding direction during systole in the patient.

9. A magnetic resonance imaging method implemented by a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, comprising:

controlling, using a processor, sequentially plural types of scans to acquire image data of images at a target region in a patient in a predetermined sequence, the scans including a first scan to acquire image data in a first phase encoding direction during diastole in the patient, a second scan to acquire image data in a second phase encoding direction approximately orthogonal to the first phase encoding direction during diastole in the patient, and a third scan to acquire image data in the second phase encoding direction during systole in the patient; and

performing, using a processor, predetermined image processing on plural image data sets acquired by the plural types of scans after the first scan, the second scan, and the third scan are completed at the scanning step.

10. The magnetic resonance imaging method according to claim 9 , wherein

the controlling includes sequentially controlling the first scan, the second scan, and the third scan in the predetermined sequence such that completion of a preceding scan triggers a start of a following scan in the predetermined sequence.

11. The magnetic resonance imaging method according to claim 9 , wherein

the performing includes performing a first subtraction between the image data acquired by the second scan and the image data acquired by the third scan, and a second subtraction between the image data acquired by the first scan and image data obtained by the first subtraction.

12. The magnetic resonance imaging method according to claim 11 , wherein

the performing includes additionally performing maximum intensity projection (MIP) processing as the predetermined image processing.

13. The magnetic resonance imaging method according to claim 9 , wherein

the controlling includes sequentially controlling at least the first scan and the second scan, each of which being an image data acquisition scan during diastole in the patient, in the predetermined sequence.

14. The magnetic resonance imaging method according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a receiving, using a processor, operator input of a parameter needed in the controlling and in the performing, wherein

the controlling includes sequentially controlling the plural types of scans in accordance with the parameter received by the receiving, and

the performing includes performing the image processing in accordance with the parameter received by the receiving.

15. The magnetic resonance imaging method according to claim 9 , wherein

the controlling includes sequentially controlling scans other than the first scan, the second scan, and the third scan, in addition to sequential execution of the first scan, the second scan, and the third scan.

16. A magnetic resonance imaging method implemented by a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, comprising:

transmitting, using a processor, a resonance frequency pulse; and

controlling, using a processor, plural types of scans to acquire image data of images at a target region in a patient in a predetermined sequence, the scans including a first scan to acquire image data in a first phase encoding direction during diastole in the patient, a second scan to acquire image data in a second phase encoding direction approximately orthogonal to the first phase encoding direction during diastole in the patient, and a third scan to acquire image data in the second phase encoding direction during systole in the patient.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2016
From: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
To: TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038891/0693 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2012
From: MIYAZAKI, MITSUE
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA; TOSHIBA MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 027553/0143 →