Image processing apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging apparatus

1. An image processing apparatus comprising processing circuitry including at least one processor, the processing circuitry being configured to:

convert time-series k-space data into first time-series x-space data, the x-space representing a spatial position;

generate a magnitude image from second time-series x-space data, the second time-series x-space data being acquired by applying a first filter to a magnitude image based on the first time-series x-space data; and

generate a phase image from third time-series x-space data, the third time-series x-space data being acquired by applying, to a phase image based on the first time-series x-space data, a second filter that is different from the first filter.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

acquire information related to at least one of (a) imaging conditions and/or (b) a subject to be imaged;

determine, based on the acquired information, a first parameter that determines characteristics of the first filter and a second parameter that determines characteristics of the second filter;

notify the magnitude image generating circuitry of the first parameter; and

notify the phase image generating circuitry of the second parameter.

3. An image processing apparatus comprising processing circuitry including at least one processor, the processing circuitry being configured to:

convert time-series k-space data into first time-series x-space data, the x-space representing a spatial position;

generate a magnitude image from second time-series x-space data, the second time-series x-space data being acquired by applying a first filter to the first time-series x-space data; and

generate a phase image from third time-series x-space data, the third time-series x-space data being acquired by applying, to the first time-series x-space data, a second filter that is different from the first filter,

wherein

the first filter and the second filter are filters operating on an f-axis that is different from a t-axis representing a time axis, and

wherein the processing circuitry being further configured to:

acquire x-f space data by performing t-f conversion to the first time-series x-space data, the t-f conversion converting the t-axis to the f-axis;

after applying the first filter on the x-f space data, apply inverse transformation of the t-f conversion, thereby acquiring the second time-series x-space data;

perform the t-f conversion to the first time-series x-space data, thereby acquiring the x-f space data; and

apply, after applying the second filter on the x-f space data, the inverse transformation of the t-f conversion, thereby generating the third time-series x-space data.

4. An image processing apparatus comprising processing circuitry including at least one processor, the processing circuitry being configured to:

convert time-series k-space data into first time-series x-space data, the x-space representing a spatial position;

generate a magnitude image from second time-series x-space data, the second time-series x-space data being acquired by applying a first filter to the first time-series x-space data; and

generate a phase image from third time-series x-space data, the third time-series x-space data being acquired by applying, to the first time-series x-space data, a second filter that is different from the first filter,

wherein the first filter and the second filer are data smoothing filters on a time axis, and

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:

apply the first filter on the first time-series x-space data on the time axis, thereby acquiring the second time-series x-space data; and

apply the second filter on the first time-series x-space data on the time axis, thereby acquiring the third time-series x-space data.

5. An image processing apparatus comprising processing circuitry including at least one processor, the processing circuitry being configured to:

convert time-series k-space data into first time-series x-space data, the x-space representing a spatial position;

generate a magnitude image from second time-series x-space data, the second time-series x-space data being acquired by applying a first filter to the first time-series x-space data; and

generate a phase image from third time-series x-space data, the third time-series x-space data being acquired by applying, to the first time-series x-space data, a second filter that is different from the first filter,

wherein the first filter is a stronger data smoothing filter than the second filter.

6. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

an MRI system to acquire time-series k-space data;

one or more processor-accessible media comprising processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a device to perform actions comprising:

converting the time-series k-space data acquired by the MRI system into first time-series x-space data, the x-space representing a spatial position;

generating a magnitude image from second time-series x-space data, the second time-series x-space data being acquired by applying a first filter to the first time-series x-space data; and

generating a phase image from third time-series x-space data, the third time-series x-space data being acquired by applying, to the first time-series x-space data, a second filter that is different from the first filter, wherein the first filter is a stronger data smoothing filter than the second filter is.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed, cause the device to perform further actions comprising:

acquiring the time-series k-space data by using a pulse sequence configured to apply a given bipolar gradient field based on a phase contrast method and

calculating a flow velocity on a basis of the phase image.