Systems and methods for avoiding MRI-originated interference with concurrently used systems

1. A method of performing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of an anatomic region in conjunction with a radio-frequency-sensitive (RF-sensitive) measurement of the region using an ultrasound-based system, the method comprising the steps of:

with the ultrasound-based system idle, performing an MR scan sequence including MR pulses;

detecting intervals during the MR scan sequence when a level of RF noise is sufficient to interfere with the RF-sensitive measurements;

detecting a parameter of the RF noise during the intervals and recording the detected parameter;

storing data indicative of a temporal extent of the MR scan sequence and the detected intervals and the parameter of the RF noise thereduring;

simultaneously performing an MR scan sequence including MR pulses and obtaining the RF-sensitive measurements;

recording the RF-sensitive measurements as they are made; and

adjusting the recorded RF-sensitive measurements that were obtained during the detected intervals based on the recorded parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment corresponds to subtracting the recorded parameter from the recorded RF-sensitive measurements that were obtained during the detected intervals.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the detected parameter is a spectrum of the RF noise and the subtracting step comprises, for each RF-sensitive measurement, obtaining a spectrum of a signal corresponding to the measurement and subtracting, at each frequency in the spectra, a magnitude of the RF noise from a magnitude of the signal corresponding to the measurement.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the spectra are obtained from time-domain signal measurements using a Fast Fourier Transform.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the detected parameter is a maximum level of the RF noise during an interval and the subtracting step comprises subtracting the maximum RF noise from the corresponding recorded RF-sensitive measurement.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the detected parameter is an average level of the RF noise and the subtracting step comprises subtracting the average RF noise from each recorded RF-sensitive measurement.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the MR scan sequence is performed periodically and the RF-sensitive measurements are performed at least partially in synchronization with at least one of the MR scan sequence.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising determining time windows of the RF-sensitive measurements and identifying the RF noise within the determined time windows, wherein adjustment of the recorded RF-sensitive measurements corresponds to subtracting the identified RF noise from the recorded RF-sensitive measurements that were obtained during the detected time windows.

9. A system for performing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of an anatomic region in conjunction with a radio-frequency-sensitive (RF-sensitive) measurement of the region, the system comprising:

an MR imaging apparatus for imaging the anatomic region;

an ultrasound-based system for performing the RF-sensitive measurement; and

a controller in communication with the MR imaging apparatus and ultrasound-based system, the controller being configured to:

with the ultrasound-based system idle, perform an MR scan sequence including MR pulses;

determine intervals during the MR scan sequence when a level of RF noise is sufficient to interfere with the RF-sensitive measurements;

determine a parameter of the RF noise during the intervals and record the detected parameter;

store data indicative of a temporal extent of the MR scan sequence and the detected intervals and the parameter of the RF noise thereduring;

simultaneously perform an MR scan sequence including MR pulses and obtain the RF-sensitive measurements;

record the RF-sensitive measurements as they are made; and

adjust the recorded RF-sensitive measurements that were obtained during the detected intervals based on the recorded parameter.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the adjustment corresponds to subtracting the recorded parameter from the recorded RF-sensitive measurements that were obtained during the detected intervals.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the detected parameter is a spectrum of the RF noise and the controller is further configured to, for each RF-sensitive measurement, obtain a spectrum of a signal corresponding to the measurement and subtract, at each frequency in the spectra, a magnitude of the RF noise from a magnitude of the signal corresponding to the measurement.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the spectra are obtained from time-domain signal measurements using a Fast Fourier Transform.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the detected parameter is a maximum level of the RF noise during an interval and the controller is further configured to subtract the maximum RF noise from the corresponding recorded RF-sensitive measurement.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the detected parameter is an average level of the RF noise and the controller is further configured to subtract the average RF noise from each recorded RF-sensitive measurement.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

(i) perform the MR scan sequence periodically; and

(ii) perform the RF-sensitive measurements at least partially in synchronization with at least one of the MR scan sequence.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine time windows of the RF-sensitive measurements; and

identify the RF noise within the determined time windows,

wherein adjustment of the recorded RF-sensitive measurements corresponds to subtracting the identified RF noise from the recorded RF-sensitive measurements that were obtained during the detected time windows.

17. The system of claim 9 , wherein the ultrasound-based system comprises at least one of a phased-array ultrasound transducer system, an ultrasound imaging probe, or a cavitation sensor.