Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
View Patent ↗A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry performs first imaging to acquire multiple magnetic resonance signals that are used to derive a quantitative value of tissue. The processing circuitry derives a quantitative value of tissue on the basis of the multiple magnetic resonance signals. The processing circuitry displays, on a display, an estimated image obtained by estimating, through a calculation, an image to be obtained by performing second imaging different from the first imaging on the basis of the derived quantitative value of tissue. The processing circuitry acquires an image by performing the second imaging in which an imaging parameter corresponding to the estimated image is set.
1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, comprising:
processing circuitry configured to
perform first magnetic resonance imaging to acquire multiple magnetic resonance signals that are used to derive a quantitative value of tissue;
derive the quantitative value of tissue based on the multiple magnetic resonance signals;
display, on a display, an input screen to accept inputs of parameter values of a plurality of imaging parameters to be used for second magnetic resonance imaging different from the first magnetic resonance imaging, the imaging parameters being classified into a first imaging parameter that has an effect on a contrast of an image to be acquired by performing the second magnetic resonance imaging and a second imaging parameter that has no effect on the contrast of the image;
generate an estimated image based on the derived quantitative value of the tissue and the input parameter values;
display, on the display, the estimated image together with the input screen and, when one of the input parameter values of the first imaging parameter that has the effect on the contrast of the image is changed, update the estimated image through a recalculation; and
acquire the image by performing the second magnetic resonance imaging based on the accepted parameter values.
2. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to limit a range for at least one of the input parameter values of the imaging parameters that are displayed on the input screen.
3. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to limit the range for the at least one of the input parameter values according to at least any one of the performance of the apparatus, a subject, and another imaging parameter.
4. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to accept specifying a region of interest on the estimated image.
5. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to derive a possible value of at least one of the parameter values of the imaging parameters that are set for the second imaging such that the pixel value of the region of interest is a desired value.
6. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to display the derived possible value as an input value of the at least one of the parameter values.
7. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to accept specifying a first region of interest and a second region of interest on the estimated image, and derive a possible value of at least one of the parameter values of the imaging parameters that are set for the second imaging such that the contrast of the image improves between the first region of interest and the second region of interest.
8. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to perform, as the first imaging, imaging to acquire an image having a resolution lower than that of an image to be acquired by performing the second imaging.
9. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the quantitative value of tissue is a value of any one of a longitudinal relaxation time, a transverse relaxation time, a proton density, an apparent diffusion coefficient, T2*, T1ρ and T2ρ of tissue, and a radio frequency magnetic field strength.
10. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to update the estimated image through the recalculation, only when the one of the input parameter values of the first imaging parameter that has the effect on the contrast of the image is changed.