Method and magnetic resonance apparatus for determining a shim setting

1. A method for determining a shim setting for a shim element situated in a magnetic resonance (MR) data acquisition scanner, in order to increase a homogeneity of a basic magnetic field generated in the scanner, said method comprising:

providing information in a processor that describes a dependence of an induced field produced by the shim element on a set shim setting;

operating the scanner, with said shim element driven by said set shim setting, to record a first field map of said basic magnetic field;

providing said first field map to said processor and, in said processor using said first map to determine a first shim setting for said shim element;

operating the scanner, with said shim element driven by said first shim setting, to record a second field map of said basic magnetic field;

providing said second field map to said processor and, in said processor, using said first field map and said second field map to determine a field induced by said shim element in said scanner by said first shim setting;

in said processor, using the determined induced field and said information to determine a second shim setting for said shim element; and

emitting an electronic signal from said processor, corresponding to said second shim setting, in a form configured to drive said shim element with said second shim setting.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising operating said scanner with said shim element driven by said second shim setting to acquire MR data from a subject situated in the MR scanner.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising determining said second shim setting, in said processor by:

calculating an induced field produced by said shim element driven by said first shim setting, based on said information; and

comparing the calculated induced field with the determined induced field to obtain a comparison result, and determining said second shim setting dependent on said comparison result.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising comparing said calculated induced field with said determined induced field by executing a regression analysis algorithm, dependent on at least one of a variable representing a spatial displacement of said shim element, and a scaler amplitude modulation.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising using, as said shim element, a local shim element that is positionable at respectively different positions within said scanner.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 comprising integrating said local shim element into a local transmit coil that is used to radiate or detect radio-frequency signals in said scanner.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said scanner has a further shim element therein, and comprising:

in said processor, using said first map to determine a shim setting for said further shim element; and

from said processor, emitting a further electronic signal, representing said shim setting for said further shim element, in a form for driving said further shim element with that shim setting.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said shim element has a position in said scanner relative to said further shim element, and determining at least one of said first shim setting for said shim element, or said second shim setting for said shim element, or said shim setting for said further shim element, dependent on said position.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said scanner has a further shim element therein, and comprising:

in said processor, using the determined induced field and said information to determine a shim setting for said further shim element dependent on the determined induced field and said acquired information; and

from said processor, emitting a further electronic signal, representing said shim setting for said further shim element, in a form for driving said further shim element with that shim setting.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said shim element has a position in said scanner relative to said further shim element, and determining at least one of said first shim setting for said shim element, or said second shim setting for said shim element, or said shim setting for said further shim element, dependent on said position.

11. A magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus comprising:

an MR data acquisition scanner having a basic field magnet that generates a basic magnetic field in said scanner, said basic magnetic field having a homogeneity;

a shim element in said scanner that is operable to produce an induced field that influences said homogeneity of said basic magnetic field;

a processor provided with information that describes a dependence of an induced field produced by the shim element on a set shim setting;

said processor being configured to operate the scanner, with said shim element driven by said set shim setting, to record a first field map of said basic magnetic field;

said first field map being provided to said processor, and said processor being configured to use said first field map to determine a first shim setting for said shim element;

said processor being configured to operate the scanner, with said shim element driven by said first shim setting, to record a second field map of said basic magnetic field;

said second field map being provided to said processor, and said processor being configured to use said first field map and said second field map to determine a field induced by said shim element in said scanner by said first shim setting;

said processor being configured to use the determined induced field and said information to determine a second shim setting for said shim element; and

said processor being configured to emit an electronic signal from said processor, corresponding to said second shim setting, in a form configured to drive said shim element with said second shim setting.

12. A non-transitory, computer-readable data storage medium encoded with programming instructions, said storage medium being loaded into a processor of a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus that comprises an MR data acquisition scanner in which a basic magnetic field, having a field homogeneity, is generated, and a shim element that is operable to produce an induced field that influences said homogeneity, said storage medium being encoded with programming instructions and said programming instructions causing said processor to:

receive an electronic designation that describes a dependence of an induced field produced by the shim element on a set shim setting;

operate the scanner, with said shim element driven by said set shim setting, to record a first field map of said basic magnetic field;

use said first field map to determine a first shim setting for said shim element;

operate the scanner, with said shim element driven by said first shim setting, to record a second field map of said basic magnetic field;

use the determined induced field and said information to determine a field induced by said shim element in said scanner by said first shim setting;

use the determined induced field and said information to determine a second shim setting for said shim element; and

emit an electronic signal from said processor, corresponding to said second shim setting, in a form configured to drive said shim element with said second shim setting.