Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, and automatic imaging position setting method

1. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit that acquires a cross-section image of a subject by using nuclear magnetic resonance;

an imaging control unit that performs control so that the imaging unit performs scout imaging for determining an imaging position, and main imaging for acquiring a diagnosis image; and

an imaging cross-section determination unit that determines an imaging cross-section position of the main imaging by using data acquired in the scout imaging,

wherein the imaging control unit performs control of executing first measurement for acquiring one-dimensional or two-dimensional measurement data and second measurement for acquiring two-dimensional measurement data as the scout imaging,

wherein the imaging cross-section determination unit includes:

a right and left determination unit that determines the right and left of the subject by using the measurement data acquired in the first measurement; and

a cross-section position calculation unit that calculates a cross-section position for the second measurement by using a determination result in the right and left determination unit and the measurement data acquired in the first measurement, and calculates a cross-section position in the main imaging by using the measurement data acquired in the second measurement.

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

wherein the right and left determination unit performs determination of the right and left on the basis of a signal value of the measurement data acquired in the first measurement in a one-dimensional direction along a right and left direction of the subject.

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

wherein the imaging control unit performs control of acquiring two-dimensional measurement data in the first measurement, and

wherein the right and left determination unit creates one-dimensional data obtained by projecting the two-dimensional measurement data acquired in the first measurement in a one-dimensional direction along the right and left direction of the subject, and performs determination of the right and left by using the one-dimensional data.

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

wherein the cross-section position calculation unit calculates a cross-section position in the second measurement with respect to a plurality of cross-sections including one cross-section by using measurement data of the one cross-section which is acquired in the first measurement.

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

wherein the imaging control unit executes a pulse sequence in which a one-dimensional direction along the right and left direction of the subject is set as an echo signal read-out direction in the first measurement to perform control of acquiring the one-dimensional measurement data.

6. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 5 ,

wherein the cross-section position calculation unit calculates the cross-section position in the second measurement with respect to one cross-section on the basis of a result of right and left determination made by the right and left determination unit by using the one-dimensional measurement data acquired in the first measurement, and calculates the cross-section position in the second measurement with respect to cross-sections other than the one cross-section by using measurement data of the one cross-section which is acquired in the second measurement.

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

wherein the imaging cross-section determination unit further includes a feature extraction unit that extracts a feature of an examination target tissue from the measurement data acquired in the first measurement or the second measurement.

8. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 7 ,

wherein the imaging cross-section determination unit further includes an image cut-out unit that cuts out a sheet of slice data including the examination target tissue from the measurement data that is acquired in the second measurement and corresponds to a plurality of slices, and creates an MPR (Multi-Planar Reconstruction) image, and

wherein the feature extraction unit extracts the feature of the examination target tissue from the MPR image created by the image cut-out unit.

9. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 7 ,

wherein the feature extraction unit includes a matching processing unit that calculates at least one of a position and an inclination of the examination target tissue as the feature of the examination target tissue by matching processing.

10. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 7 ,

wherein the feature extraction unit includes an object extraction unit that extracts a position of the examination target tissue from image data as the feature of the examination target tissue by using a mechanical learning algorithm.

11. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 7 ,

wherein the feature extraction unit includes a symmetric line detection unit that calculates a center line that is bilaterally symmetric with respect to the examination target tissue, and an inclination of the center line.

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

a display control unit that causes a display device to display the determination result of the right and left determination unit and/or the cross-section position calculated by the cross-section position calculation unit.

13. The magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to claim 12 ,

wherein the display control unit includes a user interface that receives a user change relating to the cross-section position.

14. An automatic imaging position setting method of automatically setting an imaging cross-section position in imaging using a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, the method comprising the steps of:

executing first measurement of scout imaging and acquiring one-dimensional or two-dimensional measurement data before main imaging for acquiring a diagnosis image;

determining the right and left of a subject by using measurement data acquired in the first measurement;

calculating a cross-section position for a second measurement of the scout imaging by using a determination result in the right and left determination and the measurement data acquired in the first measurement, executing the second measurement at the cross-section position, and acquiring two-dimensional measurement data; and

calculating a cross-section position in the main imaging by using the two-dimensional measurement data acquired in the second measurement.

15. The automatic imaging position setting method according to claim 14 ,

wherein the two-dimensional measurement data is acquired in the first measurement, and one-dimensional data obtained by projecting the two-dimensional measurement data in a one-dimensional direction along a right and left direction of the subject is created, and

wherein the right and left of the subject is determined on the basis of signal intensity of the one-dimensional data.

16. The automatic imaging position setting method according to claim 15 ,

wherein cross-section positions of a plurality of cross-sections including one cross-section in the second measurement are calculated by using two-dimensional measurement data of the one cross-section which is acquired in the first measurement.

17. The automatic imaging position setting method according to claim 14 ,

wherein the one-dimensional measurement data is acquired in the first measurement, and the right and left of the subject is determined on the basis of signal intensity of the one-dimensional data.