IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,222,412
Granted Patent B2
US 12,222,412 · App. 18/592,973 · Granted Feb 11, 2025

Preparing a magnetic resonance imaging method in compliance with stimulation-based limitations

Inventors: Thorsten Feiweier (Poxdorf, DE); Max Müller (Erlangen, DE); Adam Kettinger (Erlangen, DE); Mario Zeller (Erlangen, DE); Gudrun Ruyters (Erlangen, DE)
Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG
G01R33/543G01R33/5608G01R33/56341
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,222,412
App. No.
18/592,973
Granted
Feb 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for preparing magnetic resonance imaging of an object under examination is described. A plurality of representative pulse sequence segments are generated, each of which is associated with a reference gradient amplitude of the gradient pulse having the highest stimulation potential of the representative pulse sequence segment, and the stimulation potential of which is representative of a group of partially different pulse sequences. For each of the representative pulse sequence segments, a maximum gradient slew rate is determined for which a permitted maximum value of the stimulation potential is not exceeded. One of the representative pulse sequence segments is determined and selected, for a measurement protocol to be planned for a magnetic resonance imaging to be performed, according to the gradient amplitude of the gradient pulse having the highest stimulation potential of a pulse sequence segment of the pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based. The pulse sequence segment of the pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based is adjusted in such a way that a maximum gradient slew rate associated with the selected representative pulse sequence segment is also not exceeded by the pulse sequence segment of the pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based.

Claims (28)

1. A method for preparing magnetic resonance imaging of an object under examination, the method comprising:

generating, by a processor, a plurality of representative pulse sequence segments, each of which is associated with a reference gradient amplitude of a gradient pulse having a highest stimulation potential of the representative pulse sequence segment, and a stimulation potential of which is representative of a group of partially different pulse sequences;

determining, by the processor, for each of the representative pulse sequence segments, a maximum gradient slew rate for which a permitted maximum value of the stimulation potential is not exceeded;

determining and selecting, by the processor for a measurement protocol to be planned for a magnetic resonance imaging examination to be performed, one of the representative pulse sequence segments according to a gradient amplitude of the gradient pulse having the highest stimulation potential of a pulse sequence segment of a pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based;

adjusting, by the processor, the pulse sequence segment of the pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based in such a way that a maximum gradient slew rate associated with the selected representative pulse sequence segment is also not exceeded by the pulse sequence segment of the pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based; and

acquiring raw MR data of the object using the pulse sequence corresponding to the measurement protocol.

2. A preparation device comprising:

a representative-data generation unit configured to generate a plurality of representative pulse sequence segments, each of which is associated with a reference gradient amplitude of a gradient pulse having a highest stimulation potential of the representative pulse sequence segment, and a stimulation potential of which is representative of a group of partially different pulse sequences;

a rise determination unit configured to determine, for each of the representative pulse sequence segments, a maximum gradient slew rate for which a permitted maximum value of the stimulation potential is not exceeded;

a selection unit configured to determine and select, for a measurement protocol for a magnetic resonance imaging examination, one of the representative pulse sequence segments according to a gradient amplitude of the gradient pulse having the highest stimulation potential of a pulse sequence segment of a pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based;

an adaptation unit configured to adjust the pulse sequence segment of the pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based in such a way that a maximum gradient slew rate associated with the selected representative pulse sequence segment is also not exceeded by the pulse sequence segment of the pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based;

wherein raw MR data of the object is acquired using the pulse sequence corresponding to the measurement protocol.

3. A non-transitory computer implemented storage medium that stores machine-readable instructions executable by at least one processor for preparing magnetic resonance imaging of an object under examination, the machine-readable instructions comprising:

generating a plurality of representative pulse sequence segments, each of which is associated with a reference gradient amplitude of a gradient pulse having a highest stimulation potential of the representative pulse sequence segment, and a stimulation potential of which is representative of a group of partially different pulse sequences; determining, for each of the representative pulse sequence segments, a maximum gradient slew rate for which a permitted maximum value of the stimulation potential is not exceeded;

determining and selecting, for a measurement protocol to be planned for a magnetic resonance imaging examination to be performed, one of the representative pulse sequence segments according to a gradient amplitude of the gradient pulse having the highest stimulation potential of a pulse sequence segment of a pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based; and

adjusting the pulse sequence segment of the pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based in such a way that a maximum gradient slew rate associated with the selected representative pulse sequence segment is also not exceeded by the pulse sequence segment of the pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based;

wherein raw MR data of the object is acquired using the pulse sequence corresponding to the measurement protocol.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein for adjusting, a value range of allowed protocol parameter values that is defined for planning the measurement protocol is modified in such a way that the determined maximum gradient slew rate is not exceeded.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a parameter value range is displayed to a user according to the maximum gradient slew rate, from which range the user may select a parameter value for a protocol parameter to be adjusted for the measurement protocol to be planned.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of protocol parameters are adjusted, wherein a value of a second protocol parameter is adjusted according to a parameter value selected for a first parameter in such a way that the maximum gradient slew rate is observed.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the representative pulse sequence segments comprises one of the following gradient pulse series: a pair of gradient pulses of the same polarity; a pair of gradient pulses of different polarity; a series of gradient pulses of the same polarity; or a series of gradient pulses of alternating polarity.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pulse sequence on which the measurement protocol is based has a pulse sequence segment that is not higher in terms of the stimulation potential to the selected representative pulse sequence segment.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating of the plurality of representative pulse sequence segments takes place during a development of a computer program for magnetic resonance imaging for a magnetic resonance imaging system.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating of the plurality of representative pulse sequence segments is performed during startup of a magnetic resonance imaging system.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating of the plurality of representative pulse sequence segments for a specific pulse sequence of a measurement protocol to be planned is performed before a startup of a computer program for the magnetic resonance imaging using the specific pulse sequence.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining of a maximum gradient slew rate is performed in such a way that it is also not exceeded for a maximum gradient amplitude.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

reconstructing image data from the object under examination on the basis of the acquired raw MR data.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2024
From: FEIWEIER, THORSTEN; MÜLLER, MAX; KETTINGER, ADAM; ZELLER, MARIO; RUYTERS, GUDRUN
To: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
Reel/Frame 068357/0484 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2023 201 945.0 · Mar 3, 2023 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240295621A1 · Sep 5, 2024
References Cited (19)
US 6288547B1 · Heid · 2001 [cited by examiner]
US 11460526B1 · Foo · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20100308829A1 · Vu · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20150035531A1 · Stemmer · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20150097566A1 · Grodzki · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150219736A1 · Niederlhner · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150285885A1 · Feiweier et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20190324105A1 · Zeller · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20220221541A1 · Vom Endt · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220283254A1 · Gebhardt · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CN 104337516A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
CN 115267629A · 2022 [cited by applicant]
DE 102014202183A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
DE 102014206636A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018102352A · 2018 [cited by examiner]
Decision to Grant Patent for German Application No. 10 2023 201 945.0 mailed Feb. 23, 2024, with English Translation. [cited by applicant]
German Office Action for Application No. 10 2023 201 945.0 mailed Dec. 14, 2023, with English Translation. [cited by applicant]
Hebrank, Franz X., and Matthias Gebhardt. “Safe-model-a new method for predicting peripheral nerve stimulations in MRI.” Proc Intl Soc Mag Res Med. vol. 8. 2000. pp. 1-1. [cited by applicant]
International Standard—IEC IEC 60601-2-23 (Third edition—2011). Medical Electrical Equipment ISBN ISBN 978-2-88912-370-4. 2011. pp. 1-100. [cited by applicant]