Reducing artefacts in MRI k-space data with simultaneous radiation beam incident on MRI collector coils

1. A computer-implemented method in order to reduce artefacts in an MRI image, the artefacts introduced as a result of radiation induced current when a radiation treatment beam of a radiation source is applied and incident on collector coils of an MRI apparatus, the method comprising:

simultaneously operating an MRI apparatus in order to obtain MRI image information of a patient and a radiation source in order to direct a radiation beam onto a patient;

selecting a plurality of pixels in k-space data obtained by the MRI apparatus during the step of simultaneously operating the MRI apparatus and the radiation source, wherein the step of selecting is performed prior to generation of an MRI image;

analyzing with a computer processor a pixel intensity of each of the plurality of selected pixels in order to determine whether a pixel intensity of each of the plurality of selected pixels is greater than a predefined global threshold;

wherein for each pixel having pixel intensity greater than the predefined global threshold, determining whether the pixel lies within a signal region of the k-space data or outside of the signal region of the k-space data;

wherein for each pixel that lies outside of the signal region of the k-space data, automatically modifying the pixel intensity with a computer processor in order to be similar to a background pixel intensity, thereby modifying the k-space data; and

after modifying the k-space data, then generating an MRI image based on the modified k-space data;

whereby the artefacts created by application of the radiation treatment beam that are incident on the collector coils are reduced in the generated MRI image.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the background pixel intensity is determined by averaging the intensities of a plurality of background pixels in the k-space data.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the plurality of background pixels are each selected from corners of the k-space data.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the global threshold arises from the background pixel intensity plus a predefined deviation therefrom.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether the selected pixel lies within the signal region of the k-space data or outside of the signal region of the k-space data comprises:

determining a local threshold based on a predefined matrix occurring around or nearby the selected pixel with the computer processor;

comparing the intensity of the selected pixel with the determined local threshold; and

providing a result that the selected pixel is outside of the signal region of the k-space data when the intensity of the selected pixel is greater than the determined local threshold.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the local threshold arises from an average pixel intensity of the predefined matrix plus a predefined deviation therefrom.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the selected pixel lies within the signal region of the k-space data or outside of the signal region of the k-space data comprises:

defining with the computer processor a central region of the k-space data as the signal region;

comparing a location of the selected pixel with the central region of the k-space data; and

determining that the selected pixel is outside of the signal region of the k-space data when the location of the selected pixel is physically outside of the central region.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the central region of the k-space data is defined by a user selecting an array of pixels in the k-space data a graphical user interface.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the background pixel intensity is determined as an average of the intensities of a plurality of pixels neighboring the selected pixel in the k-space data.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed by a computing device reduces artefacts in an MRI image, where the artefacts were introduced as a result of radiation induced current when a radiation treatment beam generated by a radiation source is incident on collector coils of an MRI apparatus during simultaneous operation of the MRI apparatus and the radiation source, the instructions when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

select a plurality of pixels in a k-space data obtained by an MRI apparatus during simultaneous operation of the MRI apparatus and a radiation source prior to generation of the MRI image;

analyse each of the plurality of selected pixels in order to determine whether a pixel intensity is greater than a predefined global threshold;

for each pixel having pixel intensity greater than the predefined global threshold, determine whether the pixel lies within a signal region of the k-space data or outside of the signal region of the k-space data;

for each pixel that lies outside of the signal region, modify the pixel intensity to be similar to a background pixel intensity, thereby modifying the k-space data; and

after modifying the k-space data, generate an MRI image based on the modified k-space data;

wherein the artefacts created by application of a radiation treatment beam from the radiation source are reduced in the generated MRI image.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein the background pixel intensity is determined by averaging the intensities of a plurality of background pixels in the k-space data.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 wherein the plurality of background pixels are each selected from corners of the k-space data.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11 the global threshold arises from the background pixel intensity plus a predefined deviation therefrom.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instruction of determining whether the selected pixel lies within the signal region of the k-space data or outside of the signal region of the k-space data comprises instructions that:

determine a local threshold based on a predefined matrix occurring around or nearby the selected pixel with the computer processor;

compare the intensity of the selected pixel with the determined local threshold; and

determine that the selected pixel is outside of the signal region of the k-space data when the intensity of the selected pixel is greater than the determined local threshold.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the local threshold arises from an average pixel intensity of the predefined matrix plus a predefined deviation therefrom.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions that determine whether the selected pixel lies within the signal region of the k-space data or outside of the signal region of the k-space data comprises instructions to:

define with the computer processor a central region of the k-space data as the signal region;

compare a location of the selected pixel with the central region of the k-space data; and

determine that the selected pixel is outside of the signal region of the k-space data when the location of the selected pixel is physically outside of the central region.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the central region of the k-space data is defined by a user selecting an array of pixels in the k-space data a graphical user interface.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 wherein the background pixel intensity is determined as an average of the intensities of a plurality of pixels neighboring the selected pixel in the k-space data.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the modified k-space data is created separate from the k-space data.

20. A radiation therapy system comprising:

a radiation source that generates a radiation treatment beam;

a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus that acquires image data using collector coils; and

a computing device configured to process the acquired image data to reduce artefacts in an MRI image caused when the radiation treatment beam is incident on the collector coils of the MRI apparatus; the computing device comprising a processor and memory that stores instructions which, when executed, cause the processor to:

select a plurality of pixels in a k-space data obtained by the MRI apparatus during simultaneous operation of the MRI apparatus and the radiation source prior to generation of the MRI image;

analyze with the processor each of the plurality of selected pixels in order to determine whether a pixel intensity is greater than a predefined global threshold;

wherein for each pixel having pixel intensity greater than the predefined global threshold, determine whether the pixel lies within a signal region of the k-space data or outside of the signal region of the k-space data;

wherein for each pixel that lies outside of the signal region, modifying the pixel intensity of each pixel to be similar to a background pixel intensity, thereby modifying the k-space data; and

after modifying the k-space data, generate an MRI image based on the modified k-space data;

wherein the artefacts created by application of the radiation treatment beam are reduced in the generated MRI image.