Magnetic resonance apparatus, and method and control device therefor

1. A method to operate a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus having an MR data acquisition unit comprising gradient coils, said method comprising:

in a control computer, generating control signals and supplying said control signals to said MR data acquisition unit in order to operate said MR data acquisition unit so as to execute an MR data acquisition procedure, said control signals including signals that cause switching of currents in said gradient coils that produces a level of audible noise during said data acquisition procedure;

upon detection of a predetermined event by said control computer during said data acquisition procedure, changing operation of said MR data acquisition unit from said control computer into a noise volume-reduced operating mode by altering at least one of said control signals generated in said control computer in a manner that reduces said level of audible noise, and supplying said at least one altered control signal from said control computer to said MR data acquisition unit; and

at said control unit, making a plurality of operating protocols available for selection of a user, to operate said data acquisition unit with a selected one of said protocols, each of said protocols causing control signals respectively associated therewith to be provided from said control unit to said data acquisition unit, and comprising altering said control signals by, in said control unit, automatically preventing selection or execution of at least one of said protocols upon detection of said at least one predetermined event.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising detecting said predetermined event by monitoring said level of audible noise of said data acquisition unit with a noise volume measurement device in said data acquisition unit, and providing a noise volume measurement signal, representing said level of audible noise of said data acquisition unit, from said noise volume measurement device to said control unit.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising storing said protocols in a memory accessible by said control unit.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 comprising storing said protocols in said memory with a designation associated with each protocol that designates the respective protocol with regard to acceptability for use in said noise volume-reduced operating mode.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising detecting a selection or start of an imaging sequence, or selection of an imaging protocol, as said at least one predetermined event.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit comprises a user interface, and comprising detecting said at least one predetermined event as operation of said interface by a user.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit is in communication with a display unit, and comprising displaying an indication, from said control unit, at said display unit indicating an activated state of said noise volume-reduced operating mode.

8. A control computer for operating a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus comprising an MR data acquisition unit comprising gradient coils, said control computer comprising:

an input interface and an output interface;

a processor in communication with said input interface and said output interface;

said processor being configured to generate control signals and to supply said control signals via said output interface to said MR data acquisition unit in order to operate said MR data acquisition unit so as to execute an MR data acquisition procedure, said control signals including signals that cause switching of currents in said gradient coils that produces a level of audible noise during said data acquisition procedure;

upon detection of a predetermined event via said input interface during said data acquisition procedure, said processor being configured to change operation of said MR data acquisition unit from said control computer into a noise volume-reduced operating mode by altering at least one of said control signals generated in said processor in a manner that reduces said level of audible noise, and to supply said at least one altered control signal from said processor via said output interface to said MR data acquisition unit; and

said processor being configured to make a plurality of operating protocols available for selection of a user, to operate said data acquisition unit with a selected one of said protocols, each of said protocols causing control signals respectively associated therewith to be provided from said control unit to said data acquisition unit, and said processor being configured to alter said control signals automatically preventing selection or execution of at least one of said protocols upon detection of said at least one predetermined event.

9. A method to operate a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus having an MR data acquisition unit comprising gradient coils, said method comprising:

in a control computer, generating control signals and supplying said control signals to said MR data acquisition unit in order to operate said MR data acquisition unit so as to execute an MR data acquisition procedure, said control signals including signals that cause switching of currents in said gradient coils that produces a level of audible noise during said data acquisition procedure; and

upon detection of a predetermined event by said control computer during said data acquisition procedure, changing operation of said MR data acquisition unit from said control computer into a noise volume-reduced operating mode by altering at least one of said control signals generated in said control computer in order to limit a slew rate when switching said currents in said gradient coils so as to reduce said level of audible noise, and supplying said at least one altered control signal from said control computer to said MR data acquisition unit.

10. A method to operate a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus having an MR data acquisition unit comprising gradient coils, and a control unit comprising a user interface, said method comprising:

in said control computer, generating control signals and supplying said control signals to said MR data acquisition unit in order to operate said MR data acquisition unit so as to execute an MR data acquisition procedure, said control signals including signals that cause switching of currents in said gradient coils that produces a level of audible noise during said data acquisition procedure;

upon detection of a predetermined event by said control computer during said data acquisition procedure, changing operation of said MR data acquisition unit from said control computer into a noise volume-reduced operating mode by altering at least one of said control signals generated in said control computer in a manner that reduces said level of audible noise, and supplying said at least one altered control signal from said control computer to said MR data acquisition unit; and

via said user interface, receiving an entry made by a user of patient-specific operating parameters for operating said MR data acquisition unit, and detecting, as said at least one predetermined event, entry of a predetermined patient-specific parameter via said interface.

11. A control computer for operating a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus comprising an MR data acquisition unit comprising gradient coils, said control computer comprising:

an input interface and an output interface;

a processor in communication with said input interface and said output interface;

said processor being configured to generate control signals and to supply said control signals via said output interface to said MR data acquisition unit in order to operate said MR data acquisition unit so as to execute an MR data acquisition procedure, said control signals including signals that cause switching of currents in said gradient coils that produces a level of audible noise during said data acquisition procedure; and

upon detection of a predetermined event via said input interface during said data acquisition procedure, said processor being configured to change operation of said MR data acquisition unit from said control computer into a noise volume-reduced operating mode by altering at least one of said control signals generated in said processor in order to limit a slew rate when switching said currents in said gradient coils so as to reduce said level of audible noise, and to supply said at least one altered control signal from said processor via said output interface to said MR data acquisition unit.

12. A control computer for operating a magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus comprising an MR data acquisition unit comprising gradient coils, said control computer comprising:

an input interface and an output interface;

a processor in communication with said input interface and said output interface;

said processor being configured to generate control signals and to supply said control signals via said output interface to said MR data acquisition unit in order to operate said MR data acquisition unit so as to execute an MR data acquisition procedure, said control signals including signals that cause switching of currents in said gradient coils that produces a level of audible noise during said data acquisition procedure;

upon detection of a predetermined event via said input interface during said data acquisition procedure, said processor being configured to change operation of said MR data acquisition unit from said control computer into a noise volume-reduced operating mode by altering at least one of said control signals generated in said processor in a manner that reduces said level of audible noise, and to supply said at least one altered control signal from said processor via said output interface to said MR data acquisition unit; and

said processor being configured to receive entry by a user, via said input interface, of patient-specific operating parameters for operating said MR data acquisition unit, and wherein said processor is configured to detect, as said at least one predetermined event, entry of a predetermined patient-specific parameter via said input interface.