Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and magnetic resonance imaging method
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus acquires first imaging data of a three-dimensional image including a heart, having a plurality of two-dimensional first imaging area data superimposed one on top of another in parallel, and having a resolution at least in one direction different from a resolution in two other directions. A first axis is detected expressed in three dimensions relating to the heart from the three-dimensional first imaging data. A first vector is calculated passing through the first axis and having at least a predetermined resolution. First image data is generated on a plane passing through the first axis and the first vector from the first imaging data and a second axis is detected relating to the heart from the first image data, the second axis being a higher precision axis.
1. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising:
(a) an MRI system configured to acquire MR images;
(b) at least one data processor configured to:
(i) receive from said MRI system first MR imaging data that includes data representing a three-dimensional image of a heart;
(ii) detect data representing a characteristic anatomic portion of the heart included in the first MR imaging data, wherein the at least one data processor is further configured to:
acquire the first imaging data so as to include a heart and a plurality of cross-sectional two dimensional images that are parallel to each other;
detect a first axis relating to the heart from the first imaging data;
generate a first generated image from the first imaging data, on a plane containing the first axis, and detect a second axis relating to the heart from the acquired first image data based on the first generated image when resolution of the first generated image is higher than a predetermined resolution;
(iii) determine a plane to be scanned by said MRI system, based on a position of the second axis relating to the heart; and
(iv) cause said MRI system to perform a further MRI scan and acquire second imaging data in the plane; and
(c) a display configured to display the second imaging data superimposed with the second axis detected from the first imaging data.
2. The MRI apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the characteristic anatomic portion of the heart is an axis of the heart and/or a point on the axis of the heart.
3. The MRI apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said axis of the heart is a long axis of the heart; and said point is a center of mitral valve or a cardiac apex.
4. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method comprising:
receiving first MR imaging data that includes data representing a three-dimensional image of a heart;
detecting data representing a characteristic anatomic portion of the heart included in the first MR imaging data;
acquiring the first imaging data so as to include the heart and a plurality of cross-sectional two-dimensional images that are parallel to each other,
detecting a first axis relating to the heart from the first imaging data,
generating a first generated image from the first imaging data, on a plane containing the first axis, and detecting a second axis relating to the heart from the acquired first imaging data based on the first generated image, when resolution of the first generated image is higher than a predetermined resolution;
determining a plane to be scanned by said MRI system to acquire further imaging data, based on a position of the second axis relating to the heart;
performing a further MRI scan with the MRI system acquiring second MR imaging data in the plane; and
displaying the second imaging data superimposed with the second axis detected from the first imaging data.
5. A non-transitory program stored in a computer-readable medium, said program, when executed by at least one computer coupled to a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system, causes said at least one computer to:
receive first MR imaging data that includes data representing a three-dimension image of a heart;
detect data representing a characteristic anatomic portion of the heart included in the first MR imaging data;
acquire the first imaging data so as to include the heart and a plurality of cross-sectional two-dimensional images that are parallel to each other;
detect a first axis relating to the heart from the first imaging data;
generate a first generated image from the first imaging data, on a plane containing the first axis and detect a second axis relating to the heart from the acquired first imaging data based on the first generated image, when resolution of the first generated image is higher than a predetermined resolution;
determine a plane to be scanned by said MRI system, based on a position of the second axis relating to the heart;
control said MRI system to perform a further MRI scan in the plane and acquire second imaging data in the plane; and
display the second imaging data superimposed with the second axis detected from the first imaging data.
6. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) apparatus comprising:
(a) an MRI system configured to acquire MR images;
(b) at least one data processor;
(c) a memory storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one data processor, cause the at least one data processor to:
(i) receive from said MRI system first MR imaging data that includes data representing a three-dimensional image of a heart;
(ii) detect data representing a characteristic anatomic portion of the heart included in the first MR imaging data, wherein the processor-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to
acquire the first imaging data so as to include the heart and a plurality of cross-sectional two-dimensional images that are parallel to each other;
detect a first axis relating to the heart from the first imaging data;
generate a first generated image from the first imaging data, on a plane containing the first axis and detect a second axis relating to the heart from the acquired first imaging data based on the first generated image, when resolution of the first generated image is higher than a predetermined resolution;
(iii) determine a plane to be scanned by said MRI system and acquire further imaging data, based on a position of the second axis relating to the heart;
(iv) cause said MRI system to perform a further MRI scan and acquire second imaging data in the plane; and
(c) a display configured to display the second imaging data superimposed with the second axis
detected from the first imaging data.