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Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method

a magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance technology, applied in the field of magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, can solve the problems of image quality degradation, data cannot be acquired, image quality degradation, etc., and achieve the effect of reducing image quality

Active Publication Date: 2013-01-31
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention allows for adjusting the timing of data acquisition based on a biosignal, resulting in improved image quality. This helps to reduce the impact of degradation on the overall quality of the image.

Problems solved by technology

However, if the respiration of a subject becomes irregular during scanning, data cannot be acquired during a period for which the body motion is small and the image quality may be degraded.
However, if the heart rate becomes irregular because of such a cause as arrhythmia during scanning, data cannot be acquired during a desired period of cardiac phase and the image quality may be similarly degraded.

Method used

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  • Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method
  • Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method
  • Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method

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Experimental program
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first embodiment

[0022]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus in the first embodiment.

[0023]The magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) apparatus 100 includes a magnetic field generator 2, a table 3, a bellows 4, a receiving coil 5, and the like.

[0024]The magnetic field generator 2 includes a bore 21 in which a subject 14 is placed, a superconducting coil 22, a gradient coil 23, and a transmitting coil 24. The superconducting coil 22 applies a static magnetic field B0, the gradient coil 23 applies a gradient pulse, and the transmitting coil 24 transmits an RF pulse.

[0025]The table 3 has a cradle 31 for carrying the subject 14. The subject 14 is carried into the bore 21 by the cradle 81.

[0026]The bellows 4 acquires respiration signals from the subject 14.

[0027]The receiving coil 5 is installed over the chest and abdomen of the subject 14 and receives magnetic resonance signals from the subject 14.

[0028]The MRI apparatus 100 further includes a sequencer 6, a transmitter 7, ...

second embodiment

[0064]In the description of the second embodiment, a case where the heart rate gating method is used to acquire an image of a subject will be taken as an example.

[0065]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an MRI apparatus 200 in the second embodiment.

[0066]The MRI apparatus 200 in the second embodiment is different from the MRI apparatus 100 in the first embodiment in that a heart rate sensor 41 for acquiring heart rate signals from the subject 14 is provided in place of the bellows 4. The heart rate sensor 41 is, for example, a sphygmograph sensor. The second embodiment is also different in that trigger generation unit 9 generates a heart rate synchronization trigger based on a heart rate signal from the heart rate sensor 41.

[0067]The other configuration elements are the same as those of the MRI apparatus 100 in the first embodiment and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0068]The MRI apparatus 200 in the second embodiment is configured as mentioned above. Description will be given to ...

third embodiment

[0080]In the description of the third embodiment, a case where both the respiratory gating method and the heart rate gating method are used to acquire an image of a subject will be taken as an example.

[0081]FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an MRI apparatus 300 in the third embodiment.

[0082]The MRI apparatus 300 in the third embodiment is different from the MRI apparatus 100 in the first embodiment in that a heart rate sensor 41 for acquiring heart rate signals from the subject 14 is provided in addition to the bellows 4. The heart rate sensor 41 is, for example, a sphygmograph sensor. The third embodiment is also different in that trigger generation unit 9 generates a respiration synchronization trigger based on a respiration signal from the bellows 4 and generates a heart rate synchronization trigger based on a heart rate signal from the heart rate sensor 41.

[0083]The other configuration elements are the same as those of the MRI apparatus 100 in the first embodiment and the description ...

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Abstract

A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus configured to carry out a pulse sequence in synchronization with a biosignal is provided. The pulse sequence includes an RF pulse, and a data acquisition sequence for acquiring data when a wait time has passed after the RF pulse, wherein the wait time has a variable value that can be varied based on the biosignal.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-292725 filed Dec. 28, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that carries out a pulse sequence in synchronization with a biosignal.[0003]As methods for acquiring an image of a blood flow in the abdomen of a subject, respiratory gating method and heart rate gating method are known. In the respiratory gating method, a pulse sequence is carried out in synchronization with respiration signals. In the heart rate gating method, a pulse sequence is carried out in synchronization with heart rate signals. (See, e.g., Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-148806 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2010-220859.)[0004]In the respiratory gating method, the respiration of a subject is detected and the timi...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G01R33/54G01R33/34A61B5/352
CPCA61B5/0456A61B5/055A61B5/1135G01R33/5673G01R33/5602G01R33/5607G01R33/5635A61B5/7285A61B5/352
Inventor TAKEI, NAOYUKI
Owner GENERAL ELECTRIC CO