Data acquisition system, data acquisition unit and convergence unit

Abstract

The embodiment of the specification provides a data acquisition system, data acquisition units and a convergence unit, the system comprising: a plurality of data acquisition units, each data acquisition unit comprising a plurality of channels, each channel comprising an interface for connection with a radio frequency coil of a target device; at least one convergence unit, each convergence unit being connected with one or more data acquisition units and sending data received from the data acquisition units to the processor; the at least one optical fiber communication link is connected with the data acquisition unit and the convergence unit for communication; and the processor is configured to process the data, generate a control instruction and send the control instruction to the data acquisition unit.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present specification relates to the field of data acquisition, and in particular, to a data acquisition system, a data acquisition unit and a convergence unit. BACKGROUND

[0002] Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer is a key equipment for obtaining information of biological tissue structure and chemical composition in clinical diagnosis. With the development of medical research, the demand for synchronous analysis of multiple biomarkers is increasing, and increasing the number of data acquisition channels has become an important technical direction to improve detection efficiency.

[0003] Currently, the mainstream nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer in clinical use adopts a hardware architecture with a fixed number of channels. This design has certain technical limitations. For example, a single device cannot adapt to the channel number requirements of different scenarios such as local scanning and whole body monitoring, the upgrade complexity is high, and the device service period and technical iteration are not matched, etc.

[0004] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a data acquisition system, a data acquisition unit and a convergence unit to realize flexible expansion of the hardware of a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. SUMMARY

[0005] One or more embodiments of the present specification provide a data acquisition system, comprising: a plurality of data acquisition units, each of the data acquisition units comprising a plurality of channel interfaces; at least one convergence unit, the convergence unit being communicatively connected with the data acquisition units via an optical fiber communication link; the optical fiber communication link being configured to transmit data between the data acquisition units and the convergence unit, and to realize synchronous acquisition of the plurality of data acquisition units.

[0006] One or more embodiments of the present specification provide a modular data acquisition unit, comprising: a first interface configured to connect a radio frequency coil of a target device; a second interface configured to detachably connect with one end of an optical fiber communication link; the other end of the optical fiber communication link being connected with a convergence unit.

[0007] One or more embodiments of the present specification provide a modular convergence unit, comprising: at least one third interface, each of the third interfaces being used to connect with one end of an optical fiber communication link, the other end of the optical fiber communication link being connected with a data acquisition unit; a communication interface configured to connect with a processing device of a data acquisition system; the communication interface being an optical fiber communication interface or a PCIE interface.

[0008] This specification provides one or more embodiments of a magnetic resonance imaging device, the device including at least one radio frequency coil; each radio frequency coil is connected to one end of a data acquisition unit; wherein the other end of the data acquisition unit is connected to a convergence unit via an optical fiber communication link; the optical fiber communication link is configured to transmit data between the data acquisition unit and the convergence unit, and to realize synchronous acquisition by the plurality of data acquisition units. Attached Figure Description

[0009] This specification will be further described by way of exemplary embodiments, which will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are not limiting; in these embodiments, the same reference numerals denote the same structures, wherein: Figure 1 These are exemplary block diagrams of a data acquisition system according to some embodiments of this specification; Figure 2 This is another exemplary block diagram of a data acquisition system shown in some embodiments of this specification; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a data acquisition unit according to some embodiments of this specification; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a convergence unit according to some embodiments of this specification; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the data transmission process of a data acquisition system according to some embodiments of this specification. Detailed Implementation

[0010] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments in this specification, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some examples or embodiments of this specification. For those skilled in the art, these drawings can be applied to other similar scenarios without creative effort. Unless obvious from the context or otherwise specified, the same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same structures or operations.

[0011] It should be understood that the terms “system,” “device,” “unit,” and / or “module” used herein are one way to distinguish different components, elements, parts, sections, or assemblies at different levels. However, if other terms can achieve the same purpose, they may be replaced by other expressions.

[0012] As indicated in this specification, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the words "a," "an," "an," and / or "the" do not specifically refer to the singular and may also include the plural. Generally speaking, the terms "comprising" and "including" only indicate the inclusion of explicitly identified steps and components, which do not constitute an exclusive list, and the method or apparatus may also include other steps or components.

[0013] Current nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometers typically employ a fixed number of channels, which makes it difficult to meet the growing clinical demand for simultaneous detection of multiple sites and multiple biomarkers. The fixed-channel design has certain technical limitations. For example, a single device cannot adapt to the channel requirements of different scenarios such as local scanning and whole-body monitoring; upgrades are complex; and the service life of the equipment does not match technological iterations.

[0014] To address the above issues, some embodiments of this specification provide a data acquisition system. This system includes a scalable number of data acquisition units and aggregation units, enabling flexible hardware expansion. In the clinical MRI field, data acquisition units and / or aggregation units can be flexibly added or removed based on actual needs, allowing a single device to adapt to the simultaneous analysis requirements of multiple sites, multiple parameters, and multiple cores (e.g., ¹H, ³¹P), improving the comprehensiveness of diagnostic information and equipment utilization efficiency, while reducing hospital procurement costs and the difficulty of long-term maintenance and upgrades.

[0015] This data acquisition system can also be applied to other fields that rely on multi-channel spectrometers for efficient data acquisition, aggregation, and processing. For example, in the petroleum industry, it can be used for simultaneous multi-depth, multi-parameter analysis of core samples to assess reservoir characteristics; in environmental science, it supports simultaneous monitoring of the dynamic changes of multiple pollutant components in soil or water; and in solid materials research (such as battery materials and polymers), it enables parallel characterization of multiple nuclides and multi-dimensional structures.

[0016] This manual primarily uses a clinical MRI scenario as an example to describe the above data acquisition system. The technical solutions disclosed in this manual are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] Figure 1 This is an exemplary block diagram of a data acquisition system according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0018] like Figure 1 As shown, in some embodiments, the data acquisition system 100 may include a plurality of data acquisition units 110, at least one aggregation unit 120, at least one optical fiber communication link 130, and a processor 141.

[0019] The data acquisition unit 110 is a hardware module that can be independently plugged into and connected to the target device. It is responsible for receiving and processing the raw signals generated by the radio frequency coil of the target device. The target device can include equipment from multiple fields, such as magnetic resonance imaging equipment and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers in the fields of medical imaging and biological detection, and eddy current detectors and metal detectors in the field of industrial inspection.

[0020] In some embodiments, the data acquisition system 100 may include multiple data acquisition units. In some embodiments, the number of data acquisition units may be increased or decreased according to the design requirements of the data acquisition system and / or the actual needs of data acquisition, in order to match radio frequency coils with different channel numbers or meet different inspection requirements.

[0021] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of data acquisition units includes a plurality of channels, each channel including a communication interface for connection to a radio frequency coil of a target device.

[0022] A channel is an independent input path for a data acquisition unit. Each channel connects to a port of the RF coil and is responsible for receiving and processing a single signal. The number of channels determines the number of coil signals that can be acquired simultaneously. For example, a 48-channel acquisition unit has 48 identical circuit regions, each processing one signal.

[0023] The fact that the data acquisition unit includes multiple channels means that the data acquisition unit can connect to multiple fiber optic communication links and can also process multiple independent signal input paths simultaneously.

[0024] In nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) systems, a radio frequency (RF) coil is a device used to emit radio frequency pulses to excite atomic nuclei in a sample and / or receive the weak radio frequency signals generated when these nuclei relax. An RF coil can include a transmitting coil for transmitting RF pulse signals and a receiving coil for receiving signals. For example, an RF coil can emit RF pulses toward a target object to excite specific atomic nuclei contained within the target object and / or receive the electromagnetic signals generated by these nuclei.

[0025] The free induction decay signal acquired by the coil signal through the radio frequency coil is a time-domain oscillation decay signal, which characterizes the nuclear spin relaxation process in magnetic resonance.

[0026] The channel interface refers to the physical port and supporting circuitry on the channel that connects to the RF coil, enabling signal transmission, coil identification, and power supply functions.

[0027] In some embodiments, the data acquisition unit 110 can process the acquired coil signal. For example, it can filter and / or amplify the coil signal and convert it into a digital signal, or perform edge preprocessing (digital signal preprocessing) on ​​the digital signal.

[0028] In some embodiments, the data acquisition unit can simultaneously process independent signal inputs from multiple channels.

[0029] In some embodiments, the data acquisition unit 110 is a modular dataset acquisition unit. Modularity means that it adopts a modular design and can be independently plugged in and replaced.

[0030] Modular data acquisition units are independently installable and detachable hardware modules. These units connect to RF coils and / or aggregation units via standardized interfaces. Each unit contains a complete signal acquisition chain (from RF input processing to digital signal output), supporting on-demand expansion or replacement. For example, when the number of RF coils is large (e.g., exceeding the number of configured data acquisition units—typically, one data acquisition unit connects to only one RF coil), the number of modular data acquisition units can be increased. Similarly, if a configured data acquisition unit malfunctions (e.g., signal loss), the malfunctioning unit can be removed from its connected RF coil and replaced with a new one.

[0031] In some embodiments, each data acquisition unit is connected to a radio frequency coil of the target device. The target device may include at least one radio frequency coil. The target device may be a magnetic resonance imaging device, such as a magnetic resonance imaging spectrometer.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, the connection between the RF coil and the data acquisition unit can be one-to-one, meaning one RF coil is connected to one data acquisition unit. Alternatively, the connection can be many-to-one, meaning multiple RF coils are connected to one data acquisition unit.

[0033] In some embodiments, the number of data acquisition units that the RF coil can connect to can be related to its number of channels and the number of cable connectors. Taking an 8-channel RF coil as an example, if the RF coil is a centralized design, that is, 8 channels are integrated in a single cable, then the RF coil can connect to one data acquisition unit; if the RF coil is a distributed design, such as having a dual-cable parallel interface, with each cable carrying 4 channels of signal, then the RF coil can connect to one or two data acquisition units, such as two cables connecting to the same data acquisition unit, or two cables connecting to different data acquisition units respectively.

[0034] In some embodiments, each cable of the RF coil includes at least one channel. The more channels a cable contains, the greater the number of cables that can be configured, and the greater the number of data acquisition units that can be connected. Therefore, the maximum number of data acquisition units that an RF coil can connect to is positively correlated with the number of its channels.

[0035] In some embodiments, the processor of the processing device can read the identification information stored inside the radio frequency coil through the data acquisition unit; and, based on the identification information, perform digital authentication through the processor to determine the usage rights of the radio frequency coil.

[0036] In some embodiments, the data acquisition unit can send the identification information of the read radio frequency coil to the processing device. The processing device can parse the identification information based on preset rules, automatically and intelligently determine the characteristics and number of available channels of the radio frequency coil, and determine whether the radio frequency coil is authorized for use on the current data acquisition system. In response to the radio frequency coil being authorized for use on the current data acquisition system, the processing device automatically configures and manages the radio frequency coil according to the determined characteristics and number of channels. The processing device is the reconstruction host / upper computer of the magnetic resonance system. The processing device includes at least one processor and a communication interface, and the aggregation unit is connected to the processing device through the communication interface. In some embodiments, the communication interface is a fiber optic communication interface or a PCIe interface.

[0037] Identification information refers to digital parameters stored in the chip inside the radio frequency coil. In some embodiments, the identification information includes at least one of the following: coil type, part number, serial number, coil internal structure, interface definition information, and authentication identification code information.

[0038] In some embodiments, preset rules may include one or more of the following: checking the physical integrity and protocol compliance of identification information, verifying whether the coil is registered in the license library, and converting the coil's internal structure data into a system executable configuration.

[0039] Coil type can include clinical application classification (e.g., spine, chest, etc.), whether it's a transmitting or receiving coil, etc. The part number is a unique hardware code for the RF coil. The serial number can be a traceability code for a single RF coil product. The coil's internal structure includes the internal channel layout topology (e.g., an 8×4 ring array). The interface definition includes a mapping table of the interface's electrical pin functions. The authentication identifier can be an encrypted digital signature.

[0040] In some embodiments, the identification information of the RF coil can be written into the EEPROM chip inside the RF coil during the RF coil manufacturing process.

[0041] When the coil is connected to the data acquisition unit, the identification mechanism can be automatically triggered to read the pre-stored identification information from the EEPROM chip inside the coil and perform authorization verification. For example, when the RF coil is connected to the data acquisition unit, the detection circuit at the data acquisition unit interface can be triggered. At this time, the identification mechanism of the data acquisition unit starts to run, and the identification information in the EEPROM chip inside the RF coil is read through the interface.

[0042] In some embodiments of this specification, reading the identification information stored inside the RF coil simplifies the system configuration process, reduces manual intervention and potential errors, and lays the foundation for subsequent intelligent control and optimization. Users can use the system without needing to understand the detailed channel distribution of the coil. Simultaneously, the processing device parses the identification information, accurately identifying the detailed characteristics of the coil and confirming its usage rights. This improves the security of the data acquisition system, prevents unauthorized or incompatible coil use, ensures data acquisition quality and equipment security, and provides the possibility for more flexible definition and management of coil information during the production phase.

[0043] In some embodiments, the data acquisition unit can transmit data with the radio frequency coil and / or the aggregation unit 120 based on the above connection relationship. For more detailed descriptions, please refer to this specification. Figure 5 The relevant description in the document.

[0044] For more detailed information about the structure of the data acquisition unit 110, please refer to this manual. Figure 2 The relevant description in the document.

[0045] In some embodiments, the data acquisition system includes at least one aggregation unit 120, which is communicatively connected to the data acquisition units via an optical fiber communication link. Each aggregation unit connects to one or more of the data acquisition units and transmits data received from the data acquisition units to a processor.

[0046] The aggregation unit is used to communicate with multiple data acquisition units and synchronously control their data acquisition. For example, the aggregation unit can aggregate data uploaded by various data acquisition units and interact with processing devices (such as sequence control and reconstruction hosts).

[0047] In some embodiments, the aggregation unit 120 can process and / or transmit data from one or more data acquisition units. For example, it can aggregate data from multiple data acquisition units and then transmit the aggregated data to a processing device.

[0048] In some embodiments, the aggregation unit 120 may be a modular aggregation unit. For a detailed explanation of modularity, please refer to the above description related to the modularity of the data acquisition unit. The difference lies in the different functional components within the modules and the different functions they implement, but the modularization method can be the same.

[0049] In some embodiments, the aggregation unit 120 may include functional components such as a main control FPGA board, fiber optic interface, clock synchronization circuit, cascade expansion interface, host interaction interface, and power management module.

[0050] In some embodiments, the number of data acquisition units connected to each aggregation unit does not exceed a preset value. The preset value can be determined empirically, for example, 6, 8, 10, etc. For example, an aggregation unit can be designed to support a maximum of 8 acquisition units, so the preset value is 8. When the number of data acquisition units that need to be connected in the data acquisition system is greater than 8, the number of aggregation units can be increased to ensure that the number of data acquisition units connected to each aggregation unit does not exceed the preset value.

[0051] In some embodiments, a convergence unit may be connected to only one data acquisition unit.

[0052] In this embodiment, the number of data acquisition units and aggregation units can be increased or decreased according to actual usage needs. By configuring the number of data acquisition units and aggregation units, the number of channels connected to the radio frequency coil of the target device can be configured, which greatly improves the flexibility of the target device during use.

[0053] In some embodiments, the aggregation unit 120 may also be connected to the processing device 140. By establishing a connection between the aggregation unit and the processing device, the aggregation unit can send the data aggregated from the data acquisition unit to the processing device for processing by the processor of the processing device.

[0054] For more detailed information about the convergence unit, please refer to this manual. Figure 5 The relevant description in the document.

[0055] In some embodiments, the data acquisition system 100 includes at least one optical fiber communication link 130. The optical fiber communication link 130 is used to connect the data acquisition unit and the aggregation unit for communication.

[0056] Fiber optic communication links are high-speed data transmission channels connecting data acquisition units and aggregation units. They use optical signals instead of electrical signals for communication and have the characteristics of resistance to electromagnetic interference and high bandwidth.

[0057] In some embodiments, an optical fiber communication link can be used to enable synchronous data acquisition by the plurality of data acquisition units. For example, the optical fiber communication link can be configured to enable synchronous data acquisition by the plurality of data acquisition units by transmitting a clock synchronization signal.

[0058] A clock synchronization signal is a time reference signal used to coordinate the operation of multiple data acquisition units. In some embodiments, the clock synchronization signal includes a timestamp. Each data acquisition unit can recover its own clock based on the timestamp in the clock synchronization signal to ensure time synchronization with other data acquisition units, thereby achieving synchronous acquisition by multiple data acquisition units. For example, a data acquisition unit may include a digital signal processing module, which can parse the clock synchronization signal to obtain the timestamp, and then recover the sub-clock signal based on the timestamp before synchronous sampling. Further details about the digital signal processing module can be found below. Figure 3 And its related descriptions.

[0059] Sending a synchronous clock signal via fiber optic link ensures the synchronization and consistency of data acquisition by each acquisition unit, providing an orderly and complete data stream for the reconstruction host.

[0060] In some embodiments, each optical fiber communication link connects a data acquisition unit and a aggregation unit. For example, Figure 1 As shown, one aggregation unit can connect to one or more data acquisition units, but one data acquisition unit is only connected to one aggregation unit. Each data acquisition unit 110 communicates with the aggregation unit 120 through an independent pipeline communication link, enabling long-distance, low-interference data transmission. The communication protocol used for transmission can be a high-speed serial transmission protocol based on a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or other custom high-speed protocols can be used; this embodiment does not limit this.

[0061] In some embodiments, the data acquisition system 100 may further include a processing device 140. The processing device 140 may be a computing device within the data acquisition system, such as a reconstruction host or a host computer. For example, the processing device may be a reconstruction host in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system. The processor 141 is a central processing unit running on the processing device, capable of executing signal reconstruction algorithms, generating device control commands, and managing system resources.

[0062] In some embodiments, the processor 141 is configured to process data from the data acquisition unit 110 and generate control instructions to send to the data acquisition unit. These control instructions may include, but are not limited to, at least one of data acquisition instructions, clock synchronization instructions, and link control instructions. Data acquisition instructions can control the data acquisition unit to acquire coil signals received by the radio frequency coil. Clock synchronization instructions can synchronize the time information of multiple data acquisition units and at least one aggregation unit. Link control instructions can control the optical switch matrix to change the path of the optical fiber communication link. For example, the control instructions may include operation instructions for adjusting the configured number of data acquisition units and / or aggregation units. For instance, operation instructions can control the interfaces of data acquisition units and / or aggregation units to disconnect or establish connections, thereby adjusting the configured number. As another example, the control instructions may include a clock signal for clock synchronization of multiple data acquisition units. Clock synchronization can control multiple data acquisition units to acquire data synchronously. For more detailed descriptions, please refer to this specification. Figure 2 , Figure 5 The relevant description in the document.

[0063] In some embodiments, the processor 141 can also be responsible for regulating pulse sequence generation and transmission, image reconstruction, user interaction, and data management; by acquiring the number of channels and information of the coils, it feeds them back to the system coil parameters; during sequence operation, it determines the switching on and off of the sequence operation and the acquisition timing based on the information provided by the coil parameters; and expands the database for imaging reconstruction based on the number of identified channels to improve data utilization and achieve a higher signal-to-noise ratio.

[0064] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may further include a communication interface 142.

[0065] In some embodiments, the aggregation unit 120 can be connected to the processing device 140 via the communication interface 142 to enable data transmission.

[0066] In some embodiments, the communication interface 142 may be a fiber optic communication interface or a PCIe interface.

[0067] The fiber optic communication interface is a high-speed serial interface that uses optical signal transmission. It transmits data through glass fiber and has anti-electromagnetic interference characteristics. The aggregation unit 130 and the processing device 140 can be connected via optical fiber to achieve long-distance, interference-free data transmission.

[0068] PCIe is a computer expansion bus standard that enables high-speed transmission over short distances and uses differential signal transmission.

[0069] The aggregation unit is connected to the processing device via a fiber optic communication interface or a PCIe interface, enabling high-speed serial transmission and dynamic power consumption management. This facilitates the expansion of the number of aggregation units connected to the processing device 140, thereby increasing the bandwidth of data transmission.

[0070] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may include one or more communication interfaces. For example, each communication interface may be connected to a convergence unit.

[0071] In some embodiments of this specification, a data acquisition system framework is constructed through modular data acquisition and aggregation units, combined with fiber optic communication links and unified processor control. This framework offers flexible channel expansion, efficient and reliable data transmission, and easy management. Users can easily configure and upgrade the system according to their actual needs, adapting to different inspection requirements and technological advancements.

[0072] Figure 2 This is another exemplary block diagram of a data acquisition system shown in some embodiments of this specification.

[0073] In some embodiments, the data acquisition system 100 may further include an optical switch matrix 150.

[0074] An optical switch matrix is ​​a functional component or device that dynamically switches multiple input optical signals to different fiber optic output ports.

[0075] In some embodiments, the optical switch matrix 150 can be disposed on the optical fiber communication link 130 between the data acquisition unit 110 and the aggregation unit 120. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the optical fiber communication link connected to the data acquisition unit 110 and the optical fiber communication link connected to the aggregation unit are all connected to the optical switch matrix 150.

[0076] In some embodiments, the optical switch matrix 150 may include a plurality of input ports 151 and a plurality of output ports 152. The input ports 151 are connected to the data acquisition unit 110 via optical fiber communication links, and the output ports 152 are connected to the aggregation unit 120 via optical fiber communication links.

[0077] In some embodiments, the optical switch matrix 150 can adjust the optical fiber connection paths in the optical switch matrix according to the link control command issued by the processing device 140.

[0078] An optical fiber connection path refers to the transmission path of an optical signal from one input port to one output port of an optical switch matrix 150. For example, the optical signal is input from input port X and output from output port Y. The optical signal carries data from a data acquisition unit 1. Input port X is connected to data acquisition unit 1, and output port Y is connected to aggregation unit 1. This path from input port X to output port Y can also represent the connectivity between data acquisition unit 1 and aggregation unit 1.

[0079] Link adjustment commands are instructions to adjust the fiber optic connection paths in an optical switch matrix. For example, switching the optical signal at input port X of the optical switch matrix from output port Y to output port Z, with output port Z connected to aggregation unit 2.

[0080] In some embodiments, the processor 141 can determine whether the amount of data sent by a data acquisition unit connected to an aggregation unit exceeds the load threshold of that aggregation unit. In response to exceeding the load threshold, the processor 141 can generate a link control command to control the data acquisition unit to connect to other aggregation units with lower loads. The load threshold refers to the maximum amount of data that an aggregation unit can handle, and can be preset.

[0081] It should be noted that the adjustment of the connection between the data acquisition unit and the aggregation unit by the optical switch matrix 150 also needs to meet the condition that a preset number of data acquisition units are connected to one aggregation unit.

[0082] In some embodiments, the processor 141 may determine at least one data acquisition unit connected to a certain aggregation unit, and obtain identification information corresponding to the radio frequency coils connected to each of the at least one data acquisition unit (hereinafter referred to as "current identification information of the data acquisition unit"); based on the identification information, the amount of data sent by the data acquisition unit connected to the aggregation unit is determined by cluster analysis.

[0083] For example, the processor 141 can construct a target vector based on the current identification information of the data acquisition unit, construct multiple clustering vectors based on the historical identification information of multiple different data acquisition units in historical data, and use the actual amount of historical data sent by the data acquisition unit within a preset historical time period as the label of the clustering vector; use the identification information as a clustering index to cluster the aforementioned target vector and multiple clustering vectors, and determine the cluster where the target vector is located as the target cluster; use the average value of the labels of each clustering vector in the target cluster as the estimated amount of data corresponding to the target vector, and use it as the amount of data sent by the data acquisition unit connected to the aggregation unit.

[0084] In some embodiments of this specification, by setting an optical switch matrix, the data acquisition unit can be dynamically allocated to different aggregation units according to the amount of data, thereby optimizing the data processing load and improving data processing efficiency.

[0085] It should be noted that the above description of the data acquisition system and its components is for convenience only and should not be construed as limiting this specification to the embodiments described. It is understood that those skilled in the art, after understanding the principles of the system, may arbitrarily combine the various components or construct subsystems and connect them to other modules without departing from these principles. In some embodiments, Figure 1 The data acquisition unit, aggregation unit, fiber optic communication link, and processing equipment disclosed herein can be different modules within a single system, or a single module can perform the functions of two or more of the aforementioned modules. For example, modules can share a single storage module, or each module can have its own separate storage module. Such variations are all within the scope of protection of this specification.

[0086] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a modular data acquisition unit according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0087] like Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments, the data acquisition unit 110 may include a first interface 111 and a second interface 112.

[0088] The first interface is the connection interface used for the physical connection between the data acquisition unit and the radio frequency coil.

[0089] In some embodiments, the first interface is configured to be detachably connected to the radio frequency coil. For example, the radio frequency coil may include a cable, one end of which has a cable plug that adapts to the first interface of the data acquisition unit. When the cable plug is inserted into the first interface, the radio frequency coil can be connected to the corresponding data acquisition unit.

[0090] In some embodiments, the data acquisition unit may include N first interfaces for connecting to multiple cable plugs of a radio frequency coil. N can be a preset value.

[0091] The second interface is a connector used for the physical connection between the data acquisition unit and the optical fiber communication link.

[0092] In some embodiments, the second interface is configured to be detachably connected to one end of an optical fiber communication link. For example, one end of the optical fiber communication link may include an optical fiber plug configured with the second interface, which, when inserted into the second interface, establishes a connection between the optical fiber communication link and the data acquisition unit.

[0093] In some embodiments, the first interface and the second interface are pluggable interfaces, which enable detachable connection and facilitate users to quickly establish / disconnect the connection.

[0094] In some embodiments, the data acquisition unit may further include a radio frequency signal processing module 113 and an analog-to-digital converter 114.

[0095] The radio frequency signal processing module 113 is configured to amplify, filter, and perform other processing on the coil signal from the radio frequency coil.

[0096] The analog-to-digital converter 114 is configured to convert the pre-processed coil signal into a digital signal.

[0097] In some embodiments, the data acquisition unit further includes a digital signal processing module 115, which is a module for processing digital signals and may include a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

[0098] In some embodiments, the digital signal processing module is configured to perform edge preprocessing on the digital signal before transmitting the digital signal through the optical fiber communication link.

[0099] Edge preprocessing is a preliminary process of processing raw data at the data acquisition source. In some embodiments, edge preprocessing may also be referred to as digital signal preprocessing. Edge preprocessing can reduce the amount of data and extract key information from the data, thereby preparing it for the next processing step.

[0100] In some embodiments, edge preprocessing may include at least one of the following: digital downconversion, decimation filtering, and noise tagging.

[0101] Digital downconversion is a processing technique that reduces the data sampling rate by decimating the data, which can reduce the center frequency of high-frequency signals to a target value, thereby simplifying the subsequent signal processing flow.

[0102] Decimation filtering is a process of low-pass filtering a signal to prevent aliasing and remove unwanted frequency components. In some embodiments, decimation filtering can be performed before or simultaneously with digital down-conversion.

[0103] By using digital downconversion and decimation filtering, the original high-frequency sampled data can be downconverted and its speed reduced. Without losing information, this significantly reduces the data transmission bandwidth requirements on the fiber optic link, enabling the support of more channels or higher original sampling rates at the same fiber optic rate.

[0104] Noise labeling is the process of real-time monitoring of signal flow and identifying and labeling anomalous signal points. Anomalous signal points can include at least one of bad data points or transient strong interference pulses. By labeling anomalous signal points and indicating their location and nature, prior information can be provided to subsequent processing equipment for digital signal processing, thereby obtaining higher quality processing results.

[0105] The components that process coil signals are usually distributed. In some embodiments of this specification, the data acquisition unit can efficiently complete the entire link from coil signal reception, high-quality amplification and filtering, rapid digitization, preliminary digital processing to high-speed fiber optic output through an integrated first interface, radio frequency signal processing module, analog-to-digital converter, digital signal processing module and second interface. This ensures the fidelity of the original signal and the processing efficiency, and simplifies system integration.

[0106] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a modular convergence unit according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0107] like Figure 4 As shown, the aggregation unit 120 may include a third interface 121 and a communication interface 122.

[0108] The third interface is the connection interface used for the physical connection between the aggregation unit and the optical fiber communication link. That is, one end of the optical fiber communication link is connected to an aggregation unit via the third interface, and the other end is connected to the second interface of the data acquisition unit. In some embodiments, the third interface is a plug-in interface.

[0109] It should be noted that the interfaces of the fiber optic communication link are compatible with the interfaces of the data acquisition unit and the aggregation unit to enable rapid connection between them. For example, the third interface is configured to be detachably connected to one end of the fiber optic communication link. One end of the fiber optic communication link may include a fiber optic plug configured with the third interface; when the fiber optic plug is mated with the third port, the fiber optic communication link can be connected to the aggregation unit.

[0110] The communication interface of the aggregation unit is the connection interface used for the physical connection between the aggregation unit and the processing device.

[0111] In some embodiments, the communication interface of the aggregation unit is configured to connect to the processing device 140 of the data acquisition system. The communication interface can be an optical fiber communication interface or a PCIe interface, adapted to the interface protocol on the processing device 140.

[0112] In some embodiments, the aggregation unit may further include a data aggregation module 123.

[0113] The data aggregation module is configured to aggregate data from the data acquisition unit and / or processing device.

[0114] In some embodiments, the data aggregated in the data aggregation module may include, but is not limited to, at least one of coil signals, digital signals, edge-preprocessed digital signals, RF coil identification information, channel number, and control commands. Control commands include at least one of data acquisition commands and clock synchronization signals.

[0115] In some embodiments, the data aggregation module may perform data aggregation processing by sorting and merging the data from the data acquisition unit according to the number of channels of the radio frequency coil, the sequence signal corresponding to the digital signal, and the timestamp, so that the data is organized in the correct order.

[0116] Based on the same inventive concept, embodiments of this specification also provide a magnetic resonance imaging device (not shown), the device including at least one radio frequency coil; each radio frequency coil is connected to one end of a data acquisition unit; wherein the other end of the data acquisition unit is connected to a convergence unit via an optical fiber communication link; the optical fiber communication link is configured to transmit data between the data acquisition unit and the convergence unit, and to realize synchronous acquisition by the plurality of data acquisition units.

[0117] In some embodiments of this specification, the aggregation unit can integrate data from different data acquisition units in the correct order and with timestamps, providing the processing device with an orderly and complete data stream; it also efficiently transmits data through the communication interface, forming a key hub connecting front-end acquisition and back-end processing.

[0118] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a data transmission process according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0119] In some embodiments, in the data acquisition system 100, data can flow not only from the radio frequency coil of the target device to the processor of the processing device, but also from the processor of the processing device to the data acquisition unit. That is, in the data acquisition system, the flow of data can be bidirectional.

[0120] like Figure 5 As shown in path 1, in some embodiments, multiple data acquisition units 110 can establish a connection with the radio frequency coil through the first interface 111, acquire the coil signal of their respective connected radio frequency coil, and process the coil signal to obtain a digital signal; the digital signal is output through the second interface 112 of the data acquisition unit 110, passes through the optical fiber communication link 130 (and the optical switch matrix 150), and enters the aggregation unit 120 through the third interface 121 of the aggregation unit; the aggregation unit 120 performs aggregation processing on the received digital signal, and uploads the data received from the data acquisition unit 110 to the processor 141 through the communication interface.

[0121] like Figure 5As shown in path 2, in some embodiments, processor 141 can generate control commands and send the control commands to aggregation unit 120 through a communication interface; the control commands are output from the third interface 121 of aggregation unit 120, pass through optical fiber communication link 130 (and optical switch matrix 150), and enter multiple data acquisition units 110 through their respective second interfaces 112.

[0122] For an explanation of control commands, please refer to the preceding text. Figure 1 The relevant description in the document.

[0123] like Figure 5 As shown in path 3, in some embodiments, the data acquisition unit 110 can read the identification information of the connected radio frequency coil via the first interface 111. The identification information is output through the second interface 112 of the data acquisition unit 110, passes through the optical fiber communication link 130 (and the optical switch matrix 150), enters the aggregation unit 120 through the third interface 121 of the aggregation unit, and then enters the processor 141. After the processor 141 parses the identification information, it sends the parsing result to the aggregation unit 120 through the communication interface. The parsing result is output from the third interface 121 of the aggregation unit 120, passes through the optical fiber communication link 130 or the optical switch matrix 150, and enters the data acquisition unit 110 through the second interface 112 of the data acquisition unit 110.

[0124] like Figure 5 As shown in path 4, in some embodiments, processor 141 can generate link control instructions and send the link control instructions to aggregation unit 120 through a communication interface; the link control instructions are output from the third interface 121 of aggregation unit 120 and enter optical switch matrix 150 to control the optical switch matrix to adjust the optical fiber connection path therein.

[0125] The basic concepts have been described above. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, the detailed disclosure above is merely illustrative and does not constitute a limitation of this specification. Although not explicitly stated herein, those skilled in the art may make various modifications, improvements, and corrections to this specification. Such modifications, improvements, and corrections are suggested in this specification and therefore remain within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments described herein.

[0126] Furthermore, this specification uses specific terms to describe embodiments thereof. For example, "an embodiment," "one embodiment," and / or "some embodiments" refer to a particular feature, structure, or characteristic associated with at least one embodiment of this specification. Therefore, it should be emphasized and noted that references to "an embodiment," "one embodiment," or "an alternative embodiment" in different locations throughout this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, certain features, structures, or characteristics in one or more embodiments of this specification can be appropriately combined.

[0127] Furthermore, unless expressly stated in the claims, the order of processing elements and sequences, the use of numbers and letters, or other names described in this specification are not intended to limit the order of the processes and methods described herein. Although various examples have been discussed in the foregoing disclosure of some embodiments of the invention that are currently considered useful, it should be understood that such details are for illustrative purposes only, and the appended claims are not limited to the disclosed embodiments; rather, the claims are intended to cover all modifications and equivalent combinations that conform to the spirit and scope of the embodiments described herein. For example, while the system components described above can be implemented using hardware devices, they can also be implemented solely using software solutions, such as installing the described system on existing servers or mobile devices.

[0128] Similarly, it should be noted that, in order to simplify the description disclosed herein and thus aid in the understanding of one or more embodiments of the invention, the foregoing description of embodiments in this specification may sometimes combine multiple features into a single embodiment, drawing, or description thereof. However, this method of disclosure does not imply that the subject matter of this specification requires more features than those mentioned in the claims. In fact, the embodiments contain fewer features than all the features of a single embodiment disclosed above.

[0129] Finally, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the embodiments described herein. Other variations may also fall within the scope of this specification. Therefore, alternative configurations of the embodiments described herein are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, and should be considered consistent with the teachings of this specification. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein are not limited to those explicitly introduced and described herein.

Claims

1. A data acquisition system, characterized by, The system comprises: a plurality of data acquisition units, each of which comprises a plurality of channel interfaces; at least one aggregation unit, which is communicatively connected to the data acquisition units via an optical fiber communication link; the optical fiber communication link is configured to transmit data between the data acquisition units and the aggregation unit, and to enable the plurality of data acquisition units to synchronously acquire data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein, The data acquisition unit is a modular data acquisition unit, and the aggregation unit is a modular aggregation unit.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein, The plurality of channel interfaces of the data acquisition unit comprises a first interface and a second interface, the first interface is configured to be detachably connected with a radio frequency coil of a target device, and the second interface is configured to be detachably connected with one end of the optical fiber communication link; the aggregation unit comprises a third interface, which is configured to be detachably connected with the other end of the optical fiber communication link.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein, The number of data acquisition units connected to each aggregation unit does not exceed a preset value.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein, The enabling the plurality of data acquisition units to synchronously acquire data comprises: the optical fiber communication link is configured to enable the plurality of data acquisition units to synchronously acquire data through a clock synchronization signal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein, The system further comprises a processor configured to: read identification information stored in the radio frequency coil by the data acquisition unit; the identification information comprises at least one of coil type, material number, serial number, coil internal structure, interface definition information and authentication identification code information of the radio frequency coil; perform digital authentication based on the identification information to determine the use authority of the radio frequency coil.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein, The aggregation unit is further configured to: receive a control instruction from the processor through the optical fiber communication link, the control instruction comprising at least one of a data acquisition instruction and a clock synchronization signal; send the control instruction to the data acquisition unit through the optical fiber communication link.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein, The system further comprises a processing device, and the processing device comprises a communication interface; the aggregation unit is connected to the processing device through the communication interface; the communication interface is an optical fiber communication interface or a PCIE interface.

9. A modular data acquisition unit, characterized by The system comprises: a first interface configured to be connected with a radio frequency coil of a target device; a second interface configured to be detachably connected with one end of an optical fiber communication link; the other end of the optical fiber communication link is connected with an aggregation unit.

10. A modular convergence unit, comprising: The system comprises: at least one third interface, each of which is configured to be connected with one end of an optical fiber communication link, and the other end of the optical fiber communication link is connected with a data acquisition unit; a communication interface configured to be connected with a processing device of a data acquisition system; the communication interface is an optical fiber communication interface or a PCIE interface.

11. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus, characterized by The device comprises at least one radio frequency coil; each radio frequency coil is connected with one end of a data acquisition unit; wherein the other end of the data acquisition unit is connected with an aggregation unit through an optical fiber communication link; the optical fiber communication link is configured to transmit data between the data acquisition unit and the aggregation unit, and to enable the plurality of data acquisition units to synchronously acquire data.

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