Auto-ECG Multi-Station MRI Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-station MRI data acquisition workflows are inefficient due to manual determination of systole and diastole triggering delay times, which affects image quality and increases examination time, especially in peripheral anatomy imaging where cardiac phase delay times vary across different body regions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing auto-ECG functionality to automatically determine and adjust systole and diastole triggering delay times based on heart rate and blood flow velocity, allowing seamless progression of preparatory and diagnostic scans across multiple imaging stations without operator interruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual determination of systole and diastole triggering delay times is used, then operator control over imaging parameters is maintained, but examination time increases and workflow efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines systole and diastole triggering delay times using ECG signal analysis and blood flow velocity measurements, eliminating the need for manual operator determination. The auto-ECG functionality performs self-calibration by analyzing cardiac cycle characteristics and adjusting delay times autonomously across multiple imaging stations, thereby improving workflow efficiency and reducing examination time.
2Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of cardiac phase delay times is performed at each station, then imaging parameters can be optimized for each region, but operator workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors ECG signals and blood flow velocity at each imaging station, using this feedback to automatically adjust systole and diastole triggering delay times. The auto-ECG functionality analyzes real-time cardiac cycle characteristics and optimizes imaging parameters for each specific region, maintaining high image quality while eliminating manual adjustment requirements and reducing operator workload.
3Manufacturing precision
If cardiac phase timing is not adjusted for different body regions, then scanning can proceed faster, but image quality deteriorates due to blood flow velocity variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts systole and diastole triggering delay times based on real-time measurements of blood flow velocity and cardiac phase characteristics at each imaging station. The auto-ECG functionality modifies imaging parameters adaptively for different body regions (e.g., iliac, femoral, calf stations), ensuring optimal image quality while maintaining fast scanning speeds through automated regional optimization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach significantly reduces total examination time by approximately half, improving image quality and workflow efficiency, enabling faster MRI system utilization and reducing operator workload.
Implementation Method 1
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) processes
Implementation Method 2
auto-ECG functionality to automatically determine and adjust systole and diastole triggering delay times
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes at least one controller configured to first acquire at least MRI locator image data for different portions of patient anatomy at each of different imaging stations for a defined multi-station locator sequence. An operator may interface with a respectively corresponding displayed locator image for each imaging station to set diagnostic scan sequence parameters for subsequent diagnostic MRI scans of corresponding portions of patient anatomy. Diagnostic MRI scan data is automatically acquired at each of the imaging stations in a multi-station diagnostic scan sequence that, if desired, can be seamlessly continued without operator interruption once begun.