Automatic Cardiac Timing Synchronization for MRI Motion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern imaging methods, such as MRI, are sensitive to motion artifacts from heart beating and respiratory movements, leading to compromised image quality and non-diagnostic results in cardiac imaging, as existing methods lack precise motion control and are operator-dependent.
Innovation Solution
An MR imaging system automatically determines patient-specific, orientation-dependent cardiac timing parameters to synchronize image acquisition with minimal motion artifacts, using a 4D volume for scan planning and field-of-view determination, and a repository of data to identify optimal acquisition points within the heart cycle for consistent image quality across different heart orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ECG-based synchronization is used for cardiac imaging, then cardiac phase consistency is improved, but operator dependence and inability to optimize for different orientations remain
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically determining optimal trigger times for different cardiac orientations using stored reference data and algorithms, eliminating the need for operator intervention in timing parameter selection while maintaining reliable cardiac phase synchronization
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of trigger time based on the specific cardiac orientation being imaged by automatically selecting from pre-stored optimal timing data corresponding to different orientations, thereby achieving both reliability and operator independence
2Productivity
If fast gradient switching is used to increase imaging speed, then imaging throughput is improved, but motion artifacts remain significant compared to voxel size
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-determining and storing optimal trigger times for various cardiac orientations before actual imaging, allowing fast gradient switching to be combined with precise motion control during the actual scan without compromising image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making the trigger time parameter adaptive to the specific cardiac orientation being imaged, automatically adjusting the timing parameters to match the optimal values for each orientation while maintaining fast imaging speeds
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual selection of trigger time is used, then flexibility in timing adjustment is improved, but consistency and reproducibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by using stored reference data from previous scans to automatically determine optimal trigger times for subsequent scans of the same orientation, ensuring consistent and reproducible timing parameters while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to different cardiac orientations
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves universality by creating a comprehensive database of optimal trigger times that covers multiple cardiac orientations and imaging scenarios, allowing a single automated system to handle diverse imaging requirements with consistent results
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging system automatically determines a cardiac timing parameter for acquiring a cardiac image in a heart phase. An interface receives data identifying a heart image orientation for image acquisition. A repository of data associates, for acquisition of an image in a particular heart phase, different image orientations with corresponding different data items identifying respective corresponding particular acquisition points within an individual heart cycle relative to a start point of the heart cycle. An acquisition timing processor determines from the repository of data, a particular acquisition point within an individual heart cycle relative to the start point of the heart cycle, in response to the received data identifying the heart image orientation and uses the determined particular acquisition point to provide a synchronization signal for triggering acquisition of an image at the particular heart phase.