MR Protocol Optimization Using Precomputed Gradient Factors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for optimizing magnetic resonance (MR) protocols require lengthy test times to ensure compliance with noise reduction and safety conditions, which are often not feasible in clinical settings, leading to inefficiencies and the potential abandonment of noise optimization.
Innovation Solution
A method that utilizes pre-determined gradient-specific gradient factors to optimize MR protocols, allowing for rapid adjustment of protocol parameters while ensuring compliance with noise reduction and safety conditions, thereby reducing the need for extensive recalculations and test times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If noise optimization is performed using existing methods, then noise reduction is achieved, but test time becomes excessively long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores gradient factors that optimize noise reduction for different protocol parameters before actual MR examinations. These pre-determined gradient factors are stored in a database and can be quickly retrieved during protocol testing, eliminating the need to perform time-consuming noise optimization calculations during clinical workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares optimized gradient factors in advance to cushion against the time-consuming nature of noise optimization. By having these optimization parameters pre-computed and stored, the system anticipates and prevents the time loss that would otherwise occur during protocol testing and optimization phases.
2Reliability
If protocol parameters are adjusted to ensure safety compliance, then safety conditions are met, but optimization process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where protocol parameters are adjusted based on pre-stored gradient factors that already account for safety constraints. The system provides feedback on which pre-calculated gradient factors are compatible with given protocol parameters, allowing rapid determination of safe and optimized protocols without extensive iterative testing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from iteratively adjusting protocol parameters to satisfy safety constraints to selecting from pre-determined gradient factor sets that already incorporate safety considerations. This parameter transformation allows rapid protocol configuration while maintaining safety compliance.
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 accelerates the combined testing and noise optimization process, ensuring efficient and safe operation of MR protocols with minimal additional time and resource expenditure.
Implementation Method 1
The gradient unit for generating the gradients is typically a rapidly-switched electrically-operated coil system with multiple gradient coils, which in a defined manner generate magnetic fields, for example in a spatial direction x, y, and z orthogonal to one another, with the help of currents
Implementation Method 2
Because of interaction forces (Lorentz forces) of these currents with the constant magnetic field of the magnetic resonance device
Implementation Method 3
the interaction of magnetic stray fields of the gradient unit (eddy current forces) with conductive regions of the magnetic resonance device
Implementation Method 4
To trigger nuclear spin resonances measurable as signals, radio-frequency (RF) excitation pulses are irradiated into the object under examination, the triggered nuclear spin resonances are measured as what is known as k-space data
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for optimizing protocol parameters of an MR protocol are provided. The techniques provides for a combined safety/operability test gradient-specific gradient factors Fx already determined prior to the performance of a test on an MR protocol and noise optimization of the MR protocol by means of a noise optimization method are used, with adjusted protocol parameters determined after the determination of the gradient-specific gradient factors Fx via a test performed on the MR protocol, in the creation of an adjusted MR protocol. As a result, valuable computing time for the combined testing and optimization is saved, since multiplication of the parameter space of both the methods can be omitted. A method for the combined testing and noise optimization is herewith greatly accelerated by the use of pre-prepared gradient information, e.g. in the form of gradient factors.