Magnetic Resonance Imaging Slice Segmentation for Reduced Scan Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with continuous table displacement technology often requires a larger Field of View (FOV) than necessary, leading to longer measurement times as unnecessary signals from outside the region of interest are acquired, including important organs that do not need to be assessed.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining slices with predetermined thickness and selecting partial regions within these slices, limiting the FOV to only the structures of interest, using spatially selective saturation or excitation techniques to acquire measurement signals only from the relevant areas, thereby reducing measurement time and improving image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a larger Field of View (FOV) is used to ensure all anatomical structures are captured, then the completeness of anatomical coverage is improved, but the measurement time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the examination volume into multiple slices along the table displacement direction, and further divides each slice into a region of interest (ROI) and non-ROI portions. By segmenting the FOV in this manner, the system only acquires measurement signals from the ROI portions, thereby reducing measurement time while maintaining complete anatomical coverage across all slices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different acquisition strategies to different spatial regions: full FOV acquisition is applied to ROI portions where detailed imaging is needed, while non-ROI portions are either skipped or acquired with reduced parameters. This local differentiation allows the system to focus resources on anatomically relevant areas, reducing overall measurement time without compromising diagnostic quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If a larger Field of View (FOV) is used to capture all anatomical structures, then the completeness of anatomical coverage is improved, but the image quality of regions of interest deteriorates due to signal dilution
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the FOV into ROI and non-ROI portions across multiple slices, the patent enables concentrated signal acquisition from ROI areas. This segmentation ensures that measurement signals from ROI portions are not diluted by inclusion of non-ROI data, maintaining high image quality while still providing complete anatomical context through the multi-slice approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality optimization by applying full acquisition parameters specifically to ROI portions while using reduced or skipped acquisition for non-ROI portions. This ensures that regions requiring diagnostic evaluation receive maximum signal quality, while non-critical areas do not consume unnecessary measurement time or degrade overall image quality through signal averaging.
3Loss of time
If spatially selective saturation bands are applied to suppress signals from non-ROI regions, then measurement time is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spatially selective saturation bands as a preliminary action before the main measurement sequence. By pre-saturating non-ROI regions, the system prevents unwanted signals from these areas from being acquired during the main measurement, thereby reducing measurement time without requiring complex post-processing or additional acquisition sequences.
4Loss of time
If the FOV is reduced to only include regions of interest, then measurement time is reduced, but the adaptability to different anatomical structures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic FOV adaptation by automatically adjusting the ROI definitions and slice configurations based on the specific anatomical structure being examined. The system can adapt the FOV reduction strategy to different anatomical regions (e.g., spine, joints, organs) while maintaining the benefit of reduced measurement time, thus preserving versatility across different clinical applications.
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 reduces measurement time by focusing on relevant regions of interest, minimizing the acquisition of unnecessary signals and reducing artifacts, while maintaining or improving image quality, and is particularly effective in adapting to the anatomy of the subject, such as the spinal column.
Implementation Method 1
Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with continuous table displacement technology
Implementation Method 2
The regions next to the respective partial region are saturated via spatially selective saturation bands
Implementation Method 3
Via a spatially selective excitation only the respective partial region is excited
Data Source
AI summary
In a method to create magnetic resonance (MR) images of a predetermined volume segment within an examination subject by operation of an MR system with continuous table displacement, at least one slice with a respective, predetermined thickness is defined, and for each slice, a partial region of the slice is selected, the respective partial region being bounded in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the corresponding slice, and measurement signals are acquired from the slice, the acquired measurement signals originating from only the respective partial region of the slice.