Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting Dictionary Selection by Anatomical Region
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current magnetic resonance fingerprinting techniques lack specificity in matching processes, particularly in identifying tissue compositions within anatomical regions, due to analyzing individual voxels independently without utilizing spatial correlations between voxels.
Innovation Solution
The method involves registering an anatomical model to a magnetic resonance image to select a local magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary for specific anatomical regions, allowing for voxel-by-voxel averaging and composition mapping, which improves signal-to-noise ratio and identifies abnormal voxels by comparing composition distributions against spatial averages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a limited dictionary of precalculated signal contributions is used for magnetic resonance fingerprinting, then the number of RF pulses needed is reduced, but the specificity of the matching process deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating region-specific dictionaries tailored to different anatomical areas. Instead of using a single universal dictionary, the system generates customized dictionaries for specific regions (e.g., brain, liver, kidney) that include only the substances and tissue types relevant to each anatomical location. This local customization improves matching specificity while maintaining efficiency by eliminating irrelevant substance comparisons.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the overall dictionary into multiple region-specific dictionaries based on anatomical boundaries. By dividing the comprehensive substance library into smaller, location-specific subsets, the system reduces the computational burden of matching while improving precision through targeted substance selection for each anatomical region.
2Device complexity
If individual voxels are analyzed independently without utilizing spatial correlations, then the processing complexity is reduced, but the accuracy of tissue composition analysis deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges information from multiple adjacent voxels by performing spatial averaging within defined anatomical regions. Instead of treating each voxel independently, the system combines signal data from neighboring voxels to generate region-level composition maps, thereby improving signal-to-noise ratio and analytical accuracy while maintaining manageable processing complexity through efficient averaging algorithms.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides for a magnetic resonance imaging system (100) for acquiring MRF magnetic resonance data (144) from a subject (118) within a region of interest (109). The magnetic resonance imaging system comprises a processor (130) for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system and a memory (134) for storing machine executable instructions (140) and MRF pulse sequence commands (142). The MRF pulse sequence commands are configured for controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system to acquire the MRF magnetic resonance data according to a magnetic resonance fingerprinting protocol. Execution of the machine executable instructions causes the processor to: acquire (200) the MRF magnetic resonance data for the region of interest by controlling the magnetic resonance imaging system with the MRF pulse sequence commands; receive (202) at least one magnetic resonance image (152) descriptive of the region of interest; identify (204) anatomical regions (156) within the region of interest using an anatomical model (154); select (206) a local magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary (158) from a set of magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionaries for each of the anatomical regions, wherein the local magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary comprises a listing of calculated MRF signals for a set of predetermined substances specific to each of the anatomical regions; and calculate (208) a composition mapping (160) of the predetermined substances for each of the anatomical regions using the MRF magnetic resonance data and the local magnetic resonance fingerprinting dictionary, wherein the composition mapping is a spatial average within each of the anatomical regions.