MRI Angle Indicator Module for Magic Artifact Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) struggles to detect tendons, ligaments, and nerves due to strong dipolar interactions causing rapid dephasing of the MR signal, resulting in magic angle artifacts that obscure disease or damaged tissue visualization, and existing methods to mitigate this issue are inefficient or limited by physical constraints and image interpretation difficulties.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an angle indicator module within the MRI system that adds visual indicators to the image to depict the magic angle orientation relative to the static magnetic field, allowing for better identification and interpretation of magic angle artifacts, which includes geometric and numerical displays to help healthcare practitioners assess tissue orientation and likelihood of artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the echo time (TE) of the pulse sequence is increased to avoid the magic angle effect, then the specificity of the signal is improved, but the sensitivity for detecting disease is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image into multiple regions with different orientations relative to the B0 field, and processes each region with appropriately optimized pulse sequence parameters. This allows different TE values to be used for different tissue orientations, maintaining both sensitivity and specificity across the entire image.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts pulse sequence parameters based on the orientation of tissues relative to the B0 field. By making the imaging parameters adaptive rather than static, the system can optimize for both sensitivity and specificity depending on the local tissue orientation.
2Measurement precision
If different imaging sequences (T1-weighted, UTE) are used to mitigate the magic angle effect, then the visualization of certain tissues is improved, but the magic angle effect persists in a wider range of tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the imaging sequence by acquiring images at multiple different angles relative to the B0 field. This allows the system to avoid the magic angle effect for any given tissue by selecting an acquisition angle where that tissue does not exhibit the artifact, while still imaging all tissue types effectively.
3Measurement precision
If the patient is recalled and imaged at a different angle to avoid magic angle artifacts, then the accuracy of tissue visualization is improved, but the clinical workflow efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary processing during the initial imaging session by acquiring multiple images at different angles and orientations. This preliminary action includes generating orientation maps and identifying potential magic angle artifacts, so that no additional patient visits are needed and workflow efficiency is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple copies of the image data acquired at different orientations during the initial scan. These copied images are then processed and fused to produce a final image that eliminates magic angle artifacts without requiring the patient to be rescanned.
4Measurement precision
If visual indicators are added to depict magic angle orientation, then the identification of magic angle artifacts is improved, but the complexity of the imaging system is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing step that calculates orientation maps and generates visual indicators based on existing image data. This intermediary layer adds minimal complexity by using straightforward mathematical operations on the acquired images to produce the orientation information, rather than requiring complex hardware modifications.
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
Enhances the interpretation and identification of magic angle artifacts, facilitating a more efficient clinical workflow by providing clear visual cues for radiologists to distinguish between healthy and damaged tissues, thereby improving image analysis and diagnosis accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The protons within the water bound to the collagen are subject to dipolar interactions with a strength dependent upon the orientation of fibers relative to the static magnetic field or B0 field
Implementation Method 2
rapid dephasing of the magnetic resonance (MR) signal after excitation
Implementation Method 3
A magic angle effect, at which the dipolar interactions are strongest, occurs at a precisely defined angle between the B0 field and the fiber orientation, and is approximately 54.7°
Data Source
AI summary
A magnetic resonance imaging system (10) includes an angle indicator module (36), and a display device (40). The angle indicator module (36) adds at least one visual indicator (1) to an image (46) depicting a magic angle (2) orientation relative to a static magnetic B0 field (4) and the image (46), the image (46) reconstructed from magnetic resonance data received in the B0 field (4). The display device (40) displays (74) the image with the visual indicator. A magic angle is an angle of arccos (1/√3) relative to the static magnetic B0 field (4). Moreover, the visual indicator may indicate the likelihood of a magic angle artifact to the operator.