MRI Apparatus Automatic Serial Examination Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current MRI examination processes require cumbersome and complex manual operations for setting and adjusting imaging positions, removing background signals, and performing post-processing tasks, leading to increased user burden and decreased examination efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus with a computation unit that performs automatic serial examination flows, including positioning, imaging, and post-processing, using stored examination flow data and keywords to reduce manual operations and enhance efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual operations are performed for positioning, imaging, and post-processing in MRI examinations, then processing accuracy can be maintained through user judgment, but user burden increases and examination efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic positioning, imaging, and post-processing operations without requiring continuous manual intervention. The computation unit automatically executes examination flows, selects imaging positions, performs background signal removal, and generates diagnostic images, allowing the system to serve itself rather than requiring constant user operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-stores multiple examination flow data sets that define complete processing sequences. When an examination is initiated, the appropriate pre-defined flow is automatically selected and executed, eliminating the need for users to manually configure each step during the examination process.
2Productivity
If automatic processing is implemented for MRI examination flows, then user burden is reduced and examination efficiency increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic examination system is divided into distinct functional modules: a computation unit for executing processing operations, a storage unit for storing examination flow data, and a user interface unit for receiving input instructions. This segmentation allows complex automatic processing to be achieved through coordinated simple modules, managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The computation unit serves multiple functions within the automatic examination flow: it performs positioning determination, controls imaging acquisition, executes post-processing operations, and generates final diagnostic images. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated hardware components, managing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive automatic processing capability.
3Productivity
If multiple processing operations are automated in serial examination flows, then examination efficiency increases, but the requirement for comprehensive automation coverage increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple discrete processing operations (positioning, imaging, post-processing, image generation) are merged into a single automated examination flow controlled by the computation unit. The system executes these operations as an integrated sequence based on pre-stored flow data, achieving comprehensive automation coverage through unified control rather than separate automated systems for each operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Automatically performing a serial examination flow including, for example, positioning, imaging, and post processing enables reducing a burden placed on the user by a manual operation and improving examination efficiency. A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus includes a computation unit that performs action control of the entire apparatus and computation and an imaging unit that performs imaging according to control performed by the computation unit, wherein the computation unit includes a storage unit that stores a plurality of examination flow data each defining a processing flow of at least one of imaging processing, post processing, display processing, and transfer processing, and stores a plurality of keywords respectively indicating contents of at least a part of the examination flow data, an input unit that receives an input instruction issued by a user for executing a desired examination, and an examination flow control unit that selects the examination flow data corresponding to the input instruction and causes processing defined by the selected examination flow data to be performed.