MRI Gradient Pulse Optimization via Modifiable Time Intervals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic resonance sequences in MRI systems face challenges in optimizing gradient pulses to minimize noise and power consumption while maintaining image quality and examination duration, due to strict timing requirements and high gradient amplitudes and slew rates, which lead to noise, power consumption issues, and helium boil-off.
Innovation Solution
A method to optimize magnetic resonance sequences by automatically analyzing and optimizing gradient pulses in modifiable time intervals, smoothing the gradient curve to reduce noise and minimize slew rates, while keeping fixed point intervals unchanged, using a sequence optimization unit that identifies and separates fixed and modifiable time intervals on multiple gradient axes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If high gradient amplitudes and slew rates are used in magnetic resonance sequences, then imaging speed and resolution are improved, but noise and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the gradient pulse timing flexible rather than fixed. The optimization unit dynamically adjusts the timing of gradient pulses within allowable ranges to minimize noise and power consumption while maintaining imaging performance. This is achieved by identifying modifiable time intervals and optimizing gradient pulse parameters within those intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes parameters by optimizing gradient pulse timing parameters within modifiable time intervals. The system varies the timing parameters of gradient pulses to find optimal values that reduce noise and power consumption while maintaining the required imaging speed and resolution.
2Speed
If high gradient amplitudes and slew rates are used in magnetic resonance sequences, then imaging speed and resolution are improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically optimizes gradient pulse timing to reduce power consumption. By adjusting the timing of gradient pulses within modifiable time intervals, the system minimizes the energy required to achieve the desired imaging speed and resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The optimization unit changes the timing parameters of gradient pulses to find values that minimize power consumption while maintaining imaging performance. This involves varying parameters within allowable ranges to achieve energy efficiency.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If gradient pulses are optimized to reduce noise and power consumption, then harmful effects are minimized, but timing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gradient pulse sequence into fixed time intervals and modifiable time intervals. This segmentation allows the system to maintain precise timing for critical gradient pulses while providing flexibility to optimize other pulses for reduced noise and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by treating different time intervals differently. Critical gradient pulses with strict timing requirements are kept fixed, while other pulses are allowed to be optimized within modifiable time intervals. This local differentiation enables noise reduction without compromising overall timing precision.
4Manufacturing precision
If fixed time intervals are maintained for critical gradient pulses, then timing precision is preserved, but optimization flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the gradient pulse sequence into fixed and modifiable time intervals. This segmentation preserves timing precision for critical pulses in fixed intervals while providing optimization flexibility for other pulses in modifiable intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different qualities to different parts of the sequence: fixed timing for critical gradient pulses and flexible timing for others. This local differentiation maintains necessary precision while enabling optimization flexibility where applicable.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method to optimize a magnetic resonance sequence of a magnetic resonance apparatus, a method to operate a magnetic resonance apparatus, and a sequence optimization unit, and a magnetic resonance apparatus and an encoded storage medium that implement such a method, a magnetic resonance sequence is adopted as a starting sequence that includes multiple gradient pulses, the multiple gradient pulses occurring respectively on multiple gradient axes, and the multiple gradient axes each including a number of fixed point time intervals that are to be left unchanged and a number of modifiable time intervals that may be optimized. The gradient pulses on the multiple gradient axes are separately analyzed to identify the fixed point time intervals of the multiple gradient axes and the modifiable time intervals of the multiple gradient axes in the starting magnetic resonance sequence. At least one gradient pulse on one of the multiple gradient pulses is automatically optimized, that occurs during at least one modifiable time interval.