MRI Protocol Adaptation via Rule-Based Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of medical imaging apparatus updates requires manual effort to adapt data acquisition protocols to new equipment versions, leading to inefficiencies in image data quality and acquisition, especially when exchanging protocols between different systems.

Innovation Solution

A rule-based system is applied to automatically optimize data acquisition protocols by analyzing and adapting data acquisition parameters, ensuring compatibility and improving image quality measures, reducing the need for manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data acquisition protocols are manually adapted to new equipment versions, then protocol compatibility is maintained, but manual effort and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol compatibilityVSAvoidmanual adaptation time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic self-adaptation of data acquisition protocols to new equipment versions through rule-based automated conversion processes, eliminating the need for manual intervention and significantly reducing adaptation time while maintaining protocol compatibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Adaptation rules are pre-configured and stored in the system, containing predetermined conversion logic for various protocol parameters. When equipment versions are updated, these pre-prepared rules are automatically applied to convert protocols without requiring manual analysis or adjustment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If consistency checks are performed on stored protocols during equipment updates, then protocol compatibility is ensured, but conversion of obsolete parameters is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol consistencyVSAvoidconversion process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Adaptation rules serve as intermediary components that mediate between old and new equipment versions. These rules contain the conversion logic that systematically transforms obsolete protocol parameters into formats compatible with current equipment, simplifying the conversion process through structured intermediate transformation steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual adaptation of thousands of protocols is performed, then all protocols can be updated, but enormously large manual effort is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol update coverageVSAvoidmanual effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The automated adaptation system processes and updates all stored protocols independently without requiring manual intervention. The system applies adaptation rules automatically to every protocol in the database, achieving complete protocol update coverage while eliminating enormous manual effort through self-service automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Manufacturing precision

If new data acquisition parameters are made available through updates, then imaging quality can be improved, but existing protocols must be manually redefined

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidprotocol redefinition effort

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Adaptation rules act as intermediaries that automatically incorporate new data acquisition parameters into existing protocols. The rules contain logic that identifies when new parameters should be applied and performs the parameter substitution automatically, allowing image quality improvements through new parameters without requiring manual protocol redefinition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10753996B2Method and magnetic resonance apparatus wherein stored data acquisition protocols are automatically conformed to a current equipment version

Publication Date: 2020.08.25 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

In a medical imaging apparatus and method for operation thereof, data acquisition protocols are stored, each containing data acquisition parameters of the medical imaging apparatus that define a data acquisition operation. In the event of an update, which changes the possible setting scope for data acquisition parameters, of at least one software and/or hardware component of the medical imaging apparatus to a current equipment version, and/or in the event of the input of a data acquisition protocol not defined for the current equipment version, a set of rules is applied to all protocols not defined for the current equipment version. The rules include at least one adaptation rule for at least one data acquisition parameter, which rule, when applicable, increases at least one quality measure for image data recorded using the data acquisition protocol to which the adaptation rule is applied.