MRI Protocol Optimization Using Patient-Specific SAR Distributions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing MRI protocols are inefficient in determining patient-specific SAR values, leading to potential workflow interruptions due to SAR limit violations or unnecessary safety margins, which affect image quality and examination time.

Innovation Solution

An MRI system optimizes protocols by using patient-specific object parameters to determine MRI protocol parameters, such as flip angle, based on a frequency distribution of deposition values from previous examinations, ensuring compliance with SAR limits without interrupting the workflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If MRI protocol parameters are optimized using volunteer data or simulation with large safety margins, then SAR limit compliance is ensured, but image quality and measurement time are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSAR limit complianceVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter basis for SAR prediction from generic volunteer data to patient-specific constitution data (body mass, body fat percentage, height). This allows the MRI protocol parameters (flip angle, repetition time, echo time) to be optimized for each patient's actual SAR characteristics, ensuring compliance while maintaining image quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary determination of patient constitution parameters before the actual MRI examination. This preliminary action includes measuring body mass, height, and body fat percentage, then using this data to pre-calculate patient-specific SAR values and optimize protocol parameters in advance, avoiding workflow interruptions during the examination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If MRI protocol parameters are optimized using volunteer data or simulation with large safety margins, then SAR limit compliance is ensured, but examination time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSAR limit complianceVSAvoidexamination throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary determination of patient constitution parameters before the actual MRI examination. This preliminary action includes measuring body mass, height, and body fat percentage, then using this data to pre-calculate patient-specific SAR values and optimize protocol parameters in advance, avoiding workflow interruptions during the examination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically determines patient constitution parameters and calculates patient-specific SAR values without requiring operator intervention for manual adjustments. The automated workflow eliminates the need for operators to manually determine SAR compliance and adjust protocol parameters, thereby maintaining high examination throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If SAR prediction uses generic volunteer data, then protocol creation is simplified, but accuracy of SAR prediction for individual patients deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol creation simplicityVSAvoidSAR prediction accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter basis for SAR prediction from generic volunteer data to patient-specific constitution data (body mass, body fat percentage, height). This allows the MRI protocol parameters (flip angle, repetition time, echo time) to be optimized for each patient's actual SAR characteristics, ensuring compliance while maintaining image quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically determines patient constitution parameters and calculates patient-specific SAR values without requiring operator intervention for manual adjustments. The automated workflow eliminates the need for operators to manually determine SAR compliance and adjust protocol parameters, thereby maintaining high examination throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12429535B2Method for operating an MRI system, an MRI system, a control unit, a storage unit, a computer program, and an electronically readable data carrier

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG

AI summary

A method performed by an MRI system includes: receiving at least one object parameter value of an object to be examined in accordance with a predefined MRI protocol; determining a frequency distribution of deposition values of examined objects, each having the at least one object parameter value, from available MRI examination datasets; determining, by a control unit of the MRI system, a reference deposition value of the examined objects, each having the at least one object parameter value, from the frequency distribution of the deposition values of the examined objects, each having the at least one object parameter value, for a predefined reference proportion in accordance with a predefined reference determining procedure; and determining, as a function of the reference deposition value, at least one MRI protocol parameter of the predefined MRI protocol for examining the object to be examined, in accordance with a predefined MRI protocol optimization procedure.